Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 222

Since there are so many threads out there about cables, GPS, etc., this is my attempt to get help on one particular specific problem/question that I have for all of you (particularly Wayne and other EE-type super heros). I'm also an engineer but the wrong kind (aerospace) so please bear with me with these questions.

This is my situation, I have (or will have) a Garmin eTrex GPS and the PC Cable (9-Pin Serial) for it and I want to know what I need to be able to connect it to my Visor.

1) Would the ATL cable work? Someone posted in another thread that it probably wouldn't because it draws its power from the serial device, not the Visor.

2) Would the MarkSpace cable work?

3) Would I need a null modem adapter or could I just use gender changer to connect the 2 serial cables (the eTrex PC cable and the Visor Hotsync cables)?

I would build the famous Wayne (aka WAC) homemade cable but I don't have the time.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Lebanon, NH, USA
Posts: 40

Nhatman:

1) I can't say, since no one can tell me what's inside it, and I don't have access to one to probe. My guess is that it's powered off the handshake lines, so it probably won't work with the eTrex/eMap or Magellan handhelds.

2) All the posts I've read so far says yes. But until it ships, the MarkSpace cable is still vaporware...

3) Apparently, the ATL cable requires a gender changer. But a null modem cable should not be necessary.

Decisions, decisions...

-WaC
Wayne

P.S. Aerospace isn't "wrong"?!

[Edited by wac on 09-08-2000 at 12:17 AM]

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 222

WaC,

1) I'm convinced that the ATL cable won't work with the eTrex as-is. I can't confirm this, but that's just my opinion, from what I've read about it.

2) Apparently the MarkSpace cable will be shipping very soon (about a week) so I went ahead and ordered one. Hopefully, it will no longer be vaporware. But if it gets delayed again, you'll know because I will be contacting you about your cable!

3) I will keep everyone here abreast with my quest in making this eTrex-Visor connection using non-homemade cables. Whether it needs a null modem or gender changer is not a big deal and I will find out eventually.

Wish me luck! And again, thanks for all of your help.

Nhatman

PS - Aerospace is wrong when it comes to trying to figure out some of the Greek that you EE people use. Besides, where I work, the big bucks are earned by the EE's.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Moved to Clie Land
Posts: 331

Keep us posted please, I have an E-TREX and this would be a cool addition to my capabilities esp since I see no use for an additional GPS...

__________________
"Stupid Handspring."

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 53

got my etrex..now for the HS connector!!

Got my Etrex today - its cute - but we'll see how it performs on my next trek.
I need the Etrex to HS adapter. So to run down the things I need:
1) Etrex Data Cable: Etrex to 9PIN
2) HS Hotsync connector from WAC
3) DO some soldering for the HS cable
4) Connect the HS cable to the Etrex cable and voila I have a HS to Etrex connection?
Is this all there is to it?
Wac, I sent you an e-mail asking for info on the HS connector/cable - did you recieve it? I hope you troll this discussion.
Thanks
AM

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: Hermosa Beach, CA
Posts: 222

i am glad to say that i am now in visor/gps heaven thanks to WaC. with his cable, all i had to do was connect my etrex pc cable serial end (female 9-pin) directly to WaC's cable (male 9-pin) which then connects to my visor via the hotsync port. i am using quo vadis because i like the fact that i can store all my maps on my 8mb flash module.

the setup is beautiful. it works great and i am having a blast with it. i will be making a trip up north this week to do some backpacking in yosemite and plan to use the visor/etrex for the drive up and then only the etrex during the hiking part. will let you know how things turn out.

Registered: Jun 2000
Location: Lebanon, NH, USA
Posts: 40

Re: got my etrex..now for the HS connector!!

quote:

---

Originally posted by alexmathew
Got my Etrex today - its cute - but we'll see how it performs on my next trek.
I need the Etrex to HS adapter. So to run down the things I need:
1) Etrex Data Cable: Etrex to 9PIN
2) HS Hotsync connector from WAC
3) DO some soldering for the HS cable
4) Connect the HS cable to the Etrex cable and voila I have a HS to Etrex connection?
Is this all there is to it?
Wac, I sent you an e-mail asking for info on the HS connector/cable - did you recieve it? I hope you troll this discussion.
Thanks
AM

---

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 53

Re; Etrex to Visor for WaC and also Quo Vadis

Hi Wayne,
I used your Hotmail address posted on your webpage...!
Anyway's I have sent you an e-mail to your Yahoo address reserving the last ATL connector you have :-) and asking you info on how to pay.

