Mitac MIO 168 - Serial port ?

simonm · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17

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.

nej · Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 12:54 pm Post subject:

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.

simonm · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17

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.

Pc-Mobile · Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 1:52 pm Post subject:

nej · Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 2:10 pm Post subject:

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.

simonm · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17

Hi there, Did not know you came on this forum.

Dave · Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2004 10:34 pm Post subject:

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.

simonm · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17

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 ???

DavidW · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:47 pm Post subject:

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

simonm · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17

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.

Pc-Mobile · Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2004 4:11 pm Post subject:

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

Dave · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:41 am Post subject:

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.

Pc-Mobile · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:26 am Post subject:

If we had a Mio 168 we certainly would have given a definite answer long ago!
_________________
Pc-Mobile
http://pc-mobile.net/gps.htm

Pc-Mobile · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:29 am Post subject:

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

simonm · Occasional Visitor Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 17

arrived today many thanks, Just got to find time to try it out.

cheers.

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