How to connect an iPAQ 2210 to a serial cable?

[Sharky]

Hi everyone.



Do any of you know if it is possible to get an adaptor that will connect a 9 pin serial cable to HP iPAQ 2210?

I am looking at getting an engine monitoring/diagnostic interface & software (available in Pocket PC version) but the interface has a 9 pin serial connector on it.

I don't have a laptop and would need a very long cable to get to my desktop, so was hoping I could come up with something to allow me to use my PDA.

I did a search of the forum and the only info I can find is that it could possibly be done using a Carcom car kit, which has a serial connector, but don't really want to go to the expense of buying one of these if I can avoid it (I already have a PDA mount, but it only has a PS2 connector).

I have discovered you can get sync cables for the 2210 with a USB connector on the end. If I was to get one of those, and then connect the USB to a the USB end of a USB to 9 pin converter cable, and then the converter to the interface with the serial connector, would it work?



Steve

[Charlie]

Welcome to our forums.
It is possible to get a serial interface to connect with your iPAQ but the problem would be knowing the pinouts required by the engine monitoring software/hardware. Can the manufacturer of the software/hardware give any indication of compatibility for this type connectivity?

[Sharky]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Welcome to our forums.
It is possible to get a serial interface to connect with your iPAQ but the problem would be knowing the pinouts required by the engine monitoring software/hardware. Can the manufacturer of the software/hardware give any indication of compatibility for this type connectivity?

Have done some digging on the manufacturers site. It uses an RS232 serial connection if that means anything to you?

I have also noticed the manufacturer sell serial to USB converter cables themselves for use with the hardware, so they must be compatible. So the only bit I'm unsure of is the USB to PDA cable compatibility.

[Charlie]

Is their RS232 a male or female version?

[Sharky]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Is their RS232 a male or female version?

Its the white cable on the RHS of this pic.
Have also just found this on the site:-

USB to RS232 converters: sometimes the voltage levels produced by the converter are not enough for reliable communication. It is not always the case, but please be aware of this fact when you buy our products

Looks like a may have to keep an eye out for an old cheap laptop with a serial port to use

[Charlie]

I think you might be right. I don't think you would get a reliable steady voltage of of a PDA even before the converter was introduced.

[Sharky]

Thanks for all the help.

The interface needs a –12V/+12V port according to the manufacturers site, which is why USB>serial converters don’t always work as most are –5V/+5V or –3V/+3V.

Do you now of any PDA’s that have a serial port that would be compatible?

I have seen some HP Jornada series PDA’s for sale quite cheap, and some have serial ports, any ideas if something like this would work?

[Charlie]

In my opinion they won't as they operate at or around 5v not 12v.

[Sharky]

OK thanks for the help.

After some extensive searching I have found a company that produce a transmitter that sends info from a cars diagnostic port to a PDA using Bluetooth, and so eradicates the need for cables at all (which I had found out about it earlier).

Waiting for some prices from the manufacturer, but hopefully this will solve the problem and I will be able to use my iPAQ for system monitoring/diagnostic and data logging after all, and won't need to buy a laptop

[Charlie]

Any chance of a link to that company? I'm curious about it now