Using Garmin eTrex with iMate and Arkon PDA Mount - General Accessories

Can anyone tell me whether it is possible to use a Garmin eTrex with the XDAII / iMate via an Arkon PDA Mount's RJ12 serial port?
I have seen various cables to facilitate connecting the eTrex directly to the iMate (for instance http://shop.store.yahoo.com/semsons-inc/itgaretpdali.html), but there doesn't seem to be a cable available to connect the eTrex to the RJ12 connector on the Arkon, which I'd prefer since I still need to power the Arkon to make use of its speaker.
I'd be happy to purchase a bare-leads eTrex data cable, and then crimp the RJ12 connector on the end, but I'd first like to ascertain what the required pin-outs are, and also whether it'll actually work.
Does the iMate even see this RJ12 port as a serial port?
Thanks folks.

Related

Car Charger for Exec and Tomtom BT unit?

I have a tomtom bluetooth gps receiver that I used to use with my xda-ii for my satnav solution. I had a car charger that charged the xda and tomtom unit at once. I have now upgraded to the Exec and am hoping to find a similar car charger but couldnt find any on google/ebay - does anybody know of one that exists?
Thanks
Allan
Cannot be of help, but looking for the exact same solution. I had an iMate JAM and a cradle that charged that (mini-USB) and had an output for TomTom Bluetooth. If all else fails I could try taking apart the adapter because it has the correct output, just the Exec won't fit in it!
assuming the TOMTOM gps receiver uses a round 5V center positive connector to charge it ( which it almost certainly would do )
then check out my posts in this thread,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=29351
the cradle even comes with a wire just for charging BT GPS receivers
Ouch! Thats a little pricey!
I already have a mount that holds the unit, so I am just looking for a calbe charger solution. Anyone have any links?
Thanks
Allan
in that case I have seen a car lighter plug on ebay that has a USB socket in the back, it was on £3~£4 you could then use a regular sync and charge cable to charge it
o2 shops are now stocking the car charging lead... complete with natty o2 shaped blue indicator!
To get round the problem of daisy chaining mounts and receivers, I got a great car charger - dual usb adapter from eBay (I searched for "dual usb car") which gives you 2 usb sockets for about £8 all in. Having bought this though, I'm thinking of installing a spare cigarette lighter socket behind the dash to power it from and cut down on cables in the cabin...
Funnily enough, the many Sync and charge cables for the Sony PSP would be able to simultaneously charge both a Jasjar and a bluetooth GPS unit
here is an example
http://chakatche.fr/catalog/images/PSP/CablesyncchargePSP_big.gif
Universal charger- special
The Universal as well as the Typhoon, Wizard etc. need special wiring for the mini USB. when connecting to the computer the the driver is activating the proper pins in the Mini USB socket and you can see the "charge" light on. However when connecting to a USB Poer Supply, pins need to be manipulated (some to ground or perhaps to Vcc). I'v looked into this issue many times (searching in the Internet) and could not find a proper wiring diagram. although I know for sure that they are exist as there are some Car working chargers offered for Universal / Typhoon.
In any case refering to this thread, a car charger that works for Jam/XDA2Mini most probably will not work for the Jasjar/Universal unless i is apecified as a Universal car charger.
If any of the memebers has come a cross a wiring diagram for Typhoon / Universal charging scheme it is appreciated if you could provide details.. as many of us would like to build their own car charging units.
Re: Universal charger- special
Dubi said:
The Universal as well as the Typhoon, Wizard etc. need special wiring for the mini USB. when connecting to the computer the the driver is activating the proper pins in the Mini USB socket and you can see the "charge" light on. However when connecting to a USB Poer Supply, pins need to be manipulated (some to ground or perhaps to Vcc). I'v looked into this issue many times (searching in the Internet) and could not find a proper wiring diagram. although I know for sure that they are exist as there are some Car working chargers offered for Universal / Typhoon.
In any case refering to this thread, a car charger that works for Jam/XDA2Mini most probably will not work for the Jasjar/Universal unless i is apecified as a Universal car charger.
If any of the memebers has come a cross a wiring diagram for Typhoon / Universal charging scheme it is appreciated if you could provide details.. as many of us would like to build their own car charging units.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, what are you talking about !! I use the sync lead from my kodak camera to charge my JJ from my laptop it works fine but is slow (my laptop hasnt got much umph) and the same goes for the PSP power lead I mentioned earlier, I use that in the car with my cradle that happens to have USB sockets in it, (pictured in another thread)
