serial cable

[intelsux]

according to dell, the serial cable will only be usable for connecting to a PC. what about GPS?

"As I stated elsewhere, it is my understanding that there will be a serial cable available for the Axim X5. I have no information on when it may be available.

I have received more information on serial connectivity, and unfortunately, the Axim X5 does not have a UART. Since it does not have a UART, it is my understanding that the serial cable will only be usable for connecting to a PC."

serial cable (http://delltalk.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dellpda&message.id=2597)

[imported_Xeon]

I saw that also, i guess that means you have to use a cf card for things such as gps etc. Or, if someone skiful with electronics figures out how to interface with that.

[intelsux]

well, this is not a good news. I already have a Magellan GPS 315. I really don't wanna spend another $100-$200+ to get a CF GPS. besides I want to use the CF slot for memory card.

[imported_Xeon]

On the other hand, people said it was impossible to do serial data with the e740, but www.thesupplynet.com now has serial cables with a usb to serial converter built in, and a driver for it. Maybe someone will figure out a way to put in a uart using the avilable wires, its not that expensive of an ic; about $6 in small quanities.

[Tom61]

I think someone confused USB (Universal Serial Bus) and regular serial. The Dell only has device side USB, meaning you can't plug USB devices into it (you need host side USB for that).

Serial, however, is peer-to-peer. There are even instructions in the Dell's user manual for hooking up an external modem via the serial cable and a null modem adapter, so obviously you can hook external devices to it.

[imported_Xeon]

tom, that was posted by a dell moderator. The UART (Universal Asyncranous Reciever and Transmitter i think, excuse my spelling) is what allows the serial port to communicate with other serial devices. For hooking it up to a computer, suposdally there is a way to make it cheaper and not use one, which it seems like this is what dell did.

[joelupchurch]

I don't understand the comments about the UART. The UART is
built in on the Xscale processor, so the additional hardware
cost should be minimal.

[Tom61]

From the Axim user guide:
Creating a Modem Connection to an ISP
1 Obtain the following information from your ISP:
? ISP dial-up access telephone number
? Username and password
? TCP/IP settings
Some ISPs require information in front of the username, such as
MSN/username.

2 Install a modem card, or use a null modem cable and appropriate
adapters to connect an external modem to your device through the
serial port.

Just because someone is a moderator doesn't mean that he actually knows what he's talking about(especially with a product this new).

[Yuta]

Well, it wouldn't be the first time a manual has bugs.
Also, where are the "apropiate adapters", will they ever exist?.

This is the full quote: As I stated elsewhere, it is my understanding that there will be a serial cable available for the Axim X5. I have no information on when it may be available.

I have received more information on serial connectivity, and unfortunately, the Axim X5 does not have a UART. Since it does not have a UART, it is my understanding that the serial cable will only be usable for connecting to a PC.

From what he says, I think he was assesed.

Today, at same dell thread, http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dellpda&message.id=2597&view=by_date_ascending&page=5, the moderator was quoted saying: "There is no Serial sync cable for the Axim at this time. It is my understanding that one will be available in the future."

[Tom61]

I think there used to be a guide on this site that explained how to hook up a modem to a PPC, but it seems to be gone now. :( Anybody know of a guide on another site?

"Appropriate adapters" probably means the gender changing adapters (easily found at Radio Shack). With a null modem cable, you'd need a gender changer on the Axim end since it and the serial cable are both female connectors, on the modem end you might need a DB25 to DB9 adapter (depending on your null modem cable).

But, I guess we're just going to have to wait until the serial cable is released to find out for sure wether or not it works. :( :/

I'm taking the optimistic view right now and thinking the hardware guys threw random techno-bable to get him to go away. I don't think the IR would work if the Axim didn't have an UART.

Edit: Take a look at this thread on axim site about serial, and why they might be 'erroring on the side of caution' on this issue:
http://www.aximsite.com/cgi-bin/ib/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=5;t=1

[joelupchurch]

As I mentioned before the Xscale processor has the UARTs built in. Here is link to a PDF on the Intel web site describing all the built in interfaces in the PXA250.

http://www.intel.com/design/pca/prodbref/pxa250.pdf

It is possible, that whoever designed the board for the Axim decided not to wire the necessary pins to the outside world where we could use them.

I think Dell is planning some kind of expansion sleeve down the road. There are around 40 pins on the bottom plug, which is way more than is needed for current applications.