I’m having trouble getting Fabulatech Serial Splitter to function correctly on my system. It installs fine but doesn’t split the serial port as expected. Has anyone else experienced issues with this software or know how to fix it? Any advice would really help since I need this for my setup.
Wrestling with Virtual Serial Port Tools: An Odyssey
So, here’s the deal—I’ve had my fair share of tangled messes trying to wrangle virtual serial ports. If you were in my shoes, you’d know there’s no shortage of so-called ‘reliable’ options floating around. That’s how I initially landed with Fabulatech and com0com—two names you’ll see bounced around a lot. I mean, they get the job done… most of the time. But, let’s be honest, if you’ve ever tried to get drivers to play nice on a Tuesday afternoon right after a Windows update, you know the frustration levels hit critical mass.
Chasing the ‘Perfect’ Serial Splitter
Cut to a week ago—I’m stuck debugging a POS setup where I need to split one virtual COM port to feed both my legacy inventory application and a homebrew monitoring script. That’s my cue to go searching, Reddit tab open in one window, coffee mug in the other hand, and possibly more hope than good sense.
That’s when I trip over this LinkedIn guide: How Virtual Serial Port Driver Pro Simplifies Acting As A Splitter. Sounds fancy, right? Initially, I’m skeptical. LinkedIn is usually just CEOs posting about “synergy” and “disruptive innovation,” which is code for “I want your email and your soul.”
Giving Another Tool a Spin
Alright, I bite. Next up, I download what they’re talking about here: Serial Splitter Download Page. Honestly, I didn’t expect much. Maybe a janky installer and a fleeting sense of regret, right? Color me surprised because not only did it fire up without complaining, but it actually… worked? I set up a virtual COM port, told it to act like a fancy cable splitter, and suddenly both applications started reading data without throwing tantrums.
Pros, Cons, and Advice from the (Very) Tired
Okay, let’s break it down for all you list lovers:
- Fabulatech: Looks polished, but sometimes gets all ‘licensed feature only’ at the worst possible moment.
- com0com: Lightweight, open-source, but the UI requires patience and prayer to the serial gods.
- Serial Splitter: Fewer headaches (for now), and you don’t need to be a wizard to make it cooperate.
You want raw screenshots? 
(Yeah, nothing fancy to post—that’s the whole point. It worked, period.)
Conclusion
Bottom line: been through more serial port shenanigans than I care to count. Fabulatech and com0com still have their uses, but if you want something a little more plug-and-play that doesn’t make you wish you picked another hobby, this latest Serial Splitter tool is worth a shot. No magic, just less “why won’t this work” screaming at 1 AM.
If anyone has a better solution or a way to make these tools tell jokes while they’re running, let me know—I’ll be in the comments, nursing my next cup of coffee.
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Well, I’ve been down the Fabulatech Serial Splitter rabbit hole more times than I’d like to admit, and yeah, weird stuff can happen where it “installs fine” but doesn’t actually split squat—usually I blame Windows driver weirdness or some funky device permissions mess after a recent update (those seem to hit Fabulatech products right in the guts). Sometimes antivirus or Endpoint Protection will block background services even if you don’t get obvious errors. Wasn’t always a thing, but it’s burned me a few times.
Not to totally dunk on what @mikeappsreviewer said—they’re right that com0com can be migraine fuel, and that other Serial Splitter they found seems legit for just wanting something quick and hands-off. Buuut, in my book, sometimes switching to another tool isn’t always the answer if your setup’s got stricter requirements or legacy stuff sewn in. What’s worked for me is (in order of chaos):
- Check Device Manager – After install, make sure the “split” COM ports actually show up. If not, you might need to uninstall/reinstall and do it “Run as Admin.” Had systems where only doing that makes the virtual ports appear.
- Service May Not Be Running – The Fabulatech splitter has its own service that craters quietly sometimes. Check Services and restart it, or even try manually running as SYSTEM to avoid permission headaches.
- COM Port Conflicts – Other tools (EPSON POS monitoring, VMware, Bluetooth stacks, etc.) will sometimes grab ports out from under Fabulatech. You gotta make sure your virtual ports don’t overlap with any drivers already assigned—even if they say “(in use)” in Device Manager, that’s enough to kill splitting.
- License Quirks – Fabulatech’s “trial” vs “full feature” distinction can sneak up and just gray out stuff—sometimes silently, sometimes with a barely-noticeable watermark. If you’re in trial mode, some split modes just won’t work at all (super frustrating).
