Correct USB Cable

[Mogambo]

Hello ppl

I just got my thunderpack, now i want to interface with host pc.
The serial cable is too short(i don't use laptop) so I guess i need
a simple null-modem cable (DB9/F -- DB9/F). Right ?

And USB ports seem too wierd, none of the cables I have
get into them. Could you please tell specification type of
cable that I should look for? Maybe place/product-id to buy
online ?

Thank you.

[Henri Parmentier]

Hello,

The serial cable can indeed be extended with a null modem cable, reason we keep it that short is that most of the developers use a laptop these days anyway, and a USB to RS232 converter

The USB ports on the board are mini USB, nothing weird with that, already on the market since 7 years I think, most of the cellphones have mini USB connector. you can alternatively buy a mini USB to USB converter, think you will find this in most IT shops without any problem!

By the way, be sure to use the cable we supplied on the OTG port, it is a different connector.

Be sure to use the last software from www.technexion.org,  a working Android image will be uploaded before end this week.

Henri / TechNexion

[Mogambo Park]

On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 10:51 AM, Henri Parmentier <henr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> The serial cable can indeed be extended with a null modem cable, reason we
> keep it that short is that most of the developers use a laptop these days
> anyway, and a USB to RS232 converter

Ok, cool.

> The USB ports on the board are mini USB, nothing weird with that, already on
> the market since 7 years I think, most of the cellphones have mini USB
> connector. you can alternatively buy a mini USB to USB converter, think you
> will find this in most IT shops without any problem!

The two USBHost ports are mini-A type. I can't plug the most popular mini-B
cable -> http://www.usb-cable.com/mini-b-usb-cable-end-connector.jpg
or even like the one supplied for power. Isn't it so?
If I wanted to use a USB hub I would need to find some mini-A male to
mini-B male converter
(most usb hubs these days have mini-B upstream port)

Could you please point to some link, where I can find the solution cable?

>
> By the way, be sure to use the cable we supplied on the OTG port, it is a
> different connector.

of course.

>
> Be sure to use the last software from www.technexion.org,  a working Android
> image will be uploaded before end this week.

Sure, am waiting.

Thanks a lot.

[nio]

Hello,

> Could you please point to some link, where I can find the solution cable?

According to wikipedia, mini-A connectors are deprecated, but you can
still find some adapters on ebay like this one :
http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140428461574
or this one:
http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250675627328

> > Be sure to use the last software fromwww.technexion.org, a working Android

> > image will be uploaded before end this week.
>
> Sure, am waiting.

It seems to be already available there :
http://www.technexion.org/index.php/tao-3530-series/software

[Henri Parmentier]

Mini A might be "depreciated" but almost every external USB device uses this standard, so finding cables is no issue at all.

What exactly do you want to connect?

[Mogambo Park]

On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 1:47 AM, nio <lordn...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
>> Could you please point to some link, where I can find the solution cable?
>
> According to wikipedia, mini-A connectors are deprecated, but you can

That's why I was not happy with that part of h/w design.

Also, the USB 'power' cable, that comes in the package, doesn't seem to
fit in either on the USBH ports, or did I not try hard enough ? I just wanna
make sure that there isn't yet another variation in mini-A cable, which the
power cable already is.
Could someone please confirm if another exactly same (as power supply)
cable should be
used?

> still find some adapters on ebay like this one :
> http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140428461574
> or this one:
> http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250675627328

let me see if I can order them in thailand.

>> > Be sure to use the last software fromwww.technexion.org, a working Android
>> > image will be uploaded before end this week.
>>
>> Sure, am waiting.
>
> It seems to be already available there :
> http://www.technexion.org/index.php/tao-3530-series/software

Thanks, I am waiting for cables before I try it out.

Best Regards.

[Mogambo Park]

On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:53 AM, Henri Parmentier <henr...@gmail.com> wrote:

> Mini A might be "depreciated" but almost every external USB device uses this
> standard, so finding cables is no issue at all.

Really ? I thought most external usb devices use mini-B cable .....
lower in the pic
http://images.mft39.multiply.com/image/1/photos/235/500x500/20/usb00.jpg?et=%2CUFcwqomTPrJ75hA9Jzmow&nmid=220868651
which would not go into the USBH-1,2 ports. Or would it ?

> What exactly do you want to connect?

Any usb device - mouse, keyboard, pen-drive etc. Perhaps behind a USB
Hub directly
connected to one of the USBH ports.

Btw, can u please confirm that I can plug a cable, like the one
provided for power supply,
in the USBH ports? The ports are obviously different. I mean I tried
to plug, but it wouldn't go all
the way inside and I don't wanna be too adventurous :)

Regards.

[nio]

> lower in the pichttp://images.mft39.multiply.com/image/1/photos/235/500x500/20/usb00....

The lower one is the common miniB and should fit the OTG connector
near the HDMI plug for powering the board.

The upper one is the miniA and can be used on the two HOST connectors
to plug in keyboard, mouse, etç...

[Henri Parmentier]

The cable you got with it is a OTG cable, this fits ONLY in the OTG port ....which is normal

[salad_man]

The OTG port is mini usb-b, it has a black square on the mini usb
connector. The Usb host ports are mini-a, which are deprecated and
have half a black oval shape on the mini connector. My OTG cable, mini-
b head, Fits into both. I have used the OTG cable with F to F usb head
to plug in a usb hub in the usb host ports and using a power supply
for power.

[Mogambo Park]

On Fri, Aug 27, 2010 at 10:51 AM, Henri Parmentier <henr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> The serial cable can indeed be extended with a null modem cable, reason we
> keep it that short is that most of the developers use a laptop these days
> anyway, and a USB to RS232 converter

Well, today I got the cables and adaptors I ordered online.
The 9pin F/F NULL modem cable didn't work, Thankfully I ordered spare
9pin f/f gender changer and a regular M/F null-modem serial cable got
it working.

[Mogambo Park]

On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 5:17 PM, Henri Parmentier <henr...@gmail.com> wrote:
> The cable you got with it is a OTG cable, this fits ONLY in the OTG port
> ....which is normal

I don't complain about the provided USB cable. I am pissed off when I
have to struggle to find
suitable USB mini-A cable. I couldn't find in any of the h/w stores, I
had to order online.

[nio]

> I don't complain about the provided USB cable. I am pissed off when I
> have to struggle to find
> suitable USB mini-A cable. I couldn't find in any of the h/w stores, I
> had to order online.

The miniA hardware choice is the same as for the well known
beagleboard... If you find it hardly acceptable, maybe you should use
an off-the-shelves product, not a prototyping base ?

[Mogambo Park]

unfortunately it's too late !
also the point to ponder is if the products don't use the port type, what
purpose do these ports serve on prototypes ? Why can't such dev boards
too have the popular mini-B type receptacles ?

[Henri Parmentier]

Then you should have bought > http://www.technexion.com/index.php/development-kits/tsunamipack

this is with full size USB connectors.