[NTLK] Newton USB Dongle
Jeff Sheldon
jeffsheldon at gmail.com
Mon Feb 6 11:42:27 EST 2017
Matthias,
You're not kidding about that minimum and it looks like a 3 month wait
time from JAE. Not a small price attached either. :-(
For reference, here's JAE's page on the internal interconnect:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/jae-electronics/IL-WX-32PB-VF-BE/IL-WX-32PB-VF-BE-ND/5397414
-Jeff
On Mon, Feb 6, 2017 at 6:19 AM, Matthias Melcher <mm at matthiasm.com> wrote:
>
> I have a few internal modem connectors still here. If the demand is big enough, we can have more made by JAE. The minimum order is 300. This is btw how I got mine in the first place. The external connector can no longer be ordered though.
>
>> On Feb 6, 2017, at 5:26 AM, Sonny Hung <sonnyhung at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi Everyone,
>>
>> Can I suggest someone check back into the archives.
>> I know there was another user on the list who had a decent stash of the NIC
>> connecters.
>> They were selling them back awhile but I didn't need any myself and of
>> course back then his price was a bit more than I wanted to pay per piece.
>> Does anyone recall the individual? They were selling other Newton stuff
>> back then. Hopefully this might help which ever direction this discussion
>> is headed towards. Still lurking around. HTH
>>
>> God bless,
>>
>> Sonny Hung
>> the Hung Family
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 10:24 PM, Jeff Sheldon <jeffsheldon at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Jake,
>>>
>>> Really cool about the wifi module. I'll look it over in more detail in the
>>> morning.
>>>
>>> In this post-wired world, it seems like network is ideal for syncs and
>>> package installs. Do we have a serial over TCP/IP solution yet? I think
>>> of socat under Linux as an example of a similar beast.
>>>
>>> USB-C seems like a good solution for power and data, but I haven't looked
>>> at the specs yet.
>>>
>>>
>>> -Jeff
>>>
>>>> On Feb 5, 2017, at 15:30, Jake Bordens <jake at allaboutjake.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Jeff, the design is open for non-commercial use..
>>> http://retronewton.blogspot.com or https://github.com/jake-b/
>>> Newton-Internal-WiFi
>>>>
>>>> The board’s dimensions and fit are from trial and error, and probably
>>> not perfect, but they work for a wifi card.. You don’t need the internal
>>> screw because there aren’t any external mechanical stresses on the board.
>>>>
>>>> The module I chose because of its PPPD functionality, but an ESP8266 or
>>> ESP32 would probably work with a SLIP or PPPD stack (I’m not sure if
>>> something like that exists, or if it would need to be written).. An ESP
>>> module would be better because the ConnectOne module is under encryption
>>> export protection for some reason I don’t understand.
>>>>
>>>> I am not sure about USB-C either. You’d definitely need some
>>> device-side circuitry to negotiate and request the 12v power supply. I’m
>>> sure it’ll eventually be available in a commodity part.
>>>>
>>>> Given the two serial channels on the internal connector, would be
>>> possible to do a dual WiFi/USB card, for sure. I also know Matthias was
>>> working on something ESP8266 based too.
>>>>
>>>> Jake
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On 2/5/17, 4:21 PM, "newtontalk-bounces at newtontalk.net on behalf of
>>> Jeff Sheldon" <newtontalk-bounces at newtontalk.net on behalf of
>>> jeffsheldon at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Tony,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> It’s probably pretty likely that a USB to RS422 mini-din8 doesn’t
>>> exist,
>>>> but it’s likely that two compatible ends can be sourced based on a
>>> quick
>>>> Amazon search. I’ll go ahead and build one just a as a
>>> proof-of-concept.
>>>> I’m happy to see many solutions for USB-to-RS232 FTDI (cut wire)
>>> cables out
>>>> there presenting a variety of options.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> One issue I recall with the SER-001 was that people said it would
>>> cause
>>>> slight deformation to the case and even cracking because the PCB was
>>> thick
>>>> and pressed up against the case. I’m glad to see thinner PCBs readily
>>>> available from DIY shops like OSH Park.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Jake,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I read about the WIFI board a while back, but memory escapes me—is
>>> that
>>>> your design? Very cool. the ESP chips are so amazingly dynamic and
>>> cheap
>>>> that I can easily see that being a good solution for a variety of
>>> needs.
>>>> USB-C is definitely forward-thinking…I don’t have anything that can
>>> talk to
>>>> it, but I think it’s worth pursuing for the long haul.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> There was some talk on here last spring about using cheap, highly
>>> flexible,
>>>> chips to expand Newton functionality in various ways (from the
>>> internal
>>>> port) other than for just network or sync. Do you recall the width
>>> of the
>>>> PCB on your design and do you have some photos of the product
>>> online? Is
>>>> this a closed design?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dennis, thanks for that. Yes, “unscrupulous”. :-)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Does your SER-001 fit well or do you have that issue I was mentioning
>>> with
>>>> case fitment and pressure being applied by the thick PCB?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> David,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I’ve, too, have occasionally found the interconnect plug/sockets, but
>>> yes,
>>>> it’s amazingly difficult and they tend to no longer be available.
