On Monday, March 27, 2023 at 6:07:29 PM UTC-4, Don Y wrote:
> On 3/27/2023 2:50 PM, Rick C wrote:
> > On Monday, March 27, 2023 at 4:08:12 PM UTC-4, Don Y wrote:
> >> On 3/27/2023 9:56 AM, Rick C wrote:
> >>> On Monday, March 27, 2023 at 12:21:52 PM UTC-4, Don Y wrote:
> >>>> On 3/27/2023 7:04 AM, Rick C wrote:
> >>>>> On Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 11:31:18 PM UTC-4, Don Y wrote:
> >>>>>> On 3/26/2023 7:30 PM, Rick C wrote:
> >>>>>>> On Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 4:52:48 PM UTC-4, Don Y wrote:
> >>>>>>>> On 3/26/2023 1:32 PM, Don Y wrote:
> >>>>>>>>> On 3/26/2023 1:23 PM, Don Y wrote:
> >>>>>>>>>> I build these into connector shells that are designed to support a
> >>>>>>>>>> pair of back-to-back connectors (DB9 or 25) and then affix a label
> >>>>>>>>>> telling me the device that it is intended to normalize (e.g., I have
> >>>>>>>>>> one at my feet that "fixes" APC's UPS serial port) *or* the function
> >>>>>>>>>> it is intended to perform (gender change, NULL modem, NULL 'terminal'!,
> >>>>>>>>>> etc.)
> >>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>> This is the APC widget mentioned:
> >>>>>>>>> <https://mega.nz/file/J35SBBob#FtQznCDovhBZHJdA5OspHdMo6_DiDMjQwtCqnh3Oa54>
> >>>>>>>> And this is the COTS *PC* that I use as a name server:
> >>>>>>>> <https://mega.nz/file/Fi4hEACJ#YgVZ5tdZBjTcwW76gXC2vdgv5M6u4lTpUDAwu53Z9n8>
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> Note the *two* serial ports (DTE as the standard dictates), 100BaseT
> >>>>>>>> network connection (it's just a name server, it doesn't need to
> >>>>>>>> have high throughput), PS/2 keyboard and VGA (cuz it's a PC!),
> >>>>>>>> wifi and USB. The four mounting holes visible are the VESA standard
> >>>>>>>> (I have these mounted between my monitor and support arm)
> >>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>> As an ISA PC, it will run damn near any OS intended for such
> >>>>>>>> a platform (I run NetBSD on this box). So, all of the PC hosted
> >>>>>>>> AND TARGETED tools are available (I have a LFC monitor wired to
> >>>>>>>> one of the serial ports to discipline my time service as that
> >>>>>>>> was easier/cheaper to implement than any other solution!).
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Wow! He's gone from making overly verbose posts with far more description than needed, to making replies to himself, neither of which are needed.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Don, why are you here? Why are you posting in this thread? You have gone completely off topic.
> >>>>>>>
> >>>>>>> Thanks,
> >>>>>> To show that if you buy something (or, in my case, RESCUE something with
> >>>>>> *no* markings at all on it) for a KNOWN MARKET, then you can *infer* how
> >>>>>> a responsible design would pin the connectors.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I rescued this item. I had no idea what sort of CPU was inside.
> >>>>>> Nor memory. Nor pinouts of the DB9's (which I *assumed* would
> >>>>>> be serial ports -- why? because the rest of the box LOOKED like
> >>>>>> it was trying to be a PC, albeit in a very small form factor
> >>>>>> and with a wonky power connector). Or, if the 8P8C was actually
> >>>>>> a network port. Or, if the circular DIN was intended as a PS/2
> >>>>>> keyboard. Or, the DE15 as a video port.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> The markings by the connectors *suggested* these uses. And, it
> >>>>>> seemed more likely than not...
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> With *no* documentation, I opted to plug in a monitor (largely
> >>>>>> confident that the resolution would be supported by this
> >>>>>> "unknown" box) and keyboard and poke around the SETUP screen
> >>>>>> (which I *also* assumed would be available... somehow).
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Why was I *not* surprised with that outcome?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> You've posted a link to a device selected from a vendor
> >>>>>> that I'm unfamiliar with and, you infer, insufficiently
> >>>>>> documented (hey, at least you KNOW who made/makes your
> >>>>>> device! That's more than *I* had to go on!).
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Then, expect "us" to give you a definitive answer about
> >>>>>> specifics related to that device. And, frown on those of
