Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 5

Connecting USB GPS mouse to Visor

Hello,

does anyone know of a way to connect my USB GPS mouse with my HAndspring Visor. I already read a lot of advice connecting a serial mouse with a powered serial adapter cable, but unfortunately I bought an USB GPS as my notebook has no serial connector.

THX for your help.

Wooster

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: B.C.
Posts: 24

I'm not too clear on what it is you have. Is it a USB mouse or a USB GPS unit? If it's the first, why would you want to connect a mouse to the Handspring? If it's the second then you may have a problem as both devices would expect to be plugged into a USB controller (the computer). Most GPS receivers I've seen have a serial output so as to work with a number of different devices besides just computers.

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: Germany
Posts: 5

I meant a GPS unit.

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: B.C.
Posts: 24

I guess you have to look at a few things. Is the GPS unit powered through the USB cable?
If it is the you'll have to get power to it. I would then see if there is any data coming out of the GPS without the computer "talking" to it. As I said I the earlier post USB devices expect to see a controler, that's why you can use lots of USB devices at the same time, the computer controls them. For this reason they can't talk to each other. It may be possible that the GPS unit will send out data in some sort of a standard format if it has power, but it's a bit of a longshot. You would still have to convert it to a speed and voltage level that the handspring (with a serial adapter) can handle. I have a feeling you're going to be stuck using THAT GPS unit with a laptop. There are a few models for just over $100us that have serial out, you'd still have to get the serial cable, nul modem and a serial cradle for the VIsor. I know of a web page that goes into making up cables for this sort of thing in quite a bit of detail if you are still interested.
Lee

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Maryland
Posts: 8

site

Lee2,

Can you post a link to the site you mentioned.

Thanks,

-Jon

Registered: Jan 2003
Location: B.C.
Posts: 24

Have a look on your other thread, that is where I posted the site that goes into making your own cables.

NOT USB cables though. USB devices require a controler, the computer.

Both the Visor and the GPS require that there be a controller present.

USB devices will not work with the visor, you'll have to go for either serial (with an adapter) or a GPS unit that plugs in the springport.

Lee