USB ADAPTER FOR WRITER

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I like the MeritWriter I got.  It's brand new, from under a bed or closet.  I bought one back in '84(?).  (But because of life, I sold the writer almost new and took other work).

 

Per DigitalCat, the MeritWriter should use IOGear or Dynex.  I know the adapters work because they work with the Stenoram II.

 

With the MeritWriter, DigitalCat opens up a document, but absolutely no steno is translated.  Should I buy (another) adapter, or is there something wrong with the writer? 

 

(I am not intending to use the MeritWriter as a full time reporter, but it is brand new and I would like to have it for use.).

[Quyen]

When my adapter broke for my FlashWriter, I took it into Radio Shack and had them fit it for a new AC adapter.  They did in less than 10 minutes.  Worked fine to this day.  Then again, what adapter are you talking about?  The one to power up your writer, or a cable to connect your writer to your laptop?  I guess I don't understand what you mean by "no steno is translated."

[Mary Jo Cochran]

The USB-to-serial port adapter (goes from the realtime cord) - because these writers are serial port and the laptops are USB.  (There is the writer - then the realtime cable - then the USB-to-serial port adapter, which gets plugged into the laptop).

 

I know the USB-to-serial-port adapters work.  But for the MeritWriter (which is the most simplistic realtime writer made), DigitalCat acknowledges the hardware and gives me access to translate - but I hit the keys on the writer, and there is no steno communication.

 

Anyone else connect an adapter, and your software acknowledges the hardware - but you don't get any communication?

[Tricia McLaughlin]

Mary Jo,

My writer communicates with my laptop, BUT when I switched to Win 7, I was told that they only USB-to-serial that would work was Keyspan.  I got it off Amazon for cheap money.  

Unfortunately, there's no one backing MeritWriters.  I had/have a DiskWriter, which was the precursor to the MW.  

I would ask DC about the Keyspan and see what they say.

Good luck!

BTW, I had tried other USB adapters and they wouldn't work with Win 7.  When I got the Keyspan, I had no trouble at all.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

"There's no one backing MeritWriters."  Said perfectly.  My several phone calls, to Acculaw, JMSteno, DC, StenoDoctor and StenoWorks - all left me with the feeling of --

 

DC told me IOGear and Dynex.  I was inclined to think it is the realtime cable, but it has never been used.  I will buy a KeySpan.  From what the MeritWriter info provides, KeySpan should work.  A little more money spent won't matter.

 

Tricia, thanks for the help.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

This came from Cerritos.  A good thing about the schools is they are loaded with info.

 

http://www.usb-serial-adapter.com/index.html

[Tricia McLaughlin]

Mary Jo,

I should have made it clear that I'm using a Mira A3 now, but have DW here.   I tried to get the link on Amazon where I could send you what I bought, but ufl, I can't find it.  

 

Good luck,

Tricia

[Mary Jo Cochran]

I can do Amazon pretty easy.  I thought about Keyspan, as the writer specs match up to Keyspan specs.

 

Thanks, Tricia.

[Mary Jo Cochran]

Tricia:  Is this the right one?  They have two, one for like $28, and one for about $40.

[Tricia McLaughlin]

Mine is blue, Mary Jo.  I'll look at the model number Sunday am.  

Mine was around the $28 mark.

[Glen Warner]

Hi, Mary Jo.

It's probably too late, but Stenovations says the Keyspan will not work with digitalCAT ... BUT it *does* work with my Flash; hopefully your experience will be similar.

That said, do you know anyone that is using the MeritWriter?  If so, see if you can get them to test your writer with their adapter, laptop and CAT software (doesn't matter which CAT; you're trying to ascertain whether the writer is working or not).

If you get the same indications on the other computer, your writer isn't working, which means that using the other writer with your cables and CAT software, it should work.

Good luck with this one!

[Tricia McLaughlin]

Mary Jo,

Sorry it took me longer than I originally said.  On the driver CD, the model number is GUC232A for the Keyspan.

Hope all is going well.

Tricia

[Tricia McLaughlin]

Mary Jo,

Here are two pics of my Keyspan.

 

Tricia