USB cradle with serial GPS

[johnbell]

I am currently a Palm OS user. However, I wanted to try a couple of Pocket
PC programs that use GPS such as Delorme XMap Street Atlas Handheld, Pocket
Streets, and NavGPS (www.gonavgps.com).

Between various factors, such as price and thinness, I like the Toshiba
e310. The problem is that the cradle is USB and there is no serial cable
available. GPS uses a serial interface. With a PDA with a serial cradle or
cable, it is possible to hook the GPS to the PDA with a null modem connector
and gender changer.

I found a Belkin serial to USB converter, but the USB portion is the male
end--the same as the cord from the docking cradle.

I have not broken the seal on the box, so I can still return the Toshiba
Pocket PC with no problem. However, I would like to find a solution. A
kludge is no problem, as long as it works.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

John Bell
www.smallboatgps.com
www.cockpitgps.com

[Peter Horrocks]

I know that both the e570 and the iPaq both have a cable available that has
the proprietry connector to plug into the pocket PC at one end and a 9 pin
serial port at the other end. If you have a look at the accessories page on
the toshiba or compaq web sites you should find it there. Unfortunately I
think they're fairly expensive :(

"johnbell" <johnbell(remove)@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
news:xmHC8.244641$nc.36...@typhoon.tampabay.rr.com...

[Sven]

I would not expect the normal serial to USB adapters to work. They tend to
be designed to adapt a serial device to the USB port of a PC, which is a
host port. With the exception of the Casio(with an adapter), all PPC USB
ports are clients, and therefore would not support connecting the adapter
you mentioned. If in fact you do find a way around this, possible in a
serial cable for the Toshiba that may exist, also take a look at the PPC
mapping capability at TOPO!,
http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/sync.cfm

"johnbell" <johnbell(remove)@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
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[Larry Morris [MS]]

Typically the PPC devices have both USB and serial connectors integrated
into a single high-density connector, and you purchase either a USB cable or
a serial cable, depending on which you need for your PC. However, be warned
that the serial cable used to connect your device to your desktop will be a
NULL cable, and it is not possible to un-NULL this by simply inserting
another NULL. You will definitely be able to un-NULL the RX and TX lines,
and most likely the RTS/CTS. However, DSR/DTR/RI will be in a T
configuration that cannot be undone via another connector. This may or may
not impact your ability to use this with a GPS.

Some OEMs actually sell a 3rd variant of connector, which is a straight
serial cable intended for use with modems. This is your best bet if
available. And you can always create an appropriate NULL if you want to use
that cable to connect to a desktop.

--
Larry Morris
Development Manager - Windows CE Core
Microsoft Corporation

To reply directly, remove the "_online" from my reply-to alias.

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

"johnbell" <johnbell(remove)@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
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[Jeff Rosenfeld [MS]]

USB is an assymmetric protocol (the assymmetry pertains to the hardware, not
just to the software) and newer PocketPCs tend to implement only the
"function" side so that they can interact with PCs (the "host" side) without
needing additional hardware.

The Belkin device is another "function" side device and can only be attached
to a USB "host" side device. This makes more sense when you consider that
USB was designed to be a medium-performance peripheral bus for a desktop
computer; the model is a single host with multiple peripherals (the
"functions"). PocketPCs confound the design by wanting to be a peripheral -
a "function" - when syncing to a PC but wanting to be the "host" in order to
have its own set of peripherals. Being both requires two independent
controllers in the device, with two independent connectors coming out of it.

The e310 cannot use its USB port for what you need; the Belkin device won't
be of any help. The closest I can see would be using the IrDA port with an
IrDA to RS232 thingie (or an IrDA GPS or even better - if anybody makes one
yet - an SDIO GPS).

Also, the cradle has a 26-pin connector but none of Toshiba's documentation
lists what can be brought out from it.

Good luck.

--
- Jeff Rosenfeld,
Windows CE Device Drivers,
Microsoft Corporation.

Fine print: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights. You assume all risk for your use. © 2002 Microsoft Corporation.
All rights reserved.

"johnbell" <johnbell(remove)@cfl.rr.com> wrote in message
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[Justin Khoo]

Jeff,

Is is possible to connect two controllers to one connector and use some kind
of firmware/software logic to determine which device it is connected to
(peripheral vs. PC) and give the control of the connector to one or the
other controller? (wow.. a mouthful!)

Cheers,
Justin

"Jeff Rosenfeld [MS]" <_jeff...@microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3ceb004e$1...@news.microsoft.com...

[Jeff Rosenfeld [MS]]

There is a new specification for something called USB On-The-Go (aka OTG).
It does more or less what you describe. OTG has a couple of significant
flaws, but it does allow a single connector to be used in either USB role.
The Toshiba e310 does not, however, have an OTG controller in it.

--
- Jeff Rosenfeld,
Windows CE Device Drivers,
Microsoft Corporation.

Fine print: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers
no rights. You assume all risk for your use. © 2002 Microsoft Corporation.
All rights reserved.

"Justin Khoo" <justi...@h.o.t.mail.com> wrote in message
news:#p5dGkUACHA.2344@tkmsftngp02...