Registered: Dec 1999
Location:
Posts: 10

I was wandering if anyone has successfully connected a standard external modem to the Visor?

Feedback and links would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks!

Alan

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 47

I saw someone said in newsgroup, he has worked it out.

the basic idea is, use a null-modem adapter connect between your palm(or visor) and the modem.

for more info, check this article out, wish it would help.
http://zerodefect.net/danreed/palmemailfaq.txt



[This message has been edited by BabyJohn (edited 01-19-2000).]

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: Arizona
Posts: 43

I have browsed the web on my visor. The main thing you need is some way to interface the visor with an external modem. A slightly modifided serial cradle will work. I just built an interface from scratch. This web site (russ.homepage.com) has the schematics for converting a USB cradle to a serial cradle, as posted elsewhere on VisorCentral. You can use this schematic to build the interface, with a few changes. There are three differences between the schematic used for Syncing, and what you need to interface with a modem.

1. The modem most likely won't provide the necessary power for the MAX203 chip, so you need to use a 9V battery instead of trying to steal power from the serial port.

2. Pin 2 on the Visor connector should not be grounded (If you are looking at the schematics from the web site above, just do away with SW1). When pin 2 is grounded the Visor thinks you want to HotSync serially.

3. Pins 2 and 3 on the serial connection should be interchanged. If they are not interchanged you need to use a null modem cable between the modem and the connector.

I only connected at 9600 bps. I think the Visor is only guaranteed to communicate serially at this speed because there is no overflow buffering. I could be wrong. Their literature was a little hazy. In any event, the modems that will interface through the springboard will work up to 56kbps.

One other note, there is a post in the acessories section of someone who had some success in interfacing to a modem through a standard serial cradle.

Justin