It seems that either your usb lead has the proper connection to fit the requirements of the JJ or I am doing something wrong that I am not aware of.
Here is the test: Just take a Powered USB Hub, connect XDA1, XDA2, XDA Mini, XDA2S (all the models that I could test right now) and It seems that the Powered USB Hub can charge these devices.
Now connect the JJ (I suggest with a traditional USB syc cable that comes with either ..) and NADA I got no indication for charging .. than connect the HUB to the your computer which has the ASYNC installed and you see that immidiatly the JJ is being charged. Both feeding measured at 5.15V.
The Typhoon behaves the same for me as well.
Further more, I have few USB chargers (other than the one equipped with the JJ) which is in fact a PS with a USB port . The result of connecting the PS through the traditional sync cable is "No Charging".
The same applied to many Car USB charger that I'v tried.
Perhaps your Kodak sync cable is special (in fact I am looking for the schematic diagram of a cable like this)?.
I tried (just now again) also with Dopod 828 and it seem the same (no charging unless it is connected to the computer).
Please double check your charger cable and try th sync cable that comes with the JJ.
I dont see why kodak would have used a special sync lead, because on the kodaks it is used for data only (power comes in via a diffrent connector) when I get a chance I will buzz out the cable for you !!!
PS I think you shold plug it in and wait, mine starts charging instantaneously when used with the mains adaptor which has 1 Amp of current available, but takes a min or two to start charging when I am using my laptop/in car charger, both of which only have 500mA available.
Car Charge
From reading other threads, Pin 4 in the Mini USB is shorted to ground and that's probably turn on charging ..
I suggest that you read threads about the power charge / car charge in other forums... here is an example I took and although it talks about the Typhoon it is relevant to JJ as well and it suggest to connect pin 4 and 5 to ground. I can't have a good explanation why your JJ starts to charge after 2 monutes. I suspect that it has nothing to do with the current that can b drawn from the PS.
http://www.expansys.com/forumthread.asp?code=I-MATE_SP3I&thread=38
Here's what I've found on modaco.com forums, posted by richwookie on Oct.4 2004:
QUOTE >>>
...I've hacked open my C500 mains charger (quick, where's the superglue), and sure enough there are only 2 wires leaving the box to the mini USB cable, GND (black wire) and VO (white wire). However, after very careful probing, with a very tiny probe no less, I've established that the GND wire is connected to both pins 4 and 5 of the mini USB connector.
Now usually pin 4 would be not connected to anything as pin 5 is normally GND. So next I probed the C500 data cable to see if pins 4 and five of the mini USB were connected together. They weren't of course.
So what does all this mean?
Well, from what I've discovered I conclude that the C500 will only charge if:
1) There is data on the line (even if it isn't saying anything :wink: )
OR
2) Pin 4 of the mini USB plug is grounded.
So what's the solution to making the generic car chargers work?
Do nothing to the car charger. Mod the data cable so that pin 4 at the 'mini' end is connected to ground.
This IS all speculation and I suspect that it is easier said than done. I haven't yet hacked open my data cable, but I expect there are only four wires in it, and the only way to ground pin 4 (mini end) is to somehow bridge them at the connector. I think that is beyond my soldering skills (have you seen the size of the contacts on the plug?!) but I may give it a go anyway.
Anyone else want to try? Let us know here.
<<< UNQUOTE
... and the 2 hours later:
QUOTE >>>
Posted from my SmartPhone while it is charging in my car using a 1.49 cigarette lighter USB adaptor and my newly modded C500 data cable!
I'll let you know if it still works as a data cable when I get home. ;-)
....
Modded cable doesn't work for data now.
When I connect it to the PC it just charges. I suspect that when the phone is in 'charge from adaptor mode' it inhibits the data lines.
<<< UNQUOTE
Well, I guess it's simpler to mod a USB cable, than either carry around a charger, or install Activesync everywhere.
With all this chat about modifying pins etc call me naieve but why not just buy a dedicated charger from expansys or an o2 store ? both cost between £10 - £15
:shock:
Just an observation I have made... I have an O2 EXEC, and charge it quite happily (sort of) with the Standard USB Synch cable and a Car Lighter Socket USB thingy.
The only thing is... It will NOT charge if the EXEC is on (screen lit up) when the USB lead is connected or power connected. Switch the device off, connect the lead, and the charging light comes on.
I find the same when I connect it to the computer with the Synch lead too. It won't connect to ActiveSync or Charge if the EXEC is on when connected.
Hope this helps.

