Question about modren day Flashing

Hi, I am new to this form.
I registered because I was hoping some of you could help me in the right direction .

In 2009 I made a serial black-cat cable and using the black-cat software I flashed the SB500x with Haxorware / Sigma / Fresca .

Now in 2017, I no longer have a serial port and Black-cat /Tom's JTAG don't run on windows 10.
So its time to try a different approach.

I sodded in some header pins and connected a UART/TTL cable from China



Using Puty I tried to read the serial data, but all I got is a black screen.

Then I disconnected the UART cable and hooked up an 'ST-Link V2r interface Programmer' from china.


The ST-Link software told me it could not connect .
So I disconnected it and hooked up a Chinese USB-Blaster, just for kicks .


The USB-Blaster gives me a instant Blue Screen OD.

So I am wondering :
1- Why isn't the UART/TTL cable displaying any serial output ?
2- Is there an other cheap programmer that will work with FlashcatUSB / BlackcatUSB ?
3- Is the any software that can run on win10 that will support the printerport cable ?

Thanks in advanced for your help!