Has anyone used the NX series as a serial terminal emulator?

[karasu]

As asked above I wanted to know if anyone had succesfully used the serial interface in a terminal situation. I used to use my Prism for this and haven't tried on the NX. I had concerns about serial logic levels and compatible software on the new device.

[thack]

Take a look at this website:
http://www.pstec.de/ppp/pppclies/clieser.html

He has diagrams for a serial cradle/cable. He lists the NX as compatible but it might not be. The reason I am not sure is because they have discovered a flaw with ThinkOutside keyboards. Apparently Sony changed the specifications of the connector between the NR70 and NX70 and the keyboard won't work without a hardware mod. You can download the connector specifications at:

http://www.us.sonypdadev.com

Look under Obtain Development Tools > Hardware Development > Interface Connector DDK

These specs have been recently updated and you can use this as a guide to verify the serial cable diagram from the site above. I don't know for sure but I believe that the only difference between the old connector diagrams and the new connector diagrams is needing DTR to be high when the serial port is open.

Some other serial cable (for modem/gps) providers:

http://www.pcables.com/prod3.html
http://www.thesupplynet.com/searchResults.cfm?prodMadeBy=270&SubString=&mySearch=mfg
http://pc-mobile.net/clie.htm
http://pc-mobile.net/clie.htm

[pelaca]

Originally posted by karasu
As asked above I wanted to know if anyone had succesfully used the serial interface in a terminal situation. I used to use my Prism for this and haven't tried on the NX. I had concerns about serial logic levels and compatible software on the new device.

The levels of the connector on the NX/NR/T series are 3.3V, you have to use the MAX3222 or any other similar driver...

[Eric S]

Originally posted by thack
Take a look at this website:
http://www.pstec.de/ppp/pppclies/clieser.html

He has diagrams for a serial cradle/cable. He lists the NX as compatible but it might not be. The reason I am not sure is because they have discovered a flaw with ThinkOutside keyboards.

I doubt you'll see a problem for most things. I suspect that the change in the connector wasn't the serial interface, as my NX-60 syncs fine over a serial cable designed for theT/NR series. Maybe Sony changed what power they made available via the connector, or something like that.

Hmmm.... Has anyone looked at the Hardware SDK?

[thack]

The Sony KB-11 keyboard made by ThinkOutside is rumored not to work with the NX because of a hardware change since the T/NR series. I suspect the DTR line because that works with normal serial cables but might not be used on the ThinkOutside keyboard. I did look at the Interface Connector DDK and it says that DTR needs to be set to high for the UART to be open.

It's aldo interesting that the connector has USB, power, charging, ground, and serial connectors but no audio/video out. Things like the speaker cradle must be using the USB or serial lines to pass digital data and the cradle must do the work to convert to analog. I was expecting a simple solution like a headphone out jack on the connector. This is even more interesting when you consider the NZ90 video cradle and the 'tuner' cradle listed in the OS5 SDK.

[karasu]

Originally posted by thack
The Sony KB-11 keyboard made by ThinkOutside is rumored not to work with the NX because of a hardware change since the T/NR series. I suspect the DTR line because that works with normal serial cables but might not be used on the ThinkOutside keyboard. I did look at the Interface Connector DDK and it says that DTR needs to be set to high for the UART to be open.

If it's the simple matter of a pull-up on a logic line I wish someone with the hardware knowledge could post a retro to make it compatible. Either that or send me the HDware specs and I'll do it. (yeah, like I don't have enough crap to do...)

Originally posted by thack
It's aldo interesting that the connector has USB, power, charging, ground, and serial connectors but no audio/video out. Things like the speaker cradle must be using the USB or serial lines to pass digital data and the cradle must do the work to convert to analog. I was expecting a simple solution like a headphone out jack on the connector. This is even more interesting when you consider the NZ90 video cradle and the 'tuner' cradle listed in the OS5 SDK.

IIRC, there are audio outs in the NX connector, that's why the NR has to use the audio jack adapter to make the speaker cradle work. Since I never bothered getting a HDK, I don't know for sure.

[thack]

IIRC, there are audio outs in the NX connector, that's why the NR has to use the audio jack adapter to make the speaker cradle work.That would make the most sense but they don't list the pins in the interface connector DDK. I was unaware that the NR could use the speaker cradle.

[Raybot]

Originally posted by pelaca


The levels of the connector on the NX/NR/T series are 3.3V, you have to use the MAX3222 or any other similar driver...

I thought you could get away with it when talking to most equipment with RS-232 ports as long as high was above 2 volts and low below 0.8 volts (TTL levels) and your cable runs were relatively short (less than a couple of meters) ...

Of course, going by the proper spec you'd need the line driver to get the 30-odd volt voltage swings (15 volts either side of ground) but I got the impression that it wasn't really necessary unless you were working in high electronic noise environments or needed 10 meter cable runs ...

Then again, if someone would like to disagree with me on this, please do so, you may point out something I've overlooked!


- Raymond

[khyasad]

Yes, I do ...

I use the brando Y-cable (NX70 -> USB/Serial (9-pin) cable splitter and 'online' by MarkSpace (http://www.markspace.com/online.html) ...

I use it as a console for Sun UltraSPARC servers and workstations ...

[milmber]

karasu,
what are you intending to use as a terminal emulation program..?

[n2ifp]

Sony Serial Interface Connector Schematic

http://leggnet.com/clie/Ifcndke3.pdf

[karasu]

Originally posted by milmber
karasu,
what are you intending to use as a terminal emulation program..?

I maintain a lot of wireless data transmitters and recievers all over the southwest and I used to use my prism to log in to devices because it was so much faster than booting up a laptop and then booting a terminal emu. and all that. I switched to the NX but had still been using the prism for this; I'd like to downsize what I take on the plane. The version of ptelnet I had been using puked all over my NX but I here there are newer progs out there that can do what I need and there are also serial cables in abundance now. The issue for me came from the fact that I have different devices; some require a line driver, some don't. I just wanted to find out if the NX supported true RS232 levels. Sounds like no.

[khyasad]

i suggest you try online by markspace .... it might be what you're after ....