Registered: Apr 2001
Location:
Posts: 1

First off, I'd like to apologize for this message being so long. I just started, but I KNOW it will go on and on. ADD and dyslexia really mess me up sometimes. You should hear me give directions.
OK, anyway, here is the first of 3 topics:

#1-Visor alternate power supply idea:
This builds off of #2...Though I do use rechargeable alkalines for my visor, I want a constant power supply, likely stemming from a car's cigarette lighter. This idea spins off of something I read in R/C Car Action magazine about 10 years ago. Anyway, the transmitter for this guys r/c car uses 8 AA batteries, and in addition to being expensive, whenever they start to run down so does the effectiveness of the transmitter. So, smarty here came up with something very clever. In short, instead of using 8AA batteries (8x1.5v=12v), he wired up some alligator clips to the contacts inside his transmitter and took the other ends to a small lantern or some sort of 12v battery that he attached to his belt. So-it's a constant, reliable power source. I don't know if this has been thought of before, but I would like to do the same thing for my visor. It's a little different...the power would only be 3volts ([email protected] each=3v...and if I had my way, it would originate from a cigarette lighter adapter...12volts car off...13-14v car running...so I guess some resistors or doohickeys would be needed...I don't have the motor skills, patience, or the technical knowledge to make this happen. I would like to see this become a reality. If anybody thinks they can do this, I'd be very interested...and I'd pay you to build one for me. Even if someone can think up some plans but not actually build it, I'd still be game for it.

#2-Serial GPS/Hotsync cable
Hey...maybe I should try to USE FEWER WORDS! OK, I've got a Garmin GPS III+ (4pin connector, not etrex style?) and a power/data cable terminating to a DB9f connector...(it supplies power to the GPS). I'm trying to connect that cable with something to interface it with my visor. I've read up on lots of stuff, but I am certain of little. A lot of what I know is derived from this page: http://wac.addr.com/ee/visor/visor.html -It's nice-check it out. From this page, I think a Mark/Space Datacord HS (hotsync) would work, but because the way it's wired, it drains batteries. If you go to markspace's homepage http://www.markspace.com/cables.html it tells of how the modem cable is what I need. Thing is, it's more expensive and I don't think it will function as a hotsync cable-first off, it's a DB9m connector, which wouldn't connect very well to the DB9m serial port on PCs. A null-modem or gender changer might work, but I can't confirm that it does. If that wouldn't work, I've read somewhere about the same sort of gender changer thing, but you open the insides and move the wires around so that pin x on end connects to pin y on the other�that may work�but I have yet to know for sure. To set the record straight, I won't use the straight Garmin 4 pin to visor cable by markspace because I need to power my GPS from the cig.ltr., and I'm simply not up for building the cable myself or modifying a pre-existing cable. SO, if anyone can tell me about their experiences with this and what works and what doesn't, I'd be very appreciative.

#3-Modem Hotsyncing w/o a phone line.
I read (http://pdapoint.hypermart.net/modemhs.htm) that (for Palms, at least), one can hotsync with the palm modem to a PC without a live phone line. You simply take a phone cord, plug one end into palm modem�other to PC modem�change some settings here and there (And if you want to see it worded differently, go here: (http://archives.emazing.com/archives/palm/2001-02-08) and boom. I have tried for several hours to make this work with my visor, Xircom Global Access 56k springport modem, (DON'T BUY-BAAAD PRODUCT-read the mixed reviews from amazon customers) and this compaq P133 laptop with an internal 33.6 modem. I changed all sorts of settings�on both PC and visor�flow control, init strings, but I couldn't make it work, and I don't know why. (If I could make this work, I wouldn't need the gps cable to also be a hotsync cable) I suspect it is a difference in the modem hardware, or more of this crap being unique to palms, which when I look at this sentence, are the exact same thing. Also, I'm returning my Xircom for the handspring 33.6 modem. The Xircom has crashed my visor twice requiring hard resets in which all data was lost�(lucky I hotsynced beforehand each time). The thincom's neat and all, but I refuse to have to deal with dongles.

I apologize to all for making this such a long post. Hopefully, it will give answers to me and any other goons trying to do similar things. And if you ever see a Green '94 Accord that looks like it had an electrical meltdown, that's probably my car due to all the toys I've put in it. How's the grammar in THAT sentence?

Thanx to all,

Posten

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 76

New cable

There is a new cable, the PDCH-M9EPOW-6 from:

www.pcables.com

which allows an external power source to be connected, which powers:

* An attached Visor Prism
* The RS232 interface electronics in the cable
* An attached GPS

Very powerful!

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 53

Modem Hotsync...why?

Three different posts would have got you more responses...!
1. I use IR Hotsync between my Visor and Mac Powerbook G3/400. It works like a charm and I never need ANY cables!

2. Why use a Modem Hotsync when you can carry/use a USB/Serial Cable or use IR?

Good luck with the other questions - not my cuppa! (BTW, I use an Etrex GPS with my Visor but power the GPS with AA batteries - less hassle)
Bye
AM