Serial Sync Cable

arfaja · 12-23-02, 10:02 AM

Does anybody know where to get a Serial Sync cable for my Axim 400? :(

Talador · 12-23-02, 10:16 AM

Dell does not currently produce a Serail Sync cable, only USB. They continue to say that it is a possibility that one will be available in the future, but Dell does not know when. (Lovely, right?)

--Talador

janko10 · 12-23-02, 04:15 PM

Just curious, what would you need a serial cable for? An old laptop? Just about any PC today has USB and if not, can be added with an expansion card.

JakeRich · 12-23-02, 06:37 PM

janko10, lots of stuff uses serial:

GPS equipment (that $99 Radio Shack receiver, for example)
Phones
Medical equipment
Network equipment
NT machines (NT doesn't support USB)
and lots more.

The lack of a serial cable has generated a lot of heat for Dell. I have heard they plan to have a serial cable out in mid-January. I'm not holding my breath for it. (But I do want it for my Magellan GPS)

desiv · 12-23-02, 08:12 PM

All of the above.. (Did you have external modems in that list too???)

I'd like it mostly for network devices.. Switches, routers, etc..

Especially if I could use it AND ethernet at the same time. Would be nice to serial into a switch, and TFTP a config or firmware from a TFTP server on the same Axim..

Anyway, it will be interesting to see what happens when Dell comes out with their serial cable. Yes, for syncing, but their manual talks about serial for modems..

True, it might be just included stuff from standard PocketPC stuff (Like the bit about Vibrating alert, which the OS handles, but not the hardware.), but...

Especially since I found out that the processor has an internal UART, I can't imagine the engineers using something ELSE to set up serial connections.

And they DO have serial, which they will use for their sync cable AND for the Keyboard. I'm sure that's serial too...

Question will be, is the serial driver able to talk to anything other than Activesync? And if not, will some 3rd party write a better driver?

Even if there is no connected UART, it's not REQUIRED for serial, just makes it easier... A driver should (depending on timing issues) still be possible.

After all, a router or switch isn't any different from your PC when it comes to serial. Activesync or not, it's data bits on a serial port...

(Don't ask me about the Toshiba, I don't get it.. :-)

Desi

gordy · 12-23-02, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by arfaja@Dec 23 2002, 09:02 AM
Does anybody know where to get a Serial Sync cable for my Axim 400? :(

Serial??

Intel is killing legacy ports this spring. Parrallel, Serial, PS2, and Floppy drives will be no more. My guess there will not be one.

Regards

gordy

janko10 · 12-24-02, 02:49 AM

I see that all of those things use serial, but I don't think enough people will for Dell to make one. Just mho.

Talador · 12-24-02, 08:37 AM

And if Dell does nto make one, I'm sure that another 3rd party cable producer will. But if you are that desperate for serial (as mentioned before) there are CF->Serial cards out there.

--Talador

12-25-02, 10:11 AM

The only way to use my GPS is to get the outpin info and diy the cable.

Intel pxa250 chip with xscale 400Mhz do support uart

1 fof full function uart,1 for bluetooth,1 for IrDA

axim outpin should export the ff_uart for extend,just found it and do it youself.

The chip pxa250 information is here

http://www.intel.com/design/pca/applicatio.../278524-001.pdf

blatty · 12-27-02, 12:36 PM

Does anyone know of a 3rd party vendor that is making a USB sync cable for the Axim?

12-27-02, 01:32 PM

Belkin will have a DB-9 serial sync cable available in early February.

There is a definite need for this, since many Axim owners need to communicate with electronic equipment that does not have USB interfaces and likely will not for several years. I can not think of any high end electronic devices that incorporate USB.

In the meantime, NT4 users can sync using the IR port of the Axim with a serial to IR adapter.

XTNDAccess IrDA PC Adapter

arfaja · 12-30-02, 01:54 PM

I am using NT at work and we all know that NT does not support USB. I like the Belkin soultion, I guess that I will just have to wait or use the IR port. Thanks to everybody that helped out.

mjmawk · 12-31-02, 03:35 PM

I bought the Dell Axim last week and I was excited when it arrived yesterday. I was disapointed when I found out I couldn't use it at work. My office still uses Windows NT. I checked with Dell and they said that Microsoft did not want them using serial cables. I'm guessing that it is Microsoft's way of pushing people forward and forcing them to purchase new OSs. I found out yesterday that my company is switching to Windows XP in six months, so I will be able to use it then. I checked the web and Radioshack and Compusa yesterday looking for some way to connect. I really wish Dell would have highlighted this point on their web page. I was proud of my research on the product at first, now I'm pretty upset. I'll hold on to it for now just in case a serial connection becomes available.

desiv · 12-31-02, 03:46 PM

Serial should be available from Dell in Jan/Feb time frame.... Dell is only "certifying" it for syncing, but that should be enough for you....
That doesn't mean it won't work for other things, just that Dell won't certify it for anything else.. We'll know more when it's out...

3rd parties ARE actively working on serial cables for the Dell, and I haven't heard any of them say it can't be done... :D

So you should wait for 3 reasons...
1: Serial will be out before toooo long..
2: You're office is moving to XP in 6 months anyway..
3: The Axim is SWEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTTT.... B)

As a workaround, if you have infrared, you can sync that way.. Slow, but... And once you have a partnership, you can sync with Ethernet (Wireless or wored) using a CF card..

Much faster!!!!

Rumor has it you can set up a partnership with a registry key and from there, you could sync with ethernet...

Or, spend $160 on a CF serial card just for syncing.. It's a REALLY BAD option, but I figured I'd throw it out there! :P

Desi