I learnt something about serial connections the other day.
I want to make it so my TV automatically turns on and off with my HTPC. Since almost no desktop GPU supports HDMI-CEC I needed to look for another solution. Turns out the TV has a fully documented serial interface which allows me to control it, so I bought an FTDI usb to serial adapter.
Unfortunately, both the TV and the adapter have male connectors (pins) so I bought a gender changer as well.
Turns out, serial is kind of a mix between USB and Ethernet. Most of the time, it was used to connect a PC to a modem. But in my case the TV counts as a second PC. And if you want to connect a PC to another PC via serial, then you need a special crossed over "null modem" cable. So yeah, I ordered one now.
Espechally since that #uC is easy to obtain and relatively cheap (compared to a #Pi0 / #Pi0W which were used for the #DreamPi#Dialup adaptor and are still not widely available at #MSRP)...
Because my little rat-brain can't help but latch on to projects I shouldn't be doing, I'm currently downloading the source for #MAME so that I can look at the #RS232 code.
Could anyone point me in the general direction of any blogs or docs about this part (devices/bus/rs232) of MAME?
I have absolutely no confidence in me solving my little #DosBox nullmodem challenge. But I'm going to have a look under the hood and see what's there, just in case.
With #Psion SIBO machines (ignoring the HC and Workabout ranges), there are two types of #RS232 port.
9-pin mini-DIN. On the MC range (with comms card), the Series 3(s) and 3a (with 3Link soap-on-a-rope)
15-pin "Honda" PCMCIA-style. On the 3c, 3mx, Siena
My plan today is to take a mini-DIN and a Honda cable and attach a #PL2303 adapter to each one. It won't make them any faster, but it'll be a hell of a lot more convenient!
Anyone got any tips on monitoring every pin (CTS, DTR, etc) on an #RS232 connection when you only have a cheap Cypress #logicanalyser?
I'm guessing I'm going to need to get a handful of RS232 to #TTL converters so that I don't blow up the analyser with ±12V. But if anyone has a better solution, I'm all ears.
We take two generations of Psion handhelds, and using a RS232 to TTL converter, connect them up to the RC2014 Z80 computer to use as terminals. Instructions given to replicate.
OFC I don't expect those slots to be #ISA or something but something like the #OldNet or #Wifi232-alike #NIC should be possible...
I mean if I had the €€€€€ and skills I'd likely try to build one of those myself for the #CommanderX16, but even a simple #RS232 card that can interface with some "#FakeModem" - #Network adapter would be sufficient.