Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Am I the only one here that is pissed off that (From what I understand) the Visor does not send the proper signals to the serial port to allow it to work with other serial devices. For instance, try to run PalmRedirector on a Visor and it doesn't work. I have contacted Handspring and got a sidesteping email back so I called and am still waiting for a reply. If the Visor is 100% PalmOS compatible than apps written for the palm to redirect serial output should work on the Visor, but they do not. This is very important to me and had I know about the incompatiblities, I wouldn't have bought the Visor. I just wonder what else isn't truly palm compatible with the Visor.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: McLean, VA USA
Posts: 216

The Visor is 100% PalmOS compatible (with the exception of some programs, see here for a list: http://www.visorcentral.com/silindex.php3). It IS NOT 100% hardware compatible. Big difference. Besides, with the springboard module slot, who needs serial devices???

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Have Visor Will Travel!

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Sorry buddy but if you can't put in 00 for the phone number in the prefs under network, then it isn't 100% compatible. Even if it was, what would be the point of having 100% palmOS compatible if features of the OS don't work on their machine because the hardware isn't 100% compatible. Also, who needs serial devices....hmmm well it would be nice to use many of the redirection programs, that don't exist as springboards. Also, how long have we heard the springboard hype only to not have but a few that we can buy. I bought the visor with the springboard being the main reason, but by the time the springboards i want to buy come out, if they ever do, my visor will be outdated.

quote:

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Originally posted by visor empowered:
The Visor is 100% PalmOS compatible (with the exception of some programs, see here for a list: http://www.visorcentral.com/silindex.php3). It IS NOT 100% hardware compatible. Big difference. Besides, with the springboard module slot, who needs serial devices???

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 105

My computer is 100% Windows Compatible, though I don't have a Network card for it, I'm very happy with my hardware.

Also, none of these redirector programs are Palm Platinum certified anyways. Technically that means they're not garunteed to work on all OS numbers or with different types of hardware.

If you REALLY want redirection, buy an IR adapter ($30) for your computer.

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-Matthew Nichols
[email protected]
http://www.extremebleem.cjb.net

Registered: Oct 1999
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 67

quote:

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Originally posted by brownenter:
Am I the only one here that is pissed off that (From what I understand) the Visor does not send the proper signals to the serial port to allow it to work with other serial devices.

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

The Visor DOES have a serial port, albeit a limited one. Handspring chose this, I'm sure, as a trade-off. The Springboard slot is where the Visor peripherals are supposed to be. The serial port is there for syncing (and external keyboards). Personally, I'll take the USB with limited serial in exchange for the overall expandability that the Springboard gives me.

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MarkEagle - Ice is nice!

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

brownenter - It isn't like Handspring is hiding the fact that their PDA has a USB connector instead of a serial port. Yeah, I too hoped that it might be possible to hack together a generic serial interface out of the serial cradle, but I knew that it would be a kluge at best. I keep seeing references to cables that work, but they seem to be very use specific, and are never for the applications that I'm interested in.

You are wrong about there not being a Springboard solution. There is one - http://www.efig.com/SP_products.html

For more on this product and its limitations, see the following thread - http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...TML/000251.html Note that they just released v1 of the SDK for this module, and some of the limitations may have been addressed by this.

For a list of software incompatiblities, this site maintains a listing - http://www.visorcentral.com/silindex.php3

Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

According to this "However, I could NOT use the EFIG board to connect using PalmOS (Prefs > Modem/Network). EFIG referred me to Handspring on the matter. Kinda bummed there." <<<<<<This is a feature of the palmOS as far as I know. Therefore the visor is definatly different here which leads me to believe it is not 100% palmOS coompatible. I do not like being misled.

quote:

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Originally posted by yucca:
brownenter - It isn't like Handspring is hiding the fact that their PDA has a USB connector instead of a serial port. Yeah, I too hoped that it might be possible to hack together a generic serial interface out of the serial cradle, but I knew that it would be a kluge at best. I keep seeing references to cables that work, but they seem to be very use specific, and are never for the applications that I'm interested in.

You are wrong about there not being a Springboard solution. There is one - http://www.efig.com/SP_products.html

For more on this product and its limitations, see the following thread - http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...TML/000251.html Note that they just released v1 of the SDK for this module, and some of the limitations may have been addressed by this.

For a list of software incompatiblities, this site maintains a listing - http://www.visorcentral.com/silindex.php3

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

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Originally posted by brownenter:
...but if you can't put in 00 for the phone number in the prefs under network, then it isn't 100% compatible...

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Registered: Apr 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

What do you mean '00' does work? Putting in '00' simply tries to connect to the handspring modem, which doesn't exist. That's not what is supposed to happen. According to the PalmOS specs. a phone # of 00 should open a SERIAL connection to your desktop.

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkEagle:
I am able to use the "00" number entry for the network telephone number. Pressing Connect displays the Service Connection Progress dialog showing Signing on. Granted, nothing more happens (using serial cable) after this, but the "00" DOES work.

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Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 434

quote:

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Originally posted by brownenter:
[snip] a phone # of 00 should open a SERIAL connection to your desktop.

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Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

I've emailed HS DevSupport to try and get some clarification on this matter.

Yucca, I think you're half right... the Visor IS attempting to make a serial RS232 connection but the problem seems to be that it's NOT doing it to the cradle connector. I tested and played with it last night and, while the Visor is trying to do whatever it is it's doing, there is NO activity on any of the pins. I admit I don't know diddly about the USB interface but it didn't appear anything was happening on those pins. There was absolutely no activity on RXD or TXD, that's for sure.

This really makes me think that HS intends for serial (ie modem) connections to occur from a Springboard module. It probably comes under the heading of "we tweaked the OS just a little bit"... and also explains (partly, at least) the lack of the other necessary RS232 signaling/handshaking lines on the connector.

Then again, maybe it was just another one of those "design considerations" to keep costs down (like the whole FlashROM debate).

Hopefully, HS will respond to my request and I will certainly post anything useful back here.



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MarkEagle - Ice is nice!