XDA-1 and Satelite Navigation

I'd like to use my XDA as a sat-nav system. What do I need to do this and how much would it cost? Is it possible or should I buy TOM-TOM instead ?
I have read some posts relating to sat-nav. Does anyone know where I can get a GPS reciever in the UK that works with XDA-1?
Regards
Max
Yes, it's very easy. Tomtom 5 runs fine on an XDA1, and you can buy a XDA-to-9-pin serial connector for £13 at expansys (http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=XDASERIALCAB), so you can use any GPS unit with a serial output. They're much cheaper and more reliable than bluetooth GPS!
Thanks for that. Is the cacle to attach the GPS reciever to the XDA? I already have a USB cable to sync my XDA with the PC.
Where's the best place to buy tom-tom5 ?
Thanks in advance
yes, the cable attaches your GPS to the XDA... but it is a 9-pin serial cable (RS232), not USB. I hope you understand that serial and USB are different things. Does your Activesync cable have a serial connector on it?
Thanks for that.
I have a standard cable that connects the cradle to the PC (usb). This I guess is no use for connecting the gps unit to the XDA. Does the serial cable not come with the GPS unit ?
Max
Hello,
Check the following URL: http://cgi.befr.ebay.be/FZ-O2-XDA-2...itemZ5840055346QQcategoryZ14946QQcmdZViewItem
You receive the GPS antenna and a Y cable to connect it to the 12-V plug in your car and to the XDA.
I bough that receiver 3 months ago and it works really well with my XDA and with TomTom.
Hope it helps!!
Thanks

Cable between PDA, GPS and car lighter.

Hi,
I am looking for cable that I could use to connect my JasJar PDA (USB mini port) with GPS (USB mini port) and car lighter. This cable should transmit data between PDA and GPS. Also it should power PDA and GPS from car lighter socket. Look at attached picture for better explanation.
Do you know where I could buy it?
Best regards
Marek S
Cześć!
Myśle, że nawet jeśli masz taki kabel, to będziesz mieć problem. And there my Polish runs out!
(trans: Even if you had such a cable, you'd still have a problem).
Or at least I would assume so... Even if you made a mini usb to mini usb cable with power spliced in from a car adapter (easy enough to do after all) then you would still have the problem of persuading your pda to use the usb connection for rx/tx gps data, which I would have thought was a drivers problem...
Anyone?
Hi,
As I read on some forum this device can work as USB host and WM 5.0 has many drivers also for GPS devices. Is that true? If it is, problem how JasJar will communicate with GPS is not a problem. The problem for me is that I cannot make that cable myself and I need sombody help.
Best regards
Marek S
Sadly, this device cannot act as a USB host... I am frankly disappointed that they decided not to implement it, but I guess there always has to be a reason to upgrade to the next model!
I'm afraid I don't know about WM05's support for GPS devices connected via USB, although I think I have read in other threads that people have tried without success to connect GPS receivers to their Universals.
I bought a BT gps receiver to use with mine, and am hoping to cover the cost of that when I sell my IIs, wired gps receiver, cradle etc. One thing that attracted me to the Holux that I bought is that it can apparently be used as a gps mouse if you buy the optional cable - a usb to usb mini that has a curious small plastic junction box halfway along it's length. I assume that there is some form of jiggery pokery going on in there (like swapping the 2 data lines or grounding something ) because I certainly can't connect my receiver to a laptop with a normal usb to usb mini cable.
Sorry I can't help more, but I think you may be stuck unless you can find someone locally who'll chop up some cheap cables for you to experiment with... :?
I am wondering whether if you got a Minu USB to USB B, plugged it into a cheap powered/unpowered hub, the to the GPS would it work?
If it is a cheap hub, when powered, it may have the 5V rails joined, in which case the power might run back to the universal.
However, before testing this, it would be wise to test that the USB can work with teh GPS on its own. If you do not have a mini USB A to mini USB A already and tested (I couldn't see such cables) then www.maplin.co.uk could supply you with the following, which would/should provide you with a connection if it is at all possible:
mini USB A to USB A (Standard with universal surely?)
Female USB A to USB B
Female USB B Female USB A
USB A to mini USB A (Standard with universal)
That is a lot of cables
This cable should transmit data between PDA and GPS.
WHy on earth would you want that?
JaySea said:
This cable should transmit data between PDA and GPS.
WHy on earth would you want that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you can prove that the PDA can connect to the GPS that way (one of the posters was not particularly positive on that) then the addition of the HUB would allow you to put the power onto the cable.
Gareth
kabel...
Hi Marek,
This is not going to work for DATA but this kind of cable may work to charge both JasJar and BT gps. Log in to www.allegro.pl , find covox in "szukaj użytkownika" go and buy the BT gps with the mini usb port (like G-Space GS-R238) and solder in second usb mini cable into the included car charger .
thats all...
This should charge both....ordered one and am waiting for it, doubt it'll sync though.....
http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorola-Blueto...yZ108660QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Not sure if this is the right forum but I'm looking for a mini USB to serial adapter