On another note..someone said that the new version of QuoVadis, though expensive ($65) is a good option compared to Solus - since it compresses all of the US Maps into less than 8MB. Thus one can buy a 8MB Springboard and keep all maps with one all the time.
Apparently, they have solved their earlier problem with interconnecting maps.
http://www.marcosoft.com/
Thanks
AM

quote:

---

Originally posted by wac

Nope, I didn't get any email from you yet. Are you sure you sent it to [email protected]?

Anyways, you have two options:
1. Get the eTrex PC serial cable, and use my HotSync cable to connect to it. This is the configuration that Nhatman has. eTrex cable: ~$40 + shipping/taxes (from a retailer), HotSync cable: $16 shipped (from me).
2. I can build you an eTrex direct to HotSync cable. $25 shipped (from me). The drawback is you won't be able to use the eTrex with a PC without the PC cable.
All parts are soldered and ready to plug and play.

If you decide to go for it, you'll be taking my last ATL connector. (Translation: I and won't be able to supply any more cables for a while.)

-WaC
Wayne [/B]

---

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 53

Etrex Visor RS232 connections work great...

...thanks to WaC
I have used the cables from WaC for the past few days and I am very happy!
GPS connections work great from Etrex to Visor.

More importantly for me, now I can use the Visor for RS232 diagnostics work with some instruments I have - no more lugging my Powerbook around!

Finally, being able to send/recieve e-mail from my Visor is an added bonus.

Since WaC page address was not mentioned in this thread, here it is:
http://wac.addr.com/ee/visor/visor.html

I am leaving for Taiwan this month and will be on a mountain hiking with the Etrex and the Visor. I'll post on how things went when I return!
Bye
alexmathew

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 61

I just placed an order with ATL (UPS Ground) for :
- 10 Hot Sync Connector Kits w/ Strain Relief (ATL Parts #500835 & 500766P1)
- 15 springboard cases ( ATL Part #31-0008-00 & #31-0009-00)

I want to make a cable for my GPS too. (see http://wac.addr.com/ee/visor/visor.html) I had to order extras to get around the $65 min order from ATL. I am selling the extras.

I will be taking orders via email ([email protected]) and payment via paypal (if you don't have a paypal account, use me as a referral and I'll give you a $1.00 discount. Note: you will have to email me to get a referral before
you try to open an account)

I am planning to sell 8 Hot Sync Connectors kits for $3.18 + (ATL shipping cost to my house / 25 units) + (shipping cost to you, hopefully only $0.33) + $1.00 for my time per kit. I'm guessing the price will be around $4-$6 each.

The springboard cases will cost $0.60/unit less because of the price difference between the products. I will be selling 13 of these.
Thanks

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 15

I just got my Etrex serial cable with built-in 12v power cord for $25, including shipping by USPS. It was built by Fulton Martin, a "pfranc" in California. For an extra $5, I got an extra Etrex plug to play with. Since the 12v -> 3v converter was new for him, he offered to replace it for the cost of shipping if it fails within a year. The construction was pretty decent, including the use of heat shrink sleeving to stress relieve the cable where it comes out of the pfranc connector. It took him only a few days to make it and he was pretty good about making it the length and color I requested.

I've successfully connected it to my desktop PC and my car - obviously, not both at the same time! I managed to download the tracks from my Etrex to the GPS Utility (www.gpsu.co.uk) on my desktop. I haven't had a chance to use it with my Visor yet; I left my serial cradle at work and I'm still patiently waiting for my Mark/Space cable.

For those of you that want an Etrex serial cable at a reasonable price, you might want to check them out.