Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 178

Neo, Platinum & device-powered cables

Does the Neo have the same problem the Platinum does... that is, that it requires a device-powered datacable instead of a visor-powered one? If I upgrade, I'd hate to have to buy another $35 cable...

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ThirdMan

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

All Platinum, Deluxe, Solo, accesories will work with the Neo and pro.

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-miradu

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 178

quote:

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Originally posted by miradu2000
All Platinum, Deluxe, Solo, accessories will work with the Neo and pro.

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ThirdMan

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

I will go sit in the corner now...

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-miradu

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 178

quote:

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Originally posted by miradu2000
I will go sit in the corner now...

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ThirdMan

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

The Neo and Pro use the same hotsync connector as the Deluxe and Platinum. This would tell me that data cables, keyboards, etc, for the older models will work just fine on the new ones.

The info from MarkSpace about the DataCord puzzles me. The Platinum uses the same connector as the Deluxe and has the same pinout specifications. I think the MarkSpace page is incorrect, at least as far as my understanding of the models goes. The only one that's different is the Edge which has a physically different connector. Unless it's got something to do with the differences between OS 3.1 and 3.5, but they include the Prism in with the Deluxe...

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 178

Trust me on this one, there are internal differences in the serial port electronics between the Platinum and the other Visors. It has to do with current levels available on certain serial pins.

This was discussed several times way back when, here is an sample:
http://discussion.visorcentral.com/...tinum+markspace

Here is a summary:
tim: Tech. Support at MarkSpace informed me that the Visor Platinum (what I have now) has less current available on the HS pin than the Deluxe and that that have experienced false HotSync's with the Platinum and Prism.

wayne: that makes sense. The pullup resistors on those pins are a constant power drain. And it sounds like Handspring decided to use bigger resistors to reduce the current drain in the newer models, to offset the increased load from the faster processor and color display. But measurements will be needed to know for sure.

So, back to the original question: does the Neo use the same guts as the Platinum, or is it new hardware?

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ThirdMan

Registered: Dec 1999
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2682

quote:

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Originally posted by ThirdMan
there are internal differences in the serial port electronics between the Platinum and the other Visors

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My apologies... after going back to the MarkSpace page and scrolling down to the FAQ's, they do talk about this fact.

quote:

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Why do some cables work, and others not work with the Handspring Platinum?

Our DCH-H9 is electrically the same as a Visor Serial Cradle, which draws required power for the circuit from the DTR line of the device it connects to. The DCH-H9 works with all Visor models, including the Platinum.

The "Visor Powered" versions of our cables (DCH-M9, DCH-M2, DCH-CI) will not work with the Platinum at present because it can't tolerate much current being drawn out of the *HS pin -- it cause the Platinum to go into HotSync. These models work fine on all other models to date - Visor, Visor Deluxe, and Visor Prism.

We are working on a newer, lower power design to work around this problem. No date has been set yet, but we will announce availability via our newsletter and web page when it becomes available. To receive notice, just complete the Cable Survey.

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Now, to answer your original question, I haven't got a clue! Maybe you should send an email to Handspring and ask them.

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God bless America, my home sweet home...

Registered: Dec 2000
Location: Austin, TX USA
Posts: 178

quote:

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Originally posted by MarkEagle
Maybe you should send an email to Handspring and ask them.

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ThirdMan

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

That sucks... oh well I got out of the corner, to go to chior and eat dinner, don't feel bad... it's not a PS2 I woudl want, but a MarioKart game on any platform, and IM

-md

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-miradu

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 76

Neo, Pro, Platinum

I spoke with Handspring regarding the Pro as well. They indicated that the comm interface is very similar to Platinum. Therefore, if you need an RS232 interface cable for Neo/Pro/Platinum, then the only "Purple" cables that would work with it are:

PDCH-M9D-6
PDCH-M9EPOW-6
PDCH-H9

Although, rumor has it that the "low power cable" is near completion, which would allow Neo/Pro/Platinum to work with just about any cell phone/gps/etc. (i.e. anything that a PDCH-M9 would work with, the low power cable ought to work with as well, but it would work with Neo/Pro/Plat, which the -M9 will not.)

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 76

forgot to mention

Oh yes, forgot to mention:

PDCH-M9D-6
PDCH-M9EPOW-6
PDCH-H9

are in stock and shipping from:

www.pcables.com

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: MI
Posts: 2

Low Powered Cable

1st prototypes of the Low Powered cable work great! The first ones will be coming out of Manufacturing by about December 7. Anyone interested in getting a Visor Powered cable which is compatible with Platinum, Neo, or Pro can check on:

www.pcables.com or email [email protected]