HP 50G Serial Cable

[SamsonCables]

Samson Cables has just completed a working prototype serial cable for
the 4-pin mini USB plug on the 50G cable, complete with needed built-
in electronics. It has passed initial testing. We are looking for a
few beta testers for the cable. If you might be interested, please
contact me at Ca...@samsoncables.com for further information or to
express your interest. We will have a first run of the prototype cable
within a couple weeks, for those interested in participating. If you
are interested, we would to know what types of application you would
be using the cable for.

We are also interested in determining a price point for the cable once
it goes into production, and would be interested in what some of you
would feel about a price of $30 to $40 for the cable.

Kind regards,

Carl Miner
Samson Cables

[TW]

> We are also interested in determining a price point for the cable once
> it goes into production, and would be interested in what some of you
> would feel about a price of $30 to $40 for the cable.

>From my questions in the past, people seemed to say that if the cable
looked professional and complete, then 35 would be acceptable. If it
is just a homemade looking thing, 25 was said.

Good job on the cable.

TW

[not4mail]

On Thu, 28 Feb 2007, SamsonCables wrote:

> ...

> We are also interested in determining a price point for the cable once
> it goes into production, and would be interested in what some of you
> would feel about a price of $30 to $40 for the cable.

Depending on product quality, power methods, etc. -- seems OK.

Would you also consider offering a "bare-bones" cable?

Just solder-tails (or a 4x.1" connector) would be nice. Non-232
inverted comm levels would actually simplify some applications.

--
..

[Tom Lake]

> We are also interested in determining a price point for the cable once
> it goes into production, and would be interested in what some of you
> would feel about a price of $30 to $40 for the cable.

I'd like $30 better than $40 unless compromises would have to be made
to come in at $30. I'm an HP buyer. I will gladly pay a little extra for
better
quality equipment. 8^)

Tom Lake

[J.Chen]

Excuse my lack of knowledge, but what is the real advantage of the
serial cable on the 50g over the usb cable?

[TW]

> Excuse my lack of knowledge, but what is the real advantage of the
> serial cable on the 50g over the usb cable?

None - if you just want to connect to a computer.

If you want to connect to a GPS handheld, a peice of lab equipment,
surveying devices, etc. there are usually really no other choices.

TW

[dot]

A lot of embedded systems equipment uses serial connectors. PLC's for
example. PLC's are the current state of the art for industrial
process control, and one can do marvelous things with the hp50g *if
only* one could utilize that darn serial port!

[reth]

On Mar 1, 5:24 pm, "SamsonCables" <topsofthemounta...@gmail.com>
wrote:

> Samson Cables has just completed a working prototype serial cable for
> the 4-pin mini USB plug on the 50G cable, complete with needed built-
> in electronics. It has passed initial testing. We are looking for a
> few beta testers for the cable. If you might be interested, please

> contact me at C...@samsoncables.com for further information or to

> express your interest. We will have a first run of the prototype cable
> within a couple weeks, for those interested in participating. If you
> are interested, we would to know what types of application you would
> be using the cable for.
>
> We are also interested in determining a price point for the cable once
> it goes into production, and would be interested in what some of you
> would feel about a price of $30 to $40 for the cable.
>
> Kind regards,
>
> Carl Miner
> Samson Cables

I'd pay $40, still thinking it's a rip-off :)

[ger...@cox.net]

> I'd pay $40, still thinking it's a rip-off :)- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

When you consider the electronics they put in, it isn't such a bad
price. This isn't just 2 offbeat molded connectors cabled together.

I maintain that HP should manufacture the cable, and sell it at a
loss, just to promote calculator sales. IMHO, the 50 isn't a big
improvement over the 49G+ (which I currently own), except for the
serial port.

[reth]

> When you consider the electronics they put in, it isn't such a bad
> price. This isn't just 2 offbeat molded connectors cabled together.

$40 is comparable with the price of the calculator itself, how about
the electronics they put in there?

> I maintain that HP should manufacture the cable, and sell it at a
> loss, just to promote calculator sales. IMHO, the 50 isn't a big
> improvement over the 49G+ (which I currently own), except for the
> serial port.

agreed, that's why I bought the 50g and got caught by unpleasant
surprise

cheers,
reth

[goo...@jimdonelson.com]

HI All,

I'm Jim and I am working with Carl to make this cable.

Shortly I will be posting complete specifications.

I too had a nasty surprise after I purchased the 50G, no serial
cable.

I did check the on line manual that states the cable is available as
an additional accessory, when in fact it is not.
That's at least partly why I am doing this.
I will be posting again soon.

Jim D.

[Bruce Horrocks]

goo...@jimdonelson.com wrote:
> That's at least partly why I am doing this.
> I will be posting again soon.

What exactly are you doing? I ask because the hp40gs comes with a calc
to calc serial cable that has the appropriate mini-connector on each
end. So some sort of cable is available from HP. Obviously, a converter
to provide a more standard type of plug would be useful.

Regards,

--
Bruce Horrocks
Surrey
England
(bruce at scorecrow dot com)

[Giancarlo]

Hi Jim (and Carl).
I'm looking forward to receiving some good news about the cable
(eventually and in spite of *weak* HP effort :S ).
Thank you for your commitment.
Best regards.
Giancarlo