Reddit mentions of StarTech.com USB to Serial Adapter - 1 port - USB Powered - FTDI USB UART Chip - DB9 (9-pin) - USB to RS232 Adapter (ICUSB2321F),Black

My list for mobile/portable operating would look something like this...

For a man portable setup I could carry in a pack, the highest capacity LiFePO4 battery I could afford.

Otherwise, if I'm driving out to a fixed operating site, then the biggest AGM deep cycle battery I would care to lug from the car a short distance to the operating site.

A lightweight computer with good battery life so I don't have to worry about external power for it out in the field. I'm not really a Mac guy, but I'd probably bring my Macbook Pro for this task.

The TS-480 doesn't require a Signalink/Rigblaster type interface for digital operation, but you will need the following items to interface to your computer...

• USB to serial converter. Don't buy the Prolific chipset garbage, save yourself the frustration and spend the few bucks for something with an FTDI chipset.
  
  
• Kenwood PG-5H data cable set. You can also make this if you want, Your TS-480 should have shipped with a plastic baggie with the connectors in it to make this (pinouts are detailed towards the back of the manual). Or, you can get them on ebay. I bought mine mainly because hate soldering stuff to DIN connector pins.
  
  
• Serial cable, straight through, female ends. Cheap and readily avaialble.
  
  
• If the laptop you're using doesn't have separate speaker out/mic in jacks, then a cheap USB audio adapter.
  
  The filters aren't truly necessary and the unit is pretty frequency stable without the TCXO, but they sure are nice to have. If you were going to put a filter in it, I would recommend the 500Hz CW filter. It comes in handy when you're trying to zero in on a particular signal or block adjacent strong signals. The DSP filtering is generally adequate, but a strong enough signal is going to swamp the AGC and that's when the crystal filters come in handy to notch that out.
  
  If you do get the TCXO, don't waste $110 on the Kenwood SO-3. The cheap Chinese TCXO's work just as well and can be had for much cheaper. I got mine from ebay for 20 bucks or so, but now you can even get them on Amazon with Prime shipping and everything.
  
  Antenna choice is highly variable. Out here in the deserts of New Mexico, you don't find much in the way of trees, so a wire antenna deployed up into a tree is out and a self supporting vertical is in. I generally pack an MFJ 1979 telescoping vertical whip with a clamping antenna mount or a collapsable fiberglass pole that I can hoist up a length of wire with. Your own situation, available terrain, bands you want to work are going to be the determining factors here.
  
  This page has some useful notice on power draw of the TS-480 with some operating scenarios and battery sizing options. A lightweight, power sipping QRP rig the TS-480 is not, but it's still very usable for portable operations.
  
  

A car adapter? Mine came with one. As for the power supply id recommend this


Here is what i bought to track with it.
PC interface Cable
Serial Adapter
And finally this, but this is optional to you. Youll probably eventually want to image from your backyard, and if you do youll want this. AC Adapter

Another thing, Unluckily for me and for you, the mount does not come with a polar scope. Do some research to what kind you want, but I got this one

Other than that, Good luck! If you ever want some real time advice come check out the chat room under the useful links tab on the side of the subreddit! Chances are I'll be there, or one of the AP gurus.

Having heard good things I bought one of these FTDI ones that has COM Retention: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004ZMYTYC/ (It comes in today, but the reviews are solid)

At my last gig, we had a business unit that needed these things, and we handed out these after we started issuing new laptops that didn't have serial ports oboard: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-USB-Serial-Adapter-Powered/dp/B004ZMYTYC/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1522345839&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=startech+usb+to+rs232&psc=1

I've had good luck with these. http://www.amazon.ca/StarTech-com-ICUSB2321F-1-Port-Adapter-Retention/dp/B004ZMYTYC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1450230167&sr=8-4&keywords=startech+rs232

Being a ham radio operator most of my radios still need to be programmed over RS232 and never had an issue with these ones. Cheapo prolific based ones never seemed to be reliable.

Gets my recommendation. FTDI chipset and it's StarTech...nuff said:

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Serial-Adapter-Retention-ICUSB2321F/dp/B004ZMYTYC

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-USB-Serial-Adapter-Powered/dp/B004ZMYTYC

There are 2 different things, passthrough an entire usb controller, or a single device, sounds like you want a single device. This link has nice screenshots of exactly what to click: http://www.vbrain.info/2014/07/29/how-to-add-an-esxi-connected-usb-device-to-a-vm/

I have ordered this converter , hopefully the trackballs work with it

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https://www.amazon.co.uk/StarTech-com-USB-Serial-Adapter-Powered/dp/B004ZMYTYC/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1537464492&sr=8-5&keywords=db9+serial+to+usb