From: Johannes Wolf (mp2100_at_mail-gw.estec.esa.int)
Date: Fri Jul 02 2004 - 02:41:37 PDT
I have to correct myself:
I thought it was an hardware issue (if you feed a 3.3V device with 5V it
will fry),
but in fact it is not.
The Newt provides both, 5V and 3.3V to the PCMCIA card interfaces.
Thus it is absolutely correct that if you use a card that represents itself
to be a serial interface via the PCMCIA - then it does not matter if its a
3.3V or 5V type card.
So the main thing you should check is the protocol that is supported by the
GPS card:
NMEA is fine for most of the GPS applications we have for the Newt.
Cheers
Johannes
> -----Original Message-----
> From: newtontalk-bounce_at_newtontalk.net
> [mailto:newtontalk-bounce_at_newtontalk.net]On Behalf Of
> bmcewen_at_comcast.net
> Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2004 8:41 PM
> To: newtontalk_at_newtontalk.net
> Subject: Re: [NTLK] GPS and maps on the Newton
> >From: "Dan" <dan_at_dbdigitalweb.com>
> >Subject: Re: [NTLK] GPS and maps on the Newton
> >Date: Thu, 1 Jul 2004 11:54:11 -0400
> >>DO NEVER INSERT ANY 3V PCMCIA CARD INTO THE NEWT!
> >That is the simple answer.
> >Agreed. The long answer is it depends on the driver. If a driver is not
> >set up to handle 3v properly, you can fry the newt, card or
> both. So to be
> >safe don't put a 3v card into your Newt. Paul had a discusson on this a
> >month or two ago regarding this (check the archives, I think it
> was called
> >3v cards or something like that), and mentioned that ATA Support driver
> >works fine with 3v, but it all depends on the driver. The
> wireless driver
> >(Heroshi's...and excuse the spelling I don't have time to double
> check it)
> >is only set for 5v, and to insert a 3v one will cause damage.
> All very true except I think it is not a concern for the CF GPS
> cards. Here's why:
> There is NO DRIVER needed for serial port comm cards like this.
> You plug it in, it's seen as a comm card just like a modem, you
> are good to go. You're not depending on a shareware author to
> check the voltages before comunicating w/ the device. You're
> using Apple own stuff which takes this into account. It's just a
> serial card.
> I personally would not get this one if the price goes up much
> (actually that auction is dead already, with no bids), for $109
> or so you can get the earlier-mentioned Haicom card (yes, 3.3V)
> which is a bit more versatile (comes with USB/serial/firewire
> cables). Although the external cable is a $20 item.
> HTH.
> Brian
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