What is Reddit's opinion of StarTech.com 1 Port USB to Serial RS232 Adapter - Prolific PL-2303 - USB to DB9 Serial Adapter Cable - RS232 Serial Converter (ICUSB232V2)?

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That is a cable, not the USB-DB9 adapter.

You need that cable + an adapter like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/USB-Serial-Adapter-Prolific-PL-2303/dp/B00GRP8EZU

This adapter comes with a prolific chip, and its driver can be wonky on windows 10, the alternative are FTDI chips but they have even worse driver problems, higher baud rates like 115200 don't work at all with FTDI.

Hmm. I’m leaning towards the serial adapter being the issue, rather than the switch.

I would probably try a well reviewed usb to serial from Amazon next, no name random Chinese ones are asking for trouble.

Something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-USB-Serial-Adapter-Prolific/dp/B00GRP8EZU/

Just the adapter has a chipset. I carry 3 different cables, null modem, rollover, and straight serial. Those three cables get me connected to every switch/router/firewall we manage from all vendors Dell, HP, Cisco, Fortinet, etc

For your particular case.

COM Port: https://www.amazon.ca/StarTech-com-USB-Serial-Adapter-Prolific/dp/B00GRP8EZU

Null Modem: https://www.amazon.ca/StarTech-Serial-Female-2-Meter-SCNM9FF1MBK/dp/B00QM8ZPZ4/ref=pd_sim_147_12?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00QM8ZP5E&pd_rd_r=e286ee98-0ab6-11e9-9b12-952033641e56&pd_rd_w=KbtP9&pd_rd_wg=hctS4&pf_rd_p=f2db799a-cb6a-4ff5-b84b-b317891b94a8&pf_rd_r=AEBH7Q4QX6AQ7T6A0AEM&refRID=AEBH7Q4QX6AQ7T6A0AEM&th=1

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Edit: If you want a single piece cable this is what you would want.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-USB-Serial-Adapter-Modem-Black/dp/B008634VJY/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=USB+Null+Modem&qid=1605706737&sr=8-3

About six months ago I finally tool apart my X10-to-Alexa bridge that had been running on a Raspberry Pi 3 using an X-10 CM11A serial control. It was connected to the RPi using a serial-to-USB adapter. It had been running it for about 3 years. Here is where I got the instructions on how to do it:

https://coreyswrite.com/tips-tricks/amazon-echo-x10-home-control-updated/

I was just using a generic serial-to-USB adapter, the same kind I am using on my Raspberry Pi WeeWX weather station that connects to the serial port on my LaCrosse WS-2300 weather station. The adapters are something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/USB-Serial-Adapter-Prolific-PL-2303/dp/B00GRP8EZU

If you need a USB to serial converter that works for PLC programming try these two.

https://www.amazon.com/USB-Serial-Adapter-Prolific-PL-2303/dp/B00GRP8EZU/ref=sxin_13_pa_sp_search_thematic_sspa?crid=3JOXRPYG8RSDA&cv_ct_cx=usb+to+serial+cable&dchild=1&keywords=usb+to+serial+cable&pd_rd_i=B00GRP8EZU&pd_rd_r=16...

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Converter-Prolific-Chipset-CB-DB9P/dp/B00IDSM6BW/ref=pd_bxgy_1/132-9099016-3541142?pd_rd_w=lINhZ&pf_rd_p=c64372fa-c41c-422e-990d-9e034f73989b&pf_rd_r=H2K9D3KQ5V43VD1ZJNGW&pd_rd_r=1c8f828b-1cfc-47f1-82b7-9...

Even to this day, some stuff is still sold that ripped off this design: https://www.amazon.com/USB-Serial-Adapter-Prolific-PL-2303/dp/B00GRP8EZU/ref=sr_1_14?dchild=1&keywords=USB+serial+adapter&qid=1615240802&sr=8-14

I don't know what people loved about it so much. I always thought it was kinda tacky. I actually had a blue iBook for a while and while it was a phenomenally sturdy machine and really comfortable to use it looked a bit like an oversized ladies handbag or make-up mirror when carried by the handle. It was great to use but not so great to be seen in public with :D

OK fantastic. So you're saying I should buy this?

My laptop <--> https://www.amazon.com/USB-Serial-Adapter-Prolific-PL-2303/dp/B00GRP8EZU -> Plugs into this cablehttps://www.amazon.com/DTECH-Straight-Through-Serial-Female/dp/B07B4VXNLS/ -> Plugs into Cisco console port

Sure :)

First thing to do is to make sure it is reset to factory settings:

Page 41 in the manual. Switch off, take apart and move jumper K-6 to the test position. Then turn it on breifly. Switch back off and move the jumper back to the Normal position.

Then you will need to connect to it using a serial cable, if your machine does not have a serial port you will need something like this usb to serial adapter

I use the program Tera term under windows to make a serial connection. I set it to:

Speed: 9600

Data: 8bit

Parity: none

Stop: 1

Flow: none

You should then see garbled data u see ' PRESS * TO SET BAUD RATE' Then press *.

You should then be asked to enter your callsign.

After that you should be dropped to the command line with:

cmd:

Then type:

Abaud 9600 - This will set the board rate for future use.

txdelay 30 - this will set a slight delay to help open squelch.

PERM - This will save those settings.

Then you can set the unit in KISS Mode by typing:

Kissmode on

Reset

The unit will then be in kiss mode and you can close the serial window.

From there any software that supports Kiss TNC's should work over serial.

I have been using YAAC You will need to install Java first.

I remove the settings in YAAC that give commands to enter kiss mode as so far I have been setting that manually through tera term.

If you want to always start in Kiss mode then you will need to type: PERM after typing KISSMODE ON. Then when you restart it will be set.

If you do that I believe the only way to undo it is to reset to factory settings again using jumper K-6.

Hope that is of some use. If you need anything else just ask.