Develop Bugs

Car Charger for Exec and Tomtom BT unit?

I have a tomtom bluetooth gps receiver that I used to use with my xda-ii for my satnav solution. I had a car charger that charged the xda and tomtom unit at once. I have now upgraded to the Exec and am hoping to find a similar car charger but couldnt find any on google/ebay - does anybody know of one that exists?
Thanks
Allan

Cannot be of help, but looking for the exact same solution. I had an iMate JAM and a cradle that charged that (mini-USB) and had an output for TomTom Bluetooth. If all else fails I could try taking apart the adapter because it has the correct output, just the Exec won't fit in it!

assuming the TOMTOM gps receiver uses a round 5V center positive connector to charge it ( which it almost certainly would do )
then check out my posts in this thread,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=29351
the cradle even comes with a wire just for charging BT GPS receivers

Ouch! Thats a little pricey!
I already have a mount that holds the unit, so I am just looking for a calbe charger solution. Anyone have any links?
Thanks
Allan

in that case I have seen a car lighter plug on ebay that has a USB socket in the back, it was on £3~£4 you could then use a regular sync and charge cable to charge it

o2 shops are now stocking the car charging lead... complete with natty o2 shaped blue indicator!

To get round the problem of daisy chaining mounts and receivers, I got a great car charger - dual usb adapter from eBay (I searched for "dual usb car") which gives you 2 usb sockets for about £8 all in. Having bought this though, I'm thinking of installing a spare cigarette lighter socket behind the dash to power it from and cut down on cables in the cabin...

Funnily enough, the many Sync and charge cables for the Sony PSP would be able to simultaneously charge both a Jasjar and a bluetooth GPS unit
here is an example
http://chakatche.fr/catalog/images/PSP/CablesyncchargePSP_big.gif

Universal charger- special
The Universal as well as the Typhoon, Wizard etc. need special wiring for the mini USB. when connecting to the computer the the driver is activating the proper pins in the Mini USB socket and you can see the "charge" light on. However when connecting to a USB Poer Supply, pins need to be manipulated (some to ground or perhaps to Vcc). I'v looked into this issue many times (searching in the Internet) and could not find a proper wiring diagram. although I know for sure that they are exist as there are some Car working chargers offered for Universal / Typhoon.
In any case refering to this thread, a car charger that works for Jam/XDA2Mini most probably will not work for the Jasjar/Universal unless i is apecified as a Universal car charger.
If any of the memebers has come a cross a wiring diagram for Typhoon / Universal charging scheme it is appreciated if you could provide details.. as many of us would like to build their own car charging units.

Re: Universal charger- special
Dubi said:
The Universal as well as the Typhoon, Wizard etc. need special wiring for the mini USB. when connecting to the computer the the driver is activating the proper pins in the Mini USB socket and you can see the "charge" light on. However when connecting to a USB Poer Supply, pins need to be manipulated (some to ground or perhaps to Vcc). I'v looked into this issue many times (searching in the Internet) and could not find a proper wiring diagram. although I know for sure that they are exist as there are some Car working chargers offered for Universal / Typhoon.
In any case refering to this thread, a car charger that works for Jam/XDA2Mini most probably will not work for the Jasjar/Universal unless i is apecified as a Universal car charger.
If any of the memebers has come a cross a wiring diagram for Typhoon / Universal charging scheme it is appreciated if you could provide details.. as many of us would like to build their own car charging units.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, what are you talking about !! I use the sync lead from my kodak camera to charge my JJ from my laptop it works fine but is slow (my laptop hasnt got much umph) and the same goes for the PSP power lead I mentioned earlier, I use that in the car with my cradle that happens to have USB sockets in it, (pictured in another thread)

