Hello Experts,
I’m facing a critical issue and hoping someone can offer some guidance. Our hotel relies on a legacy door lock system that communicates with its card encoders via serial-com ports. The original setup used a USB connection, but crucially, these encoders utilized a Silicon Labs CP210x Virtual serial port bridge, effectively appearing as COM ports to the software. This worked seamlessly because the software was designed to interface with serial devices.
Unfortunately, our original encoders have failed, and the manufacturer no longer supports or produces them. To avoid a complete system overhaul, costing nearly $100,000 for our 700-room hotel, we’ve explored generic card encoders as replacements. I’ve acquired two different models for testing.
The snag? The existing software is only configured to detect encoders connected via serial-com ports. It fails to recognize these new, native USB encoders. While the old encoders connected via USB externally, internally they used a USB to serial adapter, creating a virtual serial port. This is why they were detectable. The new encoders lack this built-in conversion and are purely USB devices, leaving them invisible to our software.
Essentially, I need a solution – either software or hardware – that can emulate a native USB device as a serial-com port. This “Virtual Usb Port Driver” would bridge the gap, allowing our software, which exclusively communicates through serial ports, to recognize and operate these new USB encoders.
Does anyone know of software or hardware solutions that can create a virtual serial port from a USB device? Any advice, ideas, or company recommendations would be greatly appreciated. We are desperately seeking a cost-effective alternative to replacing the entire key lock system.
