I’m looking for advice on the best serial splitter hardware or software available right now. I need to connect multiple devices to a single serial port for a project, but I’m not sure which options are the most reliable or user-friendly. Would appreciate suggestions based on your own experiences or recommendations on what to avoid.
If you’re looking to split a single COM port among multiple devices, I’ve been down that rabbit hole—let’s just say serial splitting can be weirdly more complex than you’d expect in the era of WiFi lightbulbs and 8K streaming. There’s hardware options that do real RS232/RS485 signal duplication—think StarTech or Aten—great for industrial setups but a total money and cable headache for casual or dev use, IMO.
But if you’re down to use software, the game-changer is the Virtual Serial Port Driver by Eltima. Seriously, it creates multiple virtual COM port pairs so you can share one physical serial port among tons of apps or hardware. Set it up, map your splits, and everything thinks it’s talking to the real thing. No weird lag, works on Windows 11, even lets dev tools or legacy systems play nice. Price isn’t crazy, support is solid.
If you want to see how it works, check this deep-dive: level up your serial port workflow. It saved me from the utter chaos of cable spaghetti in my last project, so ya, can’t really get better unless you wanna solder your own hardware splitter (not recommended unless you like electrical smoke).
TL;DR: Unless you have to do it in hardware for regulatory reasons, go Virtual Serial Port Driver. Less wiring, more working.
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So, full disclosure, serial splitting makes me want to time travel to the ancient 90s and warn everyone: ‘This will still be a problem in 2024!’ Like, how is it still such a mess? Anyway, I get what @mike34 is saying about the Virtual Serial Port Driver—it seriously does the trick for software splitting, especially if you want to avoid running another cable across your office just so your coffee machine can talk to your barcode scanner (been there, want those hours back).
BUT: hardware splitters deserve a bit more love if your devices REALLY don’t play nice virtually (some microcontroller boards are pure drama queens about emulated ports, trust me). StarTech and Aten are solid, yeah, but also check out Moxa—they do robust industrial splitters that aren’t quite as plug-and-play but rock-solid if your project is finicky about voltage, handshaking, or weird legacy signal specs. Downside: they’re not cheap, and the setup is “fun” only if you moonlight as a cable wrangler.
If you’re running Windows and want the software route (which honestly fits most dev/test scenarios), the Virtual Serial Port Driver is king. Super easy mapping, barely any lag, no crazy config, and you can literally fake out some cranky old SCADA tools with it. If you wanna jump right in, here’s where you grab it: get the Virtual Serial Port Driver here.
One small “devil’s advocate” note: software splitters don’t always play nice with time-critical data. If you’re running some super-sensitive timing for lab equipment or old CNC hardware, double-check before you commit, or expect a weird afternoon spent squinting at logs.
TL;DR:
- Hardcore hardware: Go Moxa, StarTech, Aten, but bring your patience and cash.
- Almost everyone else: Virtual Serial Port Driver = fewer headaches.
- Don’t trust anything that promises “no-hassle” serial splitting. There is always at least a LITTLE hassle.
May your cables be untangled and your serial data error-free.
Let’s break down the serial splitter jungle with some cold, hard pros, cons, and why this “simple” task is an eternal headache.
Physical hardware splitters (think Moxa, StarTech, Aten, as flagged by previous posters) rule for bulletproof signal integrity and when you’re stuck with legacy lab gear that thinks a virtual port is a sign of the end times. But: expensive, require extra space, wonky daisy-chaining, and you’d better like cable management or you’ll end up living in a serpentine nest.
Now, Virtual Serial Port Driver deserves its gold star for the 2024 crowd. It isn’t magic, but it’s about as close as serial splitting gets:
Pros:
- Makes multiple virtual ports, so you can have your apps and gadgets “talk” to the same port in parallel—bypassing dreaded cable chaos.
- Installs easily on modern Windows (up to 11)—no wrestling with unsigned drivers or ancient .dll swaps.
- Surprisingly smooth emulation; I’ve run multi-app test rigs and only rarely tripped it up.
- Lets you skip the hardware rabbit hole entirely for dev/test and most business PC tasks.
Cons:
- If your gear absolutely needs sub-millisecond timings (like lab equipment or CNCs that get cranky with software interrupt delays), you might get the occasional hiccup. This isn’t peculiar to Virtual Serial Port Driver—just the nature of Windows multitasking.
- Price isn’t free. Not outrageous, but enough to make people try free alternatives first and then inevitably come back.
- Can’t fix bad hardware or poor wiring. Splitting a dying COM line? Prepare for a world of CRC errors.
Competitors do exist (ahem, Eltima alternatives, or some open-source projects floating around GitHub), but most lack the polish, documentation, or support level that Virtual Serial Port Driver boasts.
Key takeaway: If you’re a developer, tester, or just hate cable nests, Virtual Serial Port Driver is legit—just do a real-world test before putting it into your hundred-grand lab setup. If you need ironclad timing or deal with heavy-duty industrial protocols, hardware splitters hold their ground (with all their quirks and cost). And anyone promising serial splitting is easy clearly doesn’t own enough test equipment.