It seems that either your usb lead has the proper connection to fit the requirements of the JJ or I am doing something wrong that I am not aware of.
Here is the test: Just take a Powered USB Hub, connect XDA1, XDA2, XDA Mini, XDA2S (all the models that I could test right now) and It seems that the Powered USB Hub can charge these devices.
Now connect the JJ (I suggest with a traditional USB syc cable that comes with either ..) and NADA I got no indication for charging .. than connect the HUB to the your computer which has the ASYNC installed and you see that immidiatly the JJ is being charged. Both feeding measured at 5.15V.
The Typhoon behaves the same for me as well.
Further more, I have few USB chargers (other than the one equipped with the JJ) which is in fact a PS with a USB port . The result of connecting the PS through the traditional sync cable is "No Charging".
The same applied to many Car USB charger that I'v tried.
Perhaps your Kodak sync cable is special (in fact I am looking for the schematic diagram of a cable like this)?.
I tried (just now again) also with Dopod 828 and it seem the same (no charging unless it is connected to the computer).
Please double check your charger cable and try th sync cable that comes with the JJ.

I dont see why kodak would have used a special sync lead, because on the kodaks it is used for data only (power comes in via a diffrent connector) when I get a chance I will buzz out the cable for you !!!
PS I think you shold plug it in and wait, mine starts charging instantaneously when used with the mains adaptor which has 1 Amp of current available, but takes a min or two to start charging when I am using my laptop/in car charger, both of which only have 500mA available.

Car Charge
From reading other threads, Pin 4 in the Mini USB is shorted to ground and that's probably turn on charging ..

I suggest that you read threads about the power charge / car charge in other forums... here is an example I took and although it talks about the Typhoon it is relevant to JJ as well and it suggest to connect pin 4 and 5 to ground. I can't have a good explanation why your JJ starts to charge after 2 monutes. I suspect that it has nothing to do with the current that can b drawn from the PS.
http://www.expansys.com/forumthread.asp?code=I-MATE_SP3I&thread=38
Here's what I've found on modaco.com forums, posted by richwookie on Oct.4 2004:
QUOTE >>>
...I've hacked open my C500 mains charger (quick, where's the superglue), and sure enough there are only 2 wires leaving the box to the mini USB cable, GND (black wire) and VO (white wire). However, after very careful probing, with a very tiny probe no less, I've established that the GND wire is connected to both pins 4 and 5 of the mini USB connector.
Now usually pin 4 would be not connected to anything as pin 5 is normally GND. So next I probed the C500 data cable to see if pins 4 and five of the mini USB were connected together. They weren't of course.
So what does all this mean?
Well, from what I've discovered I conclude that the C500 will only charge if:
1) There is data on the line (even if it isn't saying anything :wink: )
OR
2) Pin 4 of the mini USB plug is grounded.
So what's the solution to making the generic car chargers work?
Do nothing to the car charger. Mod the data cable so that pin 4 at the 'mini' end is connected to ground.
This IS all speculation and I suspect that it is easier said than done. I haven't yet hacked open my data cable, but I expect there are only four wires in it, and the only way to ground pin 4 (mini end) is to somehow bridge them at the connector. I think that is beyond my soldering skills (have you seen the size of the contacts on the plug?!) but I may give it a go anyway.
Anyone else want to try? Let us know here.
<<< UNQUOTE
... and the 2 hours later:
QUOTE >>>
Posted from my SmartPhone while it is charging in my car using a 1.49 cigarette lighter USB adaptor and my newly modded C500 data cable!
I'll let you know if it still works as a data cable when I get home. ;-)
....
Modded cable doesn't work for data now.
When I connect it to the PC it just charges. I suspect that when the phone is in 'charge from adaptor mode' it inhibits the data lines.
<<< UNQUOTE
Well, I guess it's simpler to mod a USB cable, than either carry around a charger, or install Activesync everywhere.

With all this chat about modifying pins etc call me naieve but why not just buy a dedicated charger from expansys or an o2 store ? both cost between £10 - £15
:shock:

Just an observation I have made... I have an O2 EXEC, and charge it quite happily (sort of) with the Standard USB Synch cable and a Car Lighter Socket USB thingy.
The only thing is... It will NOT charge if the EXEC is on (screen lit up) when the USB lead is connected or power connected. Switch the device off, connect the lead, and the charging light comes on.
I find the same when I connect it to the computer with the Synch lead too. It won't connect to ActiveSync or Charge if the EXEC is on when connected.
Hope this helps.

