GPS

In article , Ron Hunter
writes
Prometheus wrote:

In article , Ron Hunter
writes

Did I suggest they should remove the serial interface? I suggest
that if a GPS manufacturer wants me to connect my computer to the
GPS and transfer megabytes of information, then 115kbps isn't going
to hack it, even if I didn't mind shutting the computer down to
connect, and then disconnect the GPS (which I DO mind)
I can understand the reluctance to use such a low speed connection
for large amounts of data, but since changing the data would be
infrequent I do not see at as a major disincentive. AS for switching
the computer off to connect a serial device, WHY? I regularly connect
and disconnect serial devices without switching anything off to do
so, maybe it was important in the old days but modern systems are for
more resilient.

It's your computer, and your peripheral. Not on mine, thanks.

So you do so out of superstition and not because it is necessary, how
quaint (or rather foolish). Actually, very foolish, imagine waiting for
a system to power down and reboot every time you change a connection;
are you going to do the same with USB?

Do you imagine that the electronics behind a USB port is magically
different to a serial port!

Let me spell it for you -

I
T

I
S

N
O
T

N
E
C
E
S
S
A
R
Y
,

serial devices are designed to be hot swapped.
--
Ian G8ILZ

In article , Jeremy Nixon
writes
Prometheus wrote:

I regularly connect and disconnect serial devices without switching
anything off to do so, maybe it was important in the old days but modern
systems are for more resilient.

Modern systems don't have serial ports.

We have modern Dells, they have serial ports. Are we to throw out all
our kit equipped with a serial interface (i.e. S332D)? What do we
replace it with when the manufacture's (Anritsu) latest model requires a
serial port for connexion?
--
Ian G8ILZ

In article , Jeremy Nixon
writes
Prometheus wrote:

I regularly connect and disconnect serial devices without switching
anything off to do so, maybe it was important in the old days but modern
systems are for more resilient.

Modern systems don't have serial ports.

We have modern Dells, they have serial ports. Are we to throw out all
our kit equipped with a serial interface (i.e. S332D)? What do we
replace it with when the manufacture's (Anritsu) latest model requires a
serial port for connexion?
--
Ian G8ILZ

Dave Head wrote:

Where does this "power cycling" thing come from? I don't powercycle anything
when connecting and disconnecting RS-232 devices. This is just plain wrong.

I've personally blown resistors and seen resistors blown hot-plugging serial
devices. It works most of the time, but it's a really bad idea. I've never
seen a problem unplugging.

--
Jeremy |

Dave Head wrote:

Where does this "power cycling" thing come from? I don't powercycle anything
when connecting and disconnecting RS-232 devices. This is just plain wrong.

I've personally blown resistors and seen resistors blown hot-plugging serial
devices. It works most of the time, but it's a really bad idea. I've never
seen a problem unplugging.

--
Jeremy |

Mxsmanic wrote:

I note the presence of serial interfaces on each of my PCs, several of
which are in continual use.

I suppose they have floppy drives, too?

The only machine I've got with a serial port is a server, which uses a
serial console. A server is not very likely to accompany me on a road
trip, and thus will be less than useful for talking to a GPS unit. A
serial port would be a waste of space on a laptop, just like a floppy
drive would be.

--
Jeremy |

Mxsmanic wrote:

I note the presence of serial interfaces on each of my PCs, several of
which are in continual use.

I suppose they have floppy drives, too?

The only machine I've got with a serial port is a server, which uses a
serial console. A server is not very likely to accompany me on a road
trip, and thus will be less than useful for talking to a GPS unit. A
serial port would be a waste of space on a laptop, just like a floppy
drive would be.

--
Jeremy |

In article , Ron Hunter
writes
Prometheus wrote:

In article , Ron Hunter
writes

and requires power cycling to connect and disconnect
No it does not, my PCs at home and work do not; I regularly connect
and disconnect their serial ports.

Sigh.

It is impossible to even REACH my serial port without disconnecting
everything, and moving my computer desk. NOT going to happen.

At work the cable is plugged into the back of the computer which is on
the desk and brought round to my test bench as are the USB, IEEE488 and
parallel (there is also a spare LAN socket on the bench). At home it is
plugged into the back of the computer which is under the desk and
brought up to the side of the monitor along with a USB cable. In the
second case it is impossible to reach the connector on the rear of the
computer without moving it, hence the cables are extended (is that too
difficult to understand, or are you looking for an excuse not to do the
job).

Why do people put so much effort into doing a job badly when for less
effort they could do it properly?
--
Ian G8ILZ

In article , Ron Hunter
writes
Prometheus wrote:

In article , Ron Hunter
writes

and requires power cycling to connect and disconnect
No it does not, my PCs at home and work do not; I regularly connect
and disconnect their serial ports.

Sigh.

It is impossible to even REACH my serial port without disconnecting
everything, and moving my computer desk. NOT going to happen.

At work the cable is plugged into the back of the computer which is on
the desk and brought round to my test bench as are the USB, IEEE488 and
parallel (there is also a spare LAN socket on the bench). At home it is
plugged into the back of the computer which is under the desk and
brought up to the side of the monitor along with a USB cable. In the
second case it is impossible to reach the connector on the rear of the
computer without moving it, hence the cables are extended (is that too
difficult to understand, or are you looking for an excuse not to do the
job).

Why do people put so much effort into doing a job badly when for less
effort they could do it properly?
--
Ian G8ILZ

Mxsmanic wrote:

You are probably a minority of total users. Besides, no other interface
is so universal.

It's hardly universal when a lot of people would need an adapter to even
have it in the first place.

--
Jeremy |