>>> I’ll
>>>> look into seeing if a new connector board can be made to sit on top
>>> of the
>>>> old pads and still use the existing case footprint. If I recall
>>> correctly,
>>>> I think even the original iPod/Pad/Phone connector had some
>>> compatible pins
>>>> for basic things which could be “corrected” as-needed with the minimal
>>>> circuitry.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> All,
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I haven’t checked on this in a while, but do we have a centralized
>>> wiki or
>>>> somesuch for active community projects and/or needs? It might be
>>> nice to
>>>> have a list of “must-haves” with people assigned to them (as
>>> interested or
>>>> testers if nothing more) and some documentation to go with those
>>> ideas. My
>>>> frustration since 1994 has been that many of the expansion solutions
>>> that
>>>> have turned up are closed and limited in availability. I’d love to
>>> have
>>>> some open projects which anyone can build and with a few alternatives
>>> for
>>>> parts should one supplier disappear. Might be nice to have a
>>>> compatibility database for PCMCIA and CF cards, a list of expansion
>>> units
>>>> and software projects along with the developer(s) behind it, etc.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Unrelated, I’m only now just finding this nice WIRED article
>>> featuring some
>>>> of our longstanding Newton heroes (and I tweeted a photo of that same
>>> case
>>>> a couple weeks ago):
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://www.wired.com/2013/08/the-newton-lives/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -Jeff
>>>>
>>>>> On Sun, Feb 5, 2017 at 2:17 PM, David Arnold <davida at pobox.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>> Hi Jeff,
>>>>>
>>>>> I’ve been trying (unsuccessfully, so far) to source the JAE interconnect
>>>>> plugs and do a small run of adaptors. I’ve got a MiniDIN8 prototype
>>> which
>>>>> works with the Interconnect dongle, but I was hoping to eliminate the
>>> need
>>>>> for the dongle.
>>>>>
>>>>> Given I’ve been unable to get the Interconnect plugs as surplus, I
>>>>> considered getting a batch made. But given there seems to be perhaps a
>>>>> market for about 50 such adaptors all up, the costs don’t work out.
>>>>>
>>>>> I’ve got 5 Interconnect plugs (plus an un-potted Interconnect adaptor)
>>>>> that Newton Inc sent me while they existed, but otherwise I guess a
>>>>> MiniDIN8 would be the next best thing?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> d
>>>>>
>>>>>> On 6 Feb 2017, at 05:14, Jeff Sheldon <jeffsheldon at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I've had problems with the Prolific chipset in many applications. IMHO,
>>>>> it's a cheap product cloned the world over and the drivers aren't well
>>>>> maintained. FTDI is the way to go.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Adriano is scrupulous. 11 years ago, he privately pushed me to provide
>>>>> details on adapters I was creating for the community to interface with
>>> iPod
>>>>> devices and a homebrew keyboard using the internal port. He even wanted
>>> me
>>>>> to store my progress on his personal storage space. When I resisted, he
>>>>> backed down and suggested I contact Daniel Padilla to help with the
>>>>> software side. After some back-and-forth, Daniel stopped responding. It
>>>>> seemed strange. Unexpectedly, Adriano and Daniel released new products
>>>>> based on the idea, though far less capable. It watered down the idea
>>> and I
>>>>> shelved my Newton, then dropped off the list for some time, also hiving
>>> up
>>>>> on my 2100 PCB mapping project (for the sake of creating minimized
>>> designs).
>>>>>>
>>>>>> If the community needs a USB solution, what would be the preference?
>>>>> Internal card with port, Interconnect to USB end, or RS422 to USB? Seems
>>>>> like the last--which people are talking about here--is the easiest and
>>>>> cheapest solution. All three are doable, though those JAE ports are
>>> hard to
>>>>> find.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> -Jeff
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Feb 5, 2017, at 06:47, Jake Bordens <jake at allaboutjake.com> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I recently purchased a FDTI serial cable for use in Mac OS Sierra and
>>>>> it worked without drivers.. I had a prolific-chipset cable but the
>>> driver
>>>>> was causing my machine to crash, so I decided to get the FDTI since it
>>> was
>>>>> more compatible, and apparently did not need drivers (though I do a lot
>>> of
>>>>> tinkering so its possible I had a driver installed for another device.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I find it suspicious that it doesn’t show up as a USB device with a
>>>>> PID/VID in the profiler… that would indicate that it isn’t even showing
>>> up
>>>>> on the USB bus. However silly, maybe try a different USB cable,
>>> sometimes
>>>>> cheap USB cables are charge-only. I’ve gotten bitten by that before.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Side note, I would like to acquire one of these “Adriano” dongles, if
>>>>> anyone has a stash of them and is willing to part with one. Would make
>>>>> development a little easier. My guess is that they are rare, and folks
>>>>> don’t want to part with them, and for that I’d understand.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> ----------
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> http://newtontalk.net/
>>>>>>> http://twitter.com/newtontalk
>>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>>
>>>>>> http://newtontalk.net/
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>>>>>
>>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>> http://newtontalk.net/
>>>>> http://twitter.com/newtontalk
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> -Jeff
>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> ----------
>>>>
>>>> http://newtontalk.net/
>>>> http://twitter.com/newtontalk
>>>>
>>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
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>>>> http://twitter.com/newtontalk
>>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
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>>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
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>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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--
-Jeff
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