Serial to USB converter?

I would like to connect my Universal to a flight instrument that supplies serial output (glider vario with GPS, altitude e.t.c. information).
I have seen RS232 cabels with converter to USB, but my question is - will this work or do I need a driver for my Universal?
Has anyeone tried this with succes, and if so, what was the solution.
Best regards
Steen

I forgot to add, that I would prefere a solution where the converter is not build into a RS232 plug, as the serial input would com from a Hirose p/n HR10A-7P-6P plug. Therefor I wil have to make my own cable - at least on the serial input side.

Serial connection from Universal
I don't think you can use the USB connector output and convert it to a serial formal as the equipment needs the ability to behave as a server for the serial connection, whereas it is only configured to act as a host (i.e when connected to a PC). (terminology may be incorrect ...!)
What you could obtain is a Bluetooth Serial port .. i know you didn't want the 9 pin plug, but you could easily make yourself a connector -and it would work wireless.
Charlie Grillo

Charge or data cable

Hi all, 1st post, but I promise I have searched.
I have a SPV C500 and cant seem to get my car charger to work. I seem to recall that someone once told me that there is a difference between a charge cable and a data/sync cable.
This almost makes sense given that the phone will not charge when connected to a USB port, unless activesync is installed. What does activesync do to allow the charging to work? A charge cable, that worked with my cigarette lighter to USB would be great in the car, but it would also be useful in situations where I am at a PC without activesync installed (often at internet cafe's which prevent installing software).
Hope someone can help
Adam

What does ActiveSync do to allow the charging to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is most likely because your computer dont turn on 5volt to power on usb before devices are recognised and activesync make that happen

hmmm .... interesting
I have measured the voltage coming from my USB port with a multimeter, which is just 5V. If this is directly off the USB port, without activesync running, then the PC is supplying a constant 5V.
I have also measured the voltage from my car's cigarette lighter adaptor, guess what, also 5V.
There must be something in the phone which makes it "accept" the 5V input.
I cant figure it out tho, is it something to do with the data pins? do these need to show the phone a certain resistance or something (such as dead short) before it will allow the phone to charge?

Seems to have the USB charging disable?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=273344&highlight=
Read the post by `Severok`

Generic USB-Slave to USBhost converter

Quite a lot PDAs supporting USB-host, but for only a few an adapters or appropriate cables from the manufactures are available.
As these devices support USB-Slave as well I would like to know if there's a way to convert the USB male connector (used as slave e.g. for sync with the PC) to a USB-host female in order to connect accessories (keyboard, mass-storage devices...).
According to wikipedia the configuration of the pins shouldn't differ too much for slave and host mode.
Pls. see attachement, that's what I found regarding this question. It's a picture showing a similar configuration (as new user I'm not allowed to post external links, thanks to ab21cn
from xdaflameusers)
But it's a male-to-male converter and furthermore a converter from "big usb" to micro (mini?) usb. As there're already standard converters for the different sizes of USB I would like to start with the biggest size and to buy the appropriate converter as needed.
Does anyone has a circuit diagram or any other idea for such a generic converter?

