Is this possible?

Projects General Guidance
1

Prior to taking the UNO out of service for a bit to try this i wanted to ask the experts on this community to see if this is possible or not.

I work for a direct mail processing facility and am using the Arduino UNO along with a MicroScan QX Hawk imager to do image and sortation. it is working well but the one issue is that to get certain things from the QX Hawk you must connect to it via RS 232. Since a lot of laptops dont have serial ports on them anymore and the IT staff does not exact look kindly upon a USB to Serial adapter, i was wondering:

Would it be possible to connect the RS 232 from the camera to the RS 232 on arduino, then since the arduino plugs into the USB port and is already configured, be able to use a telnet application like putty or something to send over commands to the camera.

Kind of like using the ardunio as a pass thru device.

Hope that is clear enough. Looking for feedback please and thank you.

2

You will need a level converter to convert the RS232 voltage to the Arduino voltage. The ones that use a MAX232 chip are the best.

Or find a way to tell the IT department to stick the USB converter up their arse.

3

The IT staff don't like USB to serial converters but have no problem with the USB to serial converter on the Arduino?

4

Ask the IT department to provide you with a computer that has an RS232 port. They still exist to support legacy point of sale equipment etc.

5

Seriously - tell the IT department to do their job, and either supply a USB Serial converter or a computer with an appropriate port! That's ridiculous - an Arduino is far more of a security hazard than a USB serial adapter, since it's a USB Serial adapter plus a bunch of other stuff...

(Also - is it RS232, or TTL serial? RS232 uses higher voltages, and requires a level shifter, while TTL serial is 5v and connects directly to a normal USB serial adapter)

6

Adapters are cheap too, just $10-15. Pick one up yourself

Run out & grab one at Staples or Office Depot even.

If you want to pass it thru the Arduino, a RS232/Serial adapter is needed as mentioned, such as:
http://www.nkcelectronics.com/rs232-to-ttl-converter-board-33v232335.html
http://www.nkcelectronics.com/RS232-to-TTL-converter-board-DTE-with-Male-DB9-33V-to-5V_p_369.html
This would be much simpler tho:
http://www.nkcelectronics.com/USB-to-Serial-Adapter-Cable_p_423.html
Many cable adapters use a Prolific chip for the conversion, check to see that you can get a driver for your OS.
Part like PL2303 I think.