- Driver Signing Issues – After major Windows updates, old signed drivers can get the boot, so you get “installed” but the OS refuses to actually enable the device. Turning off Driver Signature Enforcement for a test session might solve but isn’t sustainable.
You said it’s just “not splitting”—does it throw errors or just silently ignore your settings? Any logs? Last thing: while @mikeappsreviewer had luck with Serial Splitter, I’ve personally had the most foolproof experience with Virtual Serial Port Driver. No-nonsense interface and it seems to keep chugging even on cranky corporate laptops, if that sounds like your setup.
If you want a rundown on splitting serial ports (including using Virtual Serial Port Driver), check out how to streamline serial port management for multiple applications. Their walkthrough is pretty idiot-proof.
So yeah, bottom line: Fabulatech can work—just not always seamlessly, especially after updates or if you’re in a hyper-locked down IT environment. If you’re banging your head on the desk, try the above steps or switch to Virtual Serial Port Driver and see if it just clicks. Sometimes stubbornness isn’t worth the time cost.
Fabulatech Serial Splitter is one of those things that either does exactly what you want or leaves you in the void yelling at Device Manager. I see @mikeappsreviewer and @cacadordeestrelas already threw out most of the checklists (device conflicts, service issues, bittersweet licensing drama, etc.), but honestly, sometimes even after all that, it still feels like you’re trying to herd cats—especially post-Windows update.
Something nobody really talks about: have you checked if your antivirus or endpoint security is silently blocking the splitter’s kernel drivers? Not just “notifications”—I mean those deep background blocks where the installer “succeeds” but the drivers can’t load so nothing splits, ever. Seen it too many times with stuff like Bitdefender or Cylance. Shut it off, reinstall (yeah, old school) and sometimes that’s the magic sauce. Not the most IT-approved advice, but hey, if you’re desperate…
Also, another angle: Windows Group Policy or local security policies can flip COM port permissions after an update or major config change. Noticed this a lot in corporate setups: a port looks totally fine but is actually locked up for “admin only” use, so nothing splits. Try making the local account an admin (temporarily) and re-running setup.
I know others plus @cacadordeestrelas are singing the praises of tools like Virtual Serial Port Driver. I was skeptical at first—new tools always promise rainbows—but it actually is more stable, especially if you’re in an environment where software just needs to work, no drama. If Fabulatech starts giving you more gray hairs, it really might be time to bite the bullet and swap.
If you’re tired of whack-a-mole troubleshooting, just do the easy thing and check out how to get started with Serial Splitter here. Saves the “oh god, what now?” frustration.
Anyway, if you’re stubborn about Fabulatech, dig deep into those system logs for “driver failed to load” entries or kernel event errors. Sometimes the answer is buried where you’d least expect. Otherwise, time to let Virtual Serial Port Driver take a swing at your setup.
Let’s get down to brass tacks. Fabulatech Serial Splitter is notorious for weird issues post-update or when layered with security software, as already chewed over above. But before chucking your whole setup, consider this angle: some serial port splitters get jammed not from software but because of odd BIOS/UEFI settings or legacy OS “ghost” device conflicts. After uninstalling and tweaking, try removing all hidden unused COM port ghosts in Device Manager (set environment variable devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1 before launching it). Sometimes that unclogs the pipes for a clean reinstall.
On to alternatives. There’s some debate on which tool wins out—com0com, Fabulatech, or the shiny-fresh Virtual Serial Port Driver. My two cents: com0com is free but can nuke your patience with cryptic errors; Fabulatech looks pro but seems to be allergic to seamless updates, and the Virtual Serial Port Driver (VSPD) actually runs smoother on freshly patched Windows, less fussy on UAC, and its UI doesn’t make you want to rage-quit. VSPD’s clear pro: fast port provisioning and more flexible splitting, plus handles multi-session scenarios better on paper. Cons: licensing can bite you if you need bulk installations, and it’s not open-source (so tinkerers beware).
Might not agree with others on ease of setup—I actually found VSPD’s UI a notch better, but if you’re a “less clicks, the better” person, it’s still ahead. Bottom line: if driver voodoo isn’t working and you’re tripping over weird event log entries, try nuking COM ghosts, consider swapping to Virtual Serial Port Driver, and remember that sometimes “just works” beats DIY heroics. Real talk: competitor reviews help, but your hardware and policy soup is unique—test, test, and if VSPD flops (unlikely), move down the list.