That means you probably do need a driver; did your cable come with a cd and is there any documentation about installing it on the Mac on the cd? What manufacturer shows up in System Profiler for your usbserial? System Profiler is what you were opening when you earlier described going into your menus and finding it. Also, I assume you did your ls command with the cable plugged into the Mac. -- Cheryl "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." (Psalm 19:14 Bible KJV)
