Datalogger cable Laptop for Palm?

[jfdid]

Hi guys, I'm probably going to be changing over to a Palm based logger because my laptop is ancient. Can I use my same cable? There's no brand name on the cable or anything, just a standard laptop serial connection and the 1g OBDI connectors.

Will I need to buy a new cable, or will the current one work for a Palm?

Also, what version of Palm does the M100 use? 3? 3.5?

Thanks in advance!

 

[steve]

You can use the same cable but you will need to make or buy a male to male null modem adaptor to convert the DB9 connector sex and swap pins 2 and 3 for it to work.

The PC is configured as a DTE (Data Terminal Equipment) with a male connector and most Palm serial hotsync cables are configured as DCE (Data Communications Equipment) with a female connector, so they can plug right into a PC like a modem does. The DTE/DCE has to do with which pins are used for transmit and receive data signals. In normal RS232 serial communications a DTE connects to a DCE, connecting a DTE to a DTE or a DCE to DCE doesn't work without an adaptor.

Steve

 

[jfdid]

Steve, thanks for the reply, now I couldn't find an adaptor so I'm going to build a cable.
Would you happen to have the pinouts? I had to buy 2 Male to Female extensions as nothing else would work. Which pins hook up to which? Thanks very much!

 

[steve]

It's a pretty simple null modem adaptor.

Pick one connector and call it A. The other is B.
Pin 2 on A goes to Pin 3 on B.
Pin 3 on A goes to pin 2 on B.
Pin 5 on A goes to pin 5 on B.
Done.

I hope this helps.

Steve

 

[jfdid]

Ok, cool, sounds good.

Sounds like a dumb question, but what about the other wires? Do they go to their respective counterparts or do they not need to be connected? Thanks again.

 

[steve]

What about the other wires? Do they go to their respective counterparts or do they not need to be connected?

Good Question, It can't hurt to connect the rest to their counterparts just in case your logger cable needs to see some other signal to work. The cables I've built just need those three pins.

Steve