Serial/USB communication

I am trying to create an interface between my PocketPC and an external
device. Where can I find information on the best way to do this? Should I be
looking into serial or USB communication?



--
Geoff Callaghan
IT Manager
TRAK Engineering
gcallaghan@trakeng.com

Floyd
Thu Jul 08 16:45:45 CDT 2004

probably serial, very few (if any) PPCs have USB host ports, but most have
serial ports.

--
Floyd Burger

"Geoff Callaghan" <gcallaghan@trakeng.com> wrote in message
news:OqvIuwSZEHA.3012@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> I am trying to create an interface between my PocketPC and an external
> device. Where can I find information on the best way to do this? Should I
be
> looking into serial or USB communication?
>
>
>
> --
> Geoff Callaghan
> IT Manager
> TRAK Engineering
> gcallaghan@trakeng.com
>
>

Bruce
Thu Jul 08 18:04:22 CDT 2004

External device is kind of vague.

If the external device has a USB Host port, like on a PC, you can use USB.
If on the other hand you are talking about something like a camera, mouse,
keyboard, storage device, then USB is not an option.

That leaves you with serial, Irda, Bluetooth, 802.11...

--
Bruce Eitman (eMVP)
Senior Engineer

Geoff
Fri Jul 09 10:09:24 CDT 2004

That's very interesting. It does raise another question I have been
wondering about: are all USB ports capable of being used as serial ports, or
is the USB port on a PocketPC special in that respect? Do I need to look for
a special kind of PocketPC, one with a serial port, or can I just use the
USB port and treat it like a serial?



"Bruce Eitman (eMVP)" <beitmannospam@nospam.neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:uLPPp$TZEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> External device is kind of vague.
>
> If the external device has a USB Host port, like on a PC, you can use USB.
> If on the other hand you are talking about something like a camera, mouse,
> keyboard, storage device, then USB is not an option.
>
> That leaves you with serial, Irda, Bluetooth, 802.11...
>
> --
> Bruce Eitman (eMVP)
> Senior Engineer
>
>
>

Chris
Fri Jul 09 10:29:04 CDT 2004

USB != RS232. There are converters for some, but with a PPC, you'd need USB
hosting, which is way different that USB function and is not avaiable on
most PPCs. You need to get a cable from the OEM that has the 9-pin RS232
connector.

--
Chris Tacke, eMVP
Co-Founder and Advisory Board Member
www.OpenNETCF.org
---
---
Principal Partner
OpenNETCF Consulting
www.OpenNETCF.com



"Geoff Callaghan" <gcallaghan@trakeng.com> wrote in message
news:%23h7QTbcZEHA.2488@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> That's very interesting. It does raise another question I have been
> wondering about: are all USB ports capable of being used as serial ports,
or
> is the USB port on a PocketPC special in that respect? Do I need to look
for
> a special kind of PocketPC, one with a serial port, or can I just use the
> USB port and treat it like a serial?
>
>
>
> "Bruce Eitman (eMVP)" <beitmannospam@nospam.neo.rr.com> wrote in message
> news:uLPPp$TZEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > External device is kind of vague.
> >
> > If the external device has a USB Host port, like on a PC, you can use
USB.
> > If on the other hand you are talking about something like a camera,
mouse,
> > keyboard, storage device, then USB is not an option.
> >
> > That leaves you with serial, Irda, Bluetooth, 802.11...
> >
> > --
> > Bruce Eitman (eMVP)
> > Senior Engineer
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Geoff
Fri Jul 09 11:08:48 CDT 2004

I understand that, but my question is more on a coding basis. Once I have
that cable, do I code as if it's a serial port, or do I have to learn how to
program for USB?


