Your computer must be equipped with at least two (2) serial ports. You must use one serial port to connect your writer to the computer while a second port is needed to transmit the translated text (testimony) to the attorney's computer.
There are several software programs available (i.e. WinView) that will allow an attorney, a Judge, or a hearing impaired person view the testimony. These programs usually communicate with the court reporters' computers via a communication port.
This page is dedicated to answering the of which equipment is needed to connect a realtime computer to a workstation.
As mentioned earlier, you will need at least two serial ports. Most notebook computers are equipped with one serial port (newer computers do not have a serial port).
The following links provide information on PCMCIA and USB technologies that are available for your use, to add additional serial ports to your notebook computer. Additionally, we have prepared the following feature comparison table for your reference.
| Feature | PCMCIA | USB |
| Price | $150-200 | $50-100 |
| External power needed | No | Yes |
| Compact | Yes | No |
| Years since its introduction | 6+ | 1-2 |
| Must carry additional cables and equipment | No | Yes |
Disclaimer: The following links are provided as a reference only. These companies have proved themselves to be a leader in their fields. ProCAT does not endorse the products offered by these companies or in any way warrant the performance of their products on your computer. It is your responsibility to choose a product that meets with your needs.
PCMCIA serial port:
http://www.socketcom.com/sioprods.htm
USB serial port:
http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Product_Id=42800&eid=TOhl4G1MVN1higU