Bob Monsen <rcsurname@comcast.net> wrote:

[...]

>How about a PDA? I used to use a Newton for this sort of thing, which 

Which PDAs have still a serial interface?

Palm "Zire" don't:
http://kb.palmone.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE?New,Kb=PalmSupportKB,ts=Palm_External2001,case=obj(20418)

"Please note that Palm Zire Handhelds DO NOT support serial (cabled)
connections to the computer."

What a pity.

Oliver
-- 
Oliver Betz, Muenchen (oliverbetz.de)

In article <q6CdnQTwjf8LUlDfRVn-jw@comcast.com>, rcsurname@comcast.net 
says...
> Gary Peek wrote:
> > I'm trying to locate something for a customer to connect to
> > one of our SBC's.
> > 
> > Why can't I find an inexpensive operator interface?
> > You know, something like a mini-terminal with RS-232.
> > 
> > A squared away design where you can cut out a rectangiular hole
> > and drill 4 mounting holes and put it on a panel inside a NEMA
> > box or something. Not pretty, but inexpensive and useful.
> > 
> > (Not some PIC project, I have found most of them.
> > I have also found all the so called inexpensive PLC
> > oriented ones for $500. Not those either.)
> > 
> 
> How about a PDA? I used to use a Newton for this sort of thing, which 
> had RS232 built in, but you can probably get a palm pilot for $100, 
> write or contract the interface program, and mount it without too much 
> trouble. This way, you could have a nice, customized touch pad display 
> for your widget.
> 
> Actually, this isn't a bad product idea, for those who have the channel 
> to get it out there. Licensing the guts and OS from palm or whomever is 
> probably not a big deal, since they would make most of the money.
> 
> 
The local home improvement big box has a "inventory control" system that 
uses a Palm Pilot for the input device.  It is mounted inside the 
enclosure, but if you look, just right, you can see the unit.  I have 
seen ads in one of the trades where some Asian company has a Palm Pilot 
rip off that is basically a PDA with none of the OS goodies installed, 
along with some development tools to get it going, if I stumble across 
the ad again I'll post a link here.

                                  Jim

> Why can't I find an inexpensive operator interface?

Not enough demand, off the shelf PDA's/small laptops could be adapted
to do what you want.

Gary Peek wrote:
> I'm trying to locate something for a customer to connect to
> one of our SBC's.
> 
> Why can't I find an inexpensive operator interface?
> You know, something like a mini-terminal with RS-232.
> 
> A squared away design where you can cut out a rectangiular hole
> and drill 4 mounting holes and put it on a panel inside a NEMA
> box or something. Not pretty, but inexpensive and useful.
> 
> (Not some PIC project, I have found most of them.
> I have also found all the so called inexpensive PLC
> oriented ones for $500. Not those either.)
> 

How about a PDA? I used to use a Newton for this sort of thing, which 
had RS232 built in, but you can probably get a palm pilot for $100, 
write or contract the interface program, and mount it without too much 
trouble. This way, you could have a nice, customized touch pad display 
for your widget.

Actually, this isn't a bad product idea, for those who have the channel 
to get it out there. Licensing the guts and OS from palm or whomever is 
probably not a big deal, since they would make most of the money.

-- 
Regards,
  Bob Monsen

If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has
so much as to be out of danger?
                                  Thomas Henry Huxley, 1877

On Thu, 07 Jul 2005 20:40:30 GMT, iddw@hotmail.com (Dave Hansen)
wrote:

[...]
>
>How about 
>
>http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/631/
>http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/633/
>
>http://www.matrixorbital.com/product_info.php?pName=blk202agw
>

Sorry to followup my own post, but I forgot to clarify: I haven't used
any of these, and have no connection whatever with either company.
They just look like interesting parts.

Regards,

                               -=Dave
-- 
Change is inevitable, progress is not.

On Thu, 07 Jul 2005 14:58:45 -0500, Gary Peek
<mylastname@mycompanyname.com> wrote:

>I'm trying to locate something for a customer to connect to
>one of our SBC's.
>
>Why can't I find an inexpensive operator interface?
>You know, something like a mini-terminal with RS-232.
>
>A squared away design where you can cut out a rectangiular hole
>and drill 4 mounting holes and put it on a panel inside a NEMA
>box or something. Not pretty, but inexpensive and useful.
>
>(Not some PIC project, I have found most of them.
>I have also found all the so called inexpensive PLC
>oriented ones for $500. Not those either.)
>

How about 

http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/631/
http://www.crystalfontz.com/products/633/

http://www.matrixorbital.com/product_info.php?pName=blk202agw

HTH,


                               -=Dave
-- 
Change is inevitable, progress is not.

I'm trying to locate something for a customer to connect to
one of our SBC's.

Why can't I find an inexpensive operator interface?
You know, something like a mini-terminal with RS-232.

A squared away design where you can cut out a rectangiular hole
and drill 4 mounting holes and put it on a panel inside a NEMA
box or something. Not pretty, but inexpensive and useful.

(Not some PIC project, I have found most of them.
I have also found all the so called inexpensive PLC
oriented ones for $500. Not those either.)

-- 
Gary Peek                mailto:mylastname@mycompanyname.com
Industrologic, Inc.      http://www.industrologic.com
Phone: (636) 723-4000    Fax: (636) 724-2288