GPS

Mxsmanic wrote:
Jeremy Nixon writes:

I suppose they have floppy drives, too?

Yes, which is good, since I still have software on floppy installation
disks.

Do you hand-crank your car to fire it up in the morning?

I prefer technology to make things more convenient for me, rather than the
other way around.

--
Jeremy |

Mxsmanic wrote:
Jeremy Nixon writes:

I've personally blown resistors and seen resistors blown hot-plugging serial
devices.

What was at the other end of the cord?

A modem, when I did it.

I've seen it happen when people did it against my advice; once with a
terminal server at the other end, and once with nothing at the other end.

--
Jeremy |

Mxsmanic wrote:
Jeremy Nixon writes:

I've personally blown resistors and seen resistors blown hot-plugging serial
devices.

What was at the other end of the cord?

A modem, when I did it.

I've seen it happen when people did it against my advice; once with a
terminal server at the other end, and once with nothing at the other end.

--
Jeremy |

Mxsmanic wrote:
Jeremy Nixon writes:


Don't be absurd. AA batteries aren't obsolete; serial interfaces are.


I note the presence of serial interfaces on each of my PCs, several of
which are in continual use. If I get a time base for my server, that
will be connected by the serial port as well.


why would you do that when access to the NIST time server is free and
software is built into WinXP to access it. Surely similar functions are
available for other operating systems... Even the last mainframe I
operated had that feature.

Mxsmanic wrote:
Jeremy Nixon writes:


Don't be absurd. AA batteries aren't obsolete; serial interfaces are.


I note the presence of serial interfaces on each of my PCs, several of
which are in continual use. If I get a time base for my server, that
will be connected by the serial port as well.


why would you do that when access to the NIST time server is free and
software is built into WinXP to access it. Surely similar functions are
available for other operating systems... Even the last mainframe I
operated had that feature.

Prometheus wrote:

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.

Different? YES, the plug is designed so that contact is made in the
proper order. Not true for RS232. Also, the voltages are quite
different. Perhaps if you knew more, and had 40 years experience in the
field of computers you would understand. Just because you have been
lucky for a while doesn't make what you are doing wise.

Prometheus wrote:

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?

Do what you want. I will NEVER buy another device that depends on RS232
serial. Many computers no longer have them, and this practice is
growing since so few (relatively) people have devices that need them.

Prometheus wrote:

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?

Do what you want. I will NEVER buy another device that depends on RS232
serial. Many computers no longer have them, and this practice is
growing since so few (relatively) people have devices that need them.

Mxsmanic wrote:

Jeremy Nixon writes:


I suppose they have floppy drives, too?


Yes, which is good, since I still have software on floppy installation
disks.

I believe that. Still drive a 1950 Studebaker too?

Mxsmanic wrote:

Jeremy Nixon writes:


I suppose they have floppy drives, too?


Yes, which is good, since I still have software on floppy installation
disks.

I believe that. Still drive a 1950 Studebaker too?