is this cable ok?

[97redEclipse001]

I bought a datalogger and it came with all the cables to connect to the car, but I'm wondering about connecting it to my laptop. I have an Asus Z96J-s and the only port that even closely resembles what I need for the logger is a 15 pin female port, the one that comes with the logger is a 9 pin female port. I think this is what I'm looking for but it says clock cable..

http://www.stonewallcable.com/product.asp?dept_id=24&pf_id=BY-7150

I found that through google but it seemed expensive even for 3 feet of cable. Anyone else know where to get a cable so I can hook this beast up? Am I even close to what I need?

Thanks guys.

edit: Also, I was wondering if theres a vfaq, or if someone knows, how to hook it up so that when I buy rechargeable batteries, I can have the logger charge while its in the car and I don't have to bring it back to my computer for more juice.

 

[spyderturbo007]

The problem is that your PC doesn't have a serial port. The 15 pin female connection is for hooking up an external monitor, so that won't work. Go grab yourself a serial to USB adapter. You might be able to search around here and find one that is known to work. Some brands work great and others don't.

 

[97redEclipse001]

i bought the correct db9 male serial to usb cable but why doesn't my laptop recognize the palm? I have the palm desktop installed, hot sync manager installed, but nothing is happening. It feels like there's some small setting that I don't have right and is not allowing the connection to go through but it isn't immediately apparent so here I am, asking for help. Any of which is appreciated.

 

[spyderturbo007]

Right click on the HotSync manager in your taskbar and make sure there is a checkmark next to "Local USB".

 

[97redEclipse001]

it's checked. I was actually moving some stuff around today and a little mini-disc fell out of the packaging that came with the cable. I installed the driver for the cable (which I found it strange that a cable needed a driver but whatever) and it still doesn't sync. This is getting to be a very depressing process.

 

[spyderturbo007]

It is possible that the DB9 to USB adapter isn't compatible. I'm not sure about the Palms, but I know some of the adapters don't work with DSMLink. Might want to search around and see if anyone has a brand that is known to work.

 

[97redEclipse001]

I suppose that the lack of responses means that no one else has encountered this problem? I'm not even sure where to begin, I looked on the mmcd homepage and their troubleshooting seems to only apply after you've actually got the thing to hotsync. I only paid like $6 for the adapter so I'd be down to buy another one if I knew it would work. It is a palm m100 by the way so I figured this problem would be pretty much extinct by now considering that seems to be the universal datalogger...

 

[spyderturbo007]

I think I lied to you. According to the guy over in the pocketlogger forums, after you install the drivers for the adapter, you need to choose "Local" and "Serial". Apparently, the drivers for the adapter will install a virtual COM port for the adapter. Then it's just a matter of figuring out which COM port is the virtual port.

I also found something else that might help. Apparently the Belkin Serial/USB Y-Adapter will not work with the pocketlogger software. Is that the cable you picked up? I know you aren't dealing with the pocketlogger software, but you really can't get any support for the mmcd program. That's why I recommend the pocketlogger software to people.

 

[97redEclipse001]

I know it isn't Belkin. I bought it on amazon but I don't think it gets much more generic than this cable. I honestly don't even see a a brand name, so I'm sort of surprised that it actually came with a driver. I'll tinker with it some more and see what happens. Thanks for all your help btw.

 

[97redEclipse001]

I assume you mean "local usb" and "local serial?" I went into my computers device manager and it now has a port named "USB-Serial CH340(COM4)" Not exactly sure what that does for me but it may be a start. I checked local usb and local serial in every combination that there is, together and separate, no luck though. I'm also assuming that I have to have "direct serial" checked on the palm? Theres another option that says "IR to a PC/handheld."

 

[spyderturbo007]

Once you choose "Local Serial", you will have to tell the HotSync Manager that it needs to use COM 4, since it will most likely default to COM1.

I'm at work and I don't have my laptop here, so I can't be more descriptive. I'll try to remember to check when I get home.

 

[97redEclipse001]

It actually defaulted to COM3 but it doesn't matter. Thank you so much for your help. Better believe as soon as I figure out how, I'll recommend that you get some Rep points.

 

[97redEclipse001]

you've been recommended

 

[spyderturbo007]

So you got it working? Thanks for the recommendation.