nB Pro Serial cable

[MartinMaxwell]

Any one here has experience with both nB (classic) and nB Pro?

Although I suspect there is no difference I just would like to have it confirmed that the Honda RS232 connector and cable remains the same on the nB Pro. Does it? Or is there a difference?

cheers
Martin

[stolk]

The connectors are the same, the wiring is diferent so the normal Psion cable don't work on the Netbook Pro,

grt

leo

[MartinMaxwell]

The connectors are the same, the wiring is diferent so the normal Psion cable don't work on the Netbook Pro,

Thanks for the info. Wonder if there is a real logical reason for this or is it just a matter of Psion creating additional problems for themselves.

[stolkjo]

The inmates are running the asylum?

[AlexL]

Wonder if there is a real logical reason for this or is it just a matter of Psion creating additional problems for themselves.


It is a simple reason, M$ Active Sync requires different wiring to Psi-Win. I believe it is only the cable which is different, so the old cable may work for certain applications.

The same issue is true for netpad, we had to make a new active sync cable (grey/cream in colour, like netbook pro) when we produced the CE variant.

I fought hard to make sure they made the netbook pro cable a different colour to the old psi-win one, so you could tell the difference :)


Alex.

[MartinMaxwell]

Dear Alex,

Thank you very much for the info. Sounds like you are involved in the netBook Pro development somehow. Your contribution here is very much appreciated.

The moral of the story is: as usual in the M$ world, the hardware has to be changed to fit the software, and not the other way around'...

So if I understand you correctly,

1. The new cable is not a straightforward RS-232 cable as the nB Classic cable was.

2. The pin-layout of the Honda connector is the same between nB Pro and nB Classic.

3. The driving factor for the change is that Active Sync requires a non-RS 232 pin layout.

4. For standard RS-232 communication, e.g. diagnostics of an industrial machine or obtaining data from a barcode reader, the nB Classic cable should be used also for nB Pro.

Please confirm.

Kind regards
Martin

[vitualis]

I would stop blaming MS for everything as every Windows CE device that I've used that had a serial connector used a standard serial cable. It should be reminded that the serial port on Windows CE devices wasn't really designed for peripherals... it is only a sync port and so is wired to connect to the "host" port on a PC.

If you want to use the port on the device as a "host" port, all you needed was a "null modem" serial cable and then you could interface it with serial devices (e.g., modems).

Windows CE devices have kept the serial sync port design consistent since the first devices came out in the 1990s.

It should also be reminded that most Windows CE devices stopped using the serial port for synchronisation about 4 years ago and instead use USB... Why the NB Pro doesn't use USB for synchronisation (at least optionally) is really beyond comprehension.

Regards.

[MartinMaxwell]

Further to your point, it is also interesting to see which foot Psion Teklogix prefers to stand on.

We have been told a zillion times that the nB Pro is not meant for consumers, it is meant for enterprise customers. So how come they do a design change just to fit the needs of Active Sync which is rather a consumer oriented feature (?) and thereby also
creating problems for the enterprise customer who wish to use nB Pro with, say, a barcode reader and needs nothing else than a straighforward RS-232 connection.

Applications like the aforementioned are extremely easy to develop on the nB Classic, because it comes with a straightforward (well almost at least) RS-232 cable and serial port and a very easy to use programming tool (OPL) that can very easily read and write to serial ports.

[vitualis]

From memory, the only abnormality with the pin-out of the serial cable sync used on Windows CE devices is the "ring detect" pin cannot be used (meaning you can't use that serial port to pick up a phone / receive faxes). The documentation I remember reading was that it was "used for something else" -- though this may had been a device specific thing rather than generalised.

Generally, it doesn't matter if you use to call out on a modem or use non-modem serial devices.

Though they are difficult to find now, you can get PC Card serial adapters.

I agree with your sentiments Martin. The NB Pro is a CONFUSED device. If it is designed for the mobile road warrior, it should have inbuilt connectivity software, in-built GSM/GPRS modem and probably Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi -- especially at its price point.

Regards.

[AlexL]

1. The new cable is not a straightforward RS-232 cable as the nB Classic cable was.

The RS-232 cable used on the 5MX & nB Classic/S7 is a custom PSION null-modem cable for connecting to a PC using PSI-WIN. If you wish to use it to connect to a modem / other DCE device, you need to use the 'PSION modem adapter' which would 'un-null' it and remap the pins to standard pin-out for use with DCE equipment.

2. The pin-layout of the Honda connector is the same between nB Pro and nB Classic.

I believe so.

3. The driving factor for the change is that Active Sync requires a non-RS 232 pin layout.

Active sync does not work with the old cable, a new cable was produced for use with active sync.


4. For standard RS-232 communication, e.g. diagnostics of an industrial machine or obtaining data from a barcode reader, the nB Classic cable should be used also for nB Pro.

If the new cable does not work and the old cable works then that is your answer. If neither work then you will either need to make up an adapter cable or cut off the existing 9 pin D connector and solder on a connector suitable for your industrial machine etc. with the pin out you require. PT 'should' be able to tell you which colour wire is which signal, I know they do for netpad so that the cable can be directly wired into equipment etc.


We have been told a zillion times that the nB Pro is not meant for consumers, it is meant for enterprise customers. So how come they do a design change just to fit the needs of Active Sync which is rather a consumer oriented feature (?)

Many enterprise customers use active sync on netbook pro and netpad for the synchronizing of there own enterprise apps etc. Active sync not only provides the typical 'consumer' synchronizing but also provides network connectivity between the mobile device and a network via a PC. Active sync not only works over the serial cable but also over bluetooth (nbp SDIO slot etc.) infrared, Ethernet and 802.11 etc.

Alex.

[MartinMaxwell]

The RS-232 cable used on the 5MX & nB Classic/S7 is a custom PSION null-modem cable for connecting to a PC using PSI-WIN. If you wish to use it to connect to a modem / other DCE device, you need to use the 'PSION modem adapter' which would 'un-null' it and remap the pins to standard pin-out for use with DCE equipment.

Yes, that's what we have done in the past. This is relatively easy since it is only a matter of Pin 9. Moreover, many DCE equipments use the Pin 9 for 5 volt power.

Active sync not only works over the serial cable but also over bluetooth (nbp SDIO slot etc.) infrared, Ethernet and 802.11 etc.

Thanks. The point is that with all these connectivity options, it is slightly surprising that the serial cable had to be sacrificed.

Anyway thanks for the clarifications and your contribution here. I still will need to verify (completely, in fact for an actual implementation) that the Honda connector pin layout is exactly the same. I have been searching the PT website for some information on this.

cheers
Martin

[frano70]

Don't know if this of use to anyone, but I've found that although my old 5mx RS232 doesn't work with the NB Pro (for reasons already discussed) the NB Pro RS232 cable does work with my 5mx and PsiWin. A simple switch of cables on my PC Tower and I can sync both machines.