Posts: 22
Threads: 6
Joined: Oct 2005
Hello!
Just get my own Xpander!
Nice item, but no Connectivity Cable available ;(
Can someone tell me the correct jack (I assume: 3.5 mm stereo jack like in an mp3-player) and the correct lines between this jack and the 9-pin serial-jack?
Thank you very much!
Wilhelm Loidl
Posts: 142
Threads: 31
Joined: Sep 2007
Hello Wilhelm,
I haven't used my Xpander Connectivity Kit, yet. But to help you I examined the original HP cable, which accompanied my Xpander, with an Ohm-meter. To my surprise it seems defect: Only the most outer layer of the stereo jack is connected to pin 5 of the DB9 connector. Pin 5 is "Signal Ground", so the other 2 segments must be "Receive Data" (Pin 2 of DB9) and "Transmit Data" (Pin 3 of DB9). I'm going to find out which signal is connected to which segment in the near future (yes, time is a big problem). You can try the same or wait until I got the result. I saw your same question at www.xpander.org so I'm going to put the answer there, too.
Hope this helps
Regards
Karl
Posts: 22
Threads: 6
Joined: Oct 2005
Hello Karl!
Thank you for the feedback!
I don't think, your cable is defect - maybe there is inside an optocoupler (hope, you understand my english interpretation ;)
In the next days, I'll try to connect the Xpander with an modifyed hp-49 serial-cable.
Thank you again
Wilhelm Loidl
Posts: 22
Threads: 6
Joined: Oct 2005
Hello!
No luck with an hp-49 cable.
No luck with an old Garmin RS232 (with optocoupler) cable.
I testet all possible pin-configurations (Pin 2,3 and 5 on the 9-pin-jack), made before every try an hardware-reset on the Xpander and changed the COM1/COM2 connection with the modifyed cables.
The Connectivity-Software was running on a Windows XP-PC (maybe this is a problem?);
The automatic search withe the original Software for an handshake with the Xpander did nothing find...
Every help is very welcome!
Wilhelm Loidl
Posts: 362
Threads: 30
Joined: Jul 2005
My Xpander connectivity kit works under Windows XP without problem. I am going to have a look with my voltmeter
Here we are:
9 way female D type connector
To stereo 3.5mm jack
Pin 5 to sleeve (Shield)
Pin 3 to sleeve 5kOhm
A glitch between Pin 4 and ring
I guess this doesn't really help but the serial connector is longer than usual so I guess it contains some form of electronics
Arnaud
The connector at xpander.org
Edited: 5 Nov 2005, 3:58 p.m.
Posts: 142
Threads: 31
Joined: Sep 2007
Hello Wilhelm,
as promised I tested my cable with the Connectivity Kit. It seems, your right, it works perfectly. In the manual I found a notice that no other cable should be used 'cause it is designed especially for the Xpander. Alas, there's no way to open the DB9 jack to look inside. Sorry, that I don't have better news for you. If you'd like to discuss the Xpander in more detail you can write me at LKL_Butte@web.de.
Regards
Karl