only using VMWare Fusion and an older PCT-II (not the newer IIE). On ours, there are two cables connecting the Pactor to the 710 and a single serial cable from the Pactor going to the Mac. The computer completely controls the Pactor and 710 with this setup. We don't have a separate frequency control cable from the 710 to the computer - the control is passed through the Pactor's connection.

We also seem to have good luck with serial-USB adapters. We have three old generic Prolific adapters ($6 each) that feed into a cheap generic unpowered 4-port hub (logo'd freebie from a bank or something) with a single USB cable going to the Mac. They input the nav instruments, the AIS and the Pactor/710 control. The computer recognizes each one and automatically assigns them separate ports and starts using them whenever I plug the hub in.

Mark www.svreach.com