Does this exist? I'm about to purchase an HTC P3300 and I would like to use a car diagnostic software call "VagCheck". To use it, you need a cable to connect from the the PPC to the cars OBDII port. These cables only come for iPaq ppc connectors to OBDII, serial to OBDII, and USB to OBDII. These cables are expensive and I already have a serial to OBDII cable. So I'm looking for some kind of way to connect the cable to the P3300 via the mini USB connector but I know there will need to be some drivers involved.
Does anyone know if there's an adapter from mini USB to regular USB or Serial for PPC's with drivers?
BTW, there is a more expensive alternative. There's a bluetooth connector for the car that plugs into the OBDII and you can just connect via BT. But that is the most expensive set-up.
USB to serial
I guess you can use USB to serial converter, which is inexpensive.
Thread moved.
AFAIK the P3300 is USB client only, which means it can only be used as a client device to a PC. USB host capability is required to work with USB peripherals such as a USB to serial adapter.
So basically what you are trying to do won't work with the P3300 unfortunately.
The only way around this problem would be to get a bluetooth-serial module which would connect to the serial - OBDII unit and allow the P3300 to connect to it via bluetooth.
A bit silly I know, this is the result of most PDA manufacturers choosing not to equip their devices with USB host capability.
Antzzz et al,
You're right.. The current HTC range are all only USB Client.. So you can't connect an HID device, serial adaptor etc.. There IS rumoured to be a set of serial pins on the non-standard Mini-USB style connector on the D810 device range - however, we've never seen a cable that breaks out (or explains the RS232 pins)..
Does anyone have a full pinout of the extended connector??? This might be a project for further investigation.... ?
There are a few industrial RS232 to Bluetooth adaptors, such as :
http://store.pressdigital.com.au/industrial-bluetooth-serial-adaptor-rs232-p-5092.html
But they're expensive as a rule.. You may want to grab a Bluetooth OBDII interface.. (or another cheap PDA with RS232 like a cheap low-end iPAQ hx2490).
Let us know if you stumble across the RS232 pinout on the extended D810 connector.
Cheers
Andy
www.pressdigital.com.au
Support Team
i am having the same problem. i have a xda orbit with some software on it to adjust my air suspension on my car. i have tried connecting the cable supplied with it to a serial lead and then the obd11 lead but i could not get it to work. just found a Original O2 XDA Serial Sync Cable . ordered today from
http://l8shop.net/products/Original-O2-XDA-Serial-Sync-Cable-3280.asp
if you have any success in getting yours to work i would appreciate any help.

does the artemis have a real usb stack?

hi, been looking at obd software for ppc, and been wondering if i get a adapater to fit the cable into the mini usb socket if i can use the device on my phone?
i've read phones with serial ports can do it, but not with usb obd readers, also does anyone know if any phone out can do if if this one cannot?
cheers!

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