On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 09:50:58 -0500, "xpyttl"
wrote:

(though external
serial-to-USB adapters will be around for a long time I suspect).

Keep in mind that not all applications work with USB to Serial converters.
I see no reason why I would expect a weather station to fall into this
category, but many hobbyist/amateur radio applications use the serial port
in strange ways, and USB to serial converters require that you use the
serial port as it was intended.

Yes - I was really commenting in the context of commercially available
weather stations, most of which do seem to use serial ports in a
standard way and hence can generally accept serial-to-USB external
converters without a problem.

But serial ports are fast becoming extinct, especially on laptops. For the
best combination of flexibility and ability to continue to use your stuff,
look for serial ports on PCs you buy, but don't go buying peripherals that
require serial ports. Or if you do, accept the fact that they are likely to
be a temporary thing.

Fair comment. The problem at present is that - again in the context of
AWS systems - USB does not offer quite the same robustness and
flexibility as good old RS232. So new users with eg a USB-only laptop
end up being unable to implement the best solution.

There is another option, for new USB-only desktops at least, which is
to buy an inexpensive expansion card providing one or two standard
RS232 ports. Again I suspect that these will be around for some years
to come, though you might have to seek out a more specialist PC
dealer. (This applies to laptops also but it's physically a more messy
solution.)

[Other good points snipped.]

John Dann
www.weatherstations.co.uk