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simonm Occasional Visitor
Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:34 am Post subject: Mitac MIO 168 - Serial port ? |
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Hi there,
I have the Mitac mio 168 with built in GPS. Im trying to find out (and failing badly) if the 168 has any form of serial port in the device.
I want to connect the mio via RS232 to a telescope, there is software that controls a telescope called "the sky pocket pc edition" via an rs232 cable. The telescope only accepts rs232 links. I considered simply sticking an RS232 to USB converter using the mio sync lead but I dont think the Sky program would correctly address the sync lead.
hope someone could help me out a little or point me roughly in the correct direction.
Only other alternative is buy the cheapest PDA that would run the sky and has a serial port !
cheers. |
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nej Frequent Visitor
Joined: Jun 16, 2004 Posts: 454 Location: London, Ingerlund
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:54 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, the Mio does have a serial port.
The easiest way of gaining access to it, if you ask me, is to purchase a TomTom carkit for it (sometimes listed as carkit for a Viewsonic). This will give you a cable that will plug into the bottom of the mio and will accept an RJ-11 cable. From here you could run an RJ-11 to 9-pin DSUB connector into the telescope.
Unless you can find anyone selling an RS-232 sync cable. That'd be the easiest by far, but might be hard to get hold of one. |
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simonm Occasional Visitor
Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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Fantastic Nej, thanks for advice,
Ive been speaking to this guy in hongkong,
http://www.pc-mobile.net/mio.htm
he says he will make up the cable for me, £15 inc shipping !
Alternativly I may try your method.
thanks for help. |
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Pc-Mobile Frequent Visitor
Joined: 26/10/2002 10:38:36 Posts: 789 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject: |
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simonm wrote: | Fantastic Nej, thanks for advice,
Ive been speaking to this guy in hongkong,
http://www.pc-mobile.net/mio.htm
he says he will make up the cable for me, £15 inc shipping !
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No we would not say that.
We do not make up any cable specially for anyone.
You can buy only if it is there and we have a serial interface (not sync cable) for Mio which is your best bet. As you may have been told, we do not know whether Mio 168 has a serial port like other Mio have, as 168 is in a category of its own. _________________ Pc-Mobile
http://pc-mobile.net/gps.htm |
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nej Frequent Visitor
Joined: Jun 16, 2004 Posts: 454 Location: London, Ingerlund
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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This cable sounds like the best idea. Mio 168 DEFINATELY DOES have a serial port - I've used it with a TomTom cable to make my own application talk to a telematics box via RS-232.
I'd say £15 incl. shipping is a good price - go for it. |
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simonm Occasional Visitor
Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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Hi there, Did not know you came on this forum.
Quote: | No we would not say that.We do not make up any cable specially for anyone. |
Sorry, I meant that the cable was not available and is now :-)
Quote: |
You can buy only if it is there and we have a serial interface (not sync cable) for Mio which is your best bet. As you may have been told, we do not know whether Mio 168 has a serial port like other Mio have, as 168 is in a category of its own. |
Ive read several items on the internet now that indicate that the Mio 168 does have a serial port. The unit is the same as the Navman PIN, Viewsonic V35, Yakumo Delta.
I read here, http://www.expansys-usa.com/forumthread.asp?code=113072&thread=60
that a German guy has built a serial interface also.
thanks.
[/quote] |
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Dave Frequent Visitor
Joined: Sep 10, 2003 Posts: 6460 Location: UK
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting, I was recently wondering whether there was a serial cable on the Mio168 because I've seen a few very long fixes when achieving a cold fix (when driving) which reminds me of the good old Navman GPS 3000 days in having to wait 45+ mins for a fix (and I'm not kidding), I've experienced this recently on the Mio168. Started to wonder whether the Mio 168 did have a serial port, as it doesn't have Bluetooth and the only other way would be through IR. |
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simonm Occasional Visitor
Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:52 pm Post subject: |
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I got this reply from Mitac themselves, Its not clear if they mean there is a serial port actualy IN the MIO or there is a converter in the cradle ???
Quote: | Dear Sir,
The Mio168 has an RS232 communication port build-in in the cradle connector.
An adapter cable is available, but not yet in stock (expected time of availability: 2 weeks).
If you want to order, please contact sales@mio-tech.be.
Order code for Mio Activesync to serial cable: 541614280152 .
Best Regards,
MIO-TECH
Jan De Nef
Support Engineer Mio-Tech
Brusselsesteenweg 307b
1785 Brussegem
Belgium
support@mio-tech.be tel: xx32 (0)2 461 07 99
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DavidW Pocket GPS Moderator
Joined: 17/05/2003 02:26:21 Posts: 3747 Location: Bedfordshire, UK
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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It sounds like they're saying there's a serial port in the connector on the bottom of the Mio and the cable will be available to buy soon.
That said, sometimes serial cables contain some electronics and aren't wholly passive - this is true of the Dell Axim X5 (which contains some level shifting hardware) and some Toshiba Pocket PCs (a USB serial chip and level shifting hardware).
David |
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simonm Occasional Visitor
Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:58 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks David,
At this stage Ive ordered the straight cable from they guy above, I'll try that first if that fails try the Mitac.
cheers. |
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Pc-Mobile Frequent Visitor
Joined: 26/10/2002 10:38:36 Posts: 789 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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I did no think you would get any answer from Mio (Taiwan).
Representatives in other countires probably do not get all technical details from Mio either so that was probably the best answer you would get. _________________ Pc-Mobile
http://pc-mobile.net/gps.htm |
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Dave Frequent Visitor
Joined: Sep 10, 2003 Posts: 6460 Location: UK
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Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:41 am Post subject: |
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Ronald, if you would like me to test a cable for the Mio 168 (or several types of cables) e.g. power/data, let me know because I currently have 3x168's sitting on my desk here. |
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Pc-Mobile Frequent Visitor
Joined: 26/10/2002 10:38:36 Posts: 789 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:26 am Post subject: |
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If we had a Mio 168 we certainly would have given a definite answer long ago! _________________ Pc-Mobile
http://pc-mobile.net/gps.htm |
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Pc-Mobile Frequent Visitor
Joined: 26/10/2002 10:38:36 Posts: 789 Location: Hong Kong
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Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:29 am Post subject: |
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We do not have any serial sync cable. But we do have serial/modem interace and we can send you one to test.
Simonm has probably got his by now and he can probably verify. _________________ Pc-Mobile
http://pc-mobile.net/gps.htm |
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simonm Occasional Visitor
Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17
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Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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arrived today many thanks, Just got to find time to try it out.
cheers. |
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