> >>>>>> us that point this out to you as being "not helpful".
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> ALL ONE CAN TELL YOU ABOUT A RANDOM DEVICE THAT APPEARS TO HAVE
> >>>>>> SERIAL PORT(S) IS WHAT THE STANDARD SAYS ABOUT THOSE PORTS,
> >>>>>> THEIR GENDER AND THE SIGNALS ASSIGNED TO THE PINS AND THEIR
> >>>>>> DIRECTIONS. I suspect more than a few people learned something
> >>>>>> about the standard, here. And, the approach I have taken
> >>>>>> to handle pinning differences (my "widgets").
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Why aren't you talking to the vendor? Do you expect him/her
> >>>>>> to be reading your posts, here?
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Buy something that appears to be a PC. It won't succeed
> >>>>>> in that ubiquitous market if it differs radically from
> >>>>>> other devices that also claim to be PCs. So, you can,
> >>>>>> /with a high degree of confidence/, expect the connectors
> >>>>>> to be pinned the way a PC would pin them.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Or, buy from Joe's Garage Shop -- ask for Joe.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> THIS example is a testament to how I was able to make use
> >>>>>> of a COMPLETELY undocumented device simply by making a
> >>>>>> good assumption about the intent of the product and the
> >>>>>> logical conclusions that flow from that assumption. The
> >>>>>> only examination required was trying to deduce the
> >>>>>> connections to the power connector and the associated
> >>>>>> voltages (but, I had a pretty good feeling it wouldn't
> >>>>>> be 7.293VDC or 28V or... again, because of the likely market)
> >>>>>
> >>>>> You are off topic in this thread. Why not start your own thread, rather than polluting this one?
> >>>> You still fail to see how this applies to "determining which
> >>>> pin is the output".
> >>>>
> >>>> Wow, can a person get any denser?
> >>>
> >>> No, you can't. You completely fail to understand what is going on with this issue.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Hey, rick, I've got a box here. It's got a DB25 connector on it.
> >>>> Is it for a printer? Serial port? SCSI interface? I'd post a photo
> >>>> of it but the only distinguishable feature is the connector...
> >>>>
> >>>> Surely you should be able to answer this question!
> >>>
> >>> What does YOUR box have to do with my project? You are projecting your imaginings, onto a conversation that is very different from what you are talking about. But that's typical of you. At least your last few posts have not been a complete dump of every stray thought that you encountered while writing the post.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> BTW, Joe is still waiting for your call...
> >>>
> >>> I'm sure he will wait a long time to come. He's probably waiting for you to stop posting off topic in this thread.
> >> Wow, had you put this much effort into YOUR problem, you could have put
> >> a SoC on a board and written the page of code it would take to suit your
> >> problem. The BALANCE of the time, you could have ASSEMBLED the boards
> >> into boxes!
> >>
> >> It's now 27 March. Your initial post was 17 January. A productive two months
> >> for you, eh?
> >
> > Some people think small. I'm currently negotiating a multi-million dollar job. This design is actually for my brother who needs a gadget and so far, has not been able to find anyone to help him. There are a few people who have contacted me here and one from another group. I expect one of them will turn out to be a good choice.
> "Multi-million dollar job". And you're dicking around with nickels and
> dimes? Buy 20 BRAND SPANKING NEW pc's and be done with it!

You continue to not understand the application, yet you feel qualified to recommend solutions. Yes, you are very much the sort of consultant that gives the group as a whole, a bad name.

> Wow, what a great businessman -- not!
> > Thanks for your concern about the use of my time.
> I'd hate to see you waste it -- as you have, ours!

I can't waste your time. That is entirely up to you. I'm finding the rather entertaining. Nothing technical arising from the discussion with you, but at this point, it's exploring your compulsive responses to everything I post.

--

Rick C.

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