"Chris Tacke, eMVP" <ctacke@spamfree-opennetcf.org> wrote in message
news:OVtO5lcZEHA.2516@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> USB != RS232. There are converters for some, but with a PPC, you'd need
USB
> hosting, which is way different that USB function and is not avaiable on
> most PPCs. You need to get a cable from the OEM that has the 9-pin RS232
> connector.
>
> --
> Chris Tacke, eMVP
> Co-Founder and Advisory Board Member
> www.OpenNETCF.org
> ---
> ---
> Principal Partner
> OpenNETCF Consulting
> www.OpenNETCF.com
>
>
>
> "Geoff Callaghan" <gcallaghan@trakeng.com> wrote in message
> news:%23h7QTbcZEHA.2488@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > That's very interesting. It does raise another question I have been
> > wondering about: are all USB ports capable of being used as serial
ports,
> or
> > is the USB port on a PocketPC special in that respect? Do I need to look
> for
> > a special kind of PocketPC, one with a serial port, or can I just use
the
> > USB port and treat it like a serial?
> >
> >
> >
> > "Bruce Eitman (eMVP)" <beitmannospam@nospam.neo.rr.com> wrote in message
> > news:uLPPp$TZEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > External device is kind of vague.
> > >
> > > If the external device has a USB Host port, like on a PC, you can use
> USB.
> > > If on the other hand you are talking about something like a camera,
> mouse,
> > > keyboard, storage device, then USB is not an option.
> > >
> > > That leaves you with serial, Irda, Bluetooth, 802.11...
> > >
> > > --
> > > Bruce Eitman (eMVP)
> > > Senior Engineer
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Chris
Fri Jul 09 11:18:59 CDT 2004

If you get a cable that has the serial connector, it doesn't use the USB -
it uses the internal device UART, so you use it like any serial port
(CreateFile(_T("COMn:")...)

--
Chris Tacke, eMVP
Co-Founder and Advisory Board Member
www.OpenNETCF.org
---
---
Principal Partner
OpenNETCF Consulting
www.OpenNETCF.com



"Geoff Callaghan" <gcallaghan@trakeng.com> wrote in message
news:O42Bh8cZEHA.3664@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> I understand that, but my question is more on a coding basis. Once I have
> that cable, do I code as if it's a serial port, or do I have to learn how
to
> program for USB?
>
>
> "Chris Tacke, eMVP" <ctacke@spamfree-opennetcf.org> wrote in message
> news:OVtO5lcZEHA.2516@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> > USB != RS232. There are converters for some, but with a PPC, you'd need
> USB
> > hosting, which is way different that USB function and is not avaiable on
> > most PPCs. You need to get a cable from the OEM that has the 9-pin
RS232
> > connector.
> >
> > --
> > Chris Tacke, eMVP
> > Co-Founder and Advisory Board Member
> > www.OpenNETCF.org
> > ---
> > ---
> > Principal Partner
> > OpenNETCF Consulting
> > www.OpenNETCF.com
> >
> >
> >
> > "Geoff Callaghan" <gcallaghan@trakeng.com> wrote in message
> > news:%23h7QTbcZEHA.2488@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > That's very interesting. It does raise another question I have been
> > > wondering about: are all USB ports capable of being used as serial
> ports,
> > or
> > > is the USB port on a PocketPC special in that respect? Do I need to
look
> > for
> > > a special kind of PocketPC, one with a serial port, or can I just use
> the
> > > USB port and treat it like a serial?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Bruce Eitman (eMVP)" <beitmannospam@nospam.neo.rr.com> wrote in
message
> > > news:uLPPp$TZEHA.644@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
> > > > External device is kind of vague.
> > > >
> > > > If the external device has a USB Host port, like on a PC, you can
use
> > USB.
> > > > If on the other hand you are talking about something like a camera,
> > mouse,
> > > > keyboard, storage device, then USB is not an option.
> > > >
> > > > That leaves you with serial, Irda, Bluetooth, 802.11...
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Bruce Eitman (eMVP)
> > > > Senior Engineer
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Dick
Fri Jul 09 14:08:46 CDT 2004

Hi,

Serial.

I have example code (VB, of course) in my book, see below, and under PC Data
Acquisition on my homepage.

Dick

--
Richard Grier (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)

See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.

Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 3rd
Edition ISBN 1-890422-27-4 (391 pages) published February 2002.

Dick
Fri Jul 09 14:10:59 CDT 2004

Hi,

You cannot use USB in current generation devices.

Serial is the only general purpose interface. The others mentioned, IrDA or
some sort of networked device can be considered if the connecting system
supports these sorts of things.

Dick

--
Richard Grier (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)

See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.

Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 3rd
Edition ISBN 1-890422-27-4 (391 pages) published February 2002.