Try adapters made for Nokie N800 series
I had a Nokia 770 a couple of years ago. It came as USB device only with mini USB connector, but online I found how to upgrade the software to USB host, and use a cable adapter. The plans I found online involved a 9V battery and 5V voltage regulator inside a metal case (they used a penguin mints case). I built one of those, even using the penguin mints case, and it worked fine.
I have never seen any indication that my HTC phone would work the same, but I am guessing that it might, if the USB host drivers are available.
Google couldn't locate the penguin mints-based converter I originally found, but this seems to be a similar circuit diagram.
Edit: Found it!

thx
thanks for the links. but i'm a little bit afraid of connecting something to my pda which has an own power supply, the risk of a burn-out is given. i've got a nautiz x5 with 4400mA battery which should have enough energy to supply usb-power to connected devices.
I think I'm going to contact the manufacture of my device, maybe this works for me, but a generic adapter would be of use for anyone.
the chips used for usb should be of the shelf as i don't think each manufacture develops an own logic for usb... but this doesn't imply that the cabeling is standard too.
what the heck makes manufactures providing features in their products which the users can't take advantage of?

do you mean using keyboards and so on on ppc?
because it's so simple if ur phone has a mini usb plug (the one u plug the power adapter into). i found a cable that plug into that and plugs a normal usb cable in on the other side and blam been typing on my phone using a desktop keyboard. it depends how much power your device requires however. i wish there was some software to feed a video line out so i could watch videos on pair of vizors that wud be rad. all i can find is a mini-sd card converter now whats the point of that. guess i need an itouch

yes
primary i want to connect usb mass storage devices to my pocket pc. gamecontroller or keyboard would be a good thing too.
my devices doesn't have a standard usb plug, the only thing i got is a adapter from the properitary plug of my device to standard usb male connector, but this is meant for usb-slave use only.
the underlying qeustion is, if there's a way to convert usb-slave to usb-host using the same pins. if it needs an additonaly pin then i don't see a way to convert it as i don't know anything about the pins cableing of my properitary plug.
a week ago i found an adapter which was able to convert the male usb to another male usb... but it didn't work.
the problem is compareable to datatransfer between two pcs via usb - it's possible, but only using properiatry hardware and drivers...
so i think there's no way to solve this problem in a generic way.

out of interest, do you already have windows CE drivers for the device to act as a host and mass storage? I wouldnt mind them if you can point me somewhere..

how to check if my htc (touch2) ca use usb host?

USB Port - Proprietary???

I have a Tilt 2, had it since last March. I've had to have it replaced twice already due to the USB jack getting to the point where it no longer functions except to charge, it won't connect via cable to the pc, nor will it work with the multi-function adapter provided at purchase by HTC.
Is it dangerous/wrong to use after-market chargers/adapters/standard usb cables with the phone??? Am I damaging the usb port by using car chargers/wall chargers, etc that I got from ebay, or is this just a matter of bad design?

It isn't. It looks different, but its not. I believe its ONLY notched like that because not only is that port a USB port, but it also has a few extra 'wires' for connecting a headset to it. (via the HTC adapter)
Of course, the corporate answer is.. Yes using a non HTC Power Adapter could damage your TP2. But unofficially, I doubt it.
I've stopped buying over priced chargers for my phones and will by any Mini-USB charge that I can find. Most will work. The voltage does not matter anymore since USB is a set standard, and any modification to the voltage would not comply to the USB standard, and it wouldn't be USB then.
I've had the same issue with my TP2 (and with the HTC Wing I had before). Check the power adapters itself. I have a RAZR charger I've been using for years, and I think the plug itself has just about had it.
Also take some canned air to the USB port on the phone (while it is powered off and battery removed) and try to remove debris from the USB port. The minuscule little piece of dust could cause a bad connection. Electronic cleaner works better at this. (its LIKE canned air but contains alcohol-based cleaner in the "air". It's available at Radio Shack.) This fixed the problem I was having with my Wing.
And finally, it may just be time for a new phone. The ports just plain wear out from daily plugging and unplugging that adapter in. One slight bend and the port is all out of alignment.. (does it wiggle instead of being a firm connection when you plug in the charger?)
This is why I am waiting for the day these induction charges are standard in phones.. No more power adapters!

I just use a normal USB plug for mine. I don't even fool with the one it came with so I don't get that one confuse with something else. They only notched it like that to make a buck, I would guess.

If you are trying to use Mini USB headphone, only the ones made by HTC will work as it has 11 pins. Standard Mini USB has only 5 pins.