USB-to-Serial Module based coders cable

Axlen posted a rather interesting bit of news in this CSV Topic [br][br] Using a USB-Serial UART Interface Module from DLP Design I built a coders cable that allows transfering data at 500,000 baud. The DLP-USB232M is based on a chip manufactured by FTDI. It has drivers for Windows, MAC, and Linux. The required mods to dc-load-serial are minimal and consist of enabling the use of the faster baud. This is the next best thing to a BBA or lan-adaptor for development. I foolishly sold my BBA two years ago and just recently decided to get back into the dcdev world. [br] [br]I wish to thank yuckymucky for providing the link to the FTDI homepage. [br] [br]If anyone has is any interest in building a cable I will post more info to m website over the next few weeks. [br][br]Lets hope we see more of this new project ;)

now, that's great news :D

very interesting

So if I have a Broadband Adapter or LAN Adapter I dont need a coders cable for development?

BBA adapter and LAN adapter should be exact same (if they are both ethernet interface) thing in theory, as it's TCP/IP standard for IP address, subnet mask, DHCP server, DNS server, Gateway etc, LAN adapter should work for broadband, plug into a ADSL ethernet router...

Quote:

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So if I have a Broadband Adapter or LAN Adapter I dont need a coders cable for development?

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Correct.

Although I'm trying to get rid of my coders cable. I've got 2, and I'm keeping 1. I need the money, so I'm trying to sell it for $10. I think $3 shipping will do.

If anyone is interested, please drop me a line at [email protected]. First come, first serve.

Isnt it just cheaper to buy a coders cable though?

I think coders cables are $10 new and $5 shipping so your saving $2.

Just to jump a bit to the side, I built my brother a coder cable.. now with all great things.. his laptop has no serial ports so he picked up one of those usb-serial devices.. But dc-tool doesn't appear to work with it.. it litterally transfers a byte.. then doesn't do anything after that. before he goes and codes a native win32 app to talk to dcload, anyone know what could be causing the problem?? both the 'nix and cygwin builds have the same effect.
Using marcus tool an sending srecs via terminal works.. albeit slowwww but works..

[quote author=Hola link=board=hardware;num=1093196907;start=0#6 date=08/24/04 at 17:57:47]I think coders cables are $10 new and $5 shipping so your saving $2.[/quote]
Actually, they're about $25 shipped. Check Lik-Sang and Play-Asia.

Anyway, I got an offer and I'm trying to get it worked out with them living in the UK.

I got a BBA and I don't need the coder's cable now (but I will keep it in case ...). Coder's cable is a very cheap and useful solution. If you are serious about developing though, get a BBA, even if it costs a lot more (fyi it cost me $200).

$200 ouch :(

I meant wouldnt it be cheaper to just buy the coders cable, than buy a BBA and USB cable thing.

Ack :o The CSV USB-Serial topic got trashed during a recent YABB upgrade :(

[quote author=Mental2k link=board=hardware;num=1093196907;start=0#11 date=08/25/04 at 16:41:10]I meant wouldnt it be cheaper to just buy the coders cable, than buy a BBA and USB cable thing.[/quote]

yeah but a coders cable transfers data really slowly in comparison to a bba or a usb connection would

would archive.org have a copy of the topic?

[quote author=souLLy link=board=hardware;num=1093196907;start=0#13 date=09/16/04 at 07:50:19]

yeah but coders cable transfers data really slowly in comparison to a bba or a usb connection would[/quote]

This cable transfers data at 1.56M baud. It's fast enough to do serious development work ;D A 4 meg file can transfer in about 26 seconds with compression.

Cool. I remember discussing something similar over at DCEmu a while ago. Somebody should start making and selling these things.

Here's a picture of the second prototype:
http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]

I've started work on designing a printed circuit board that will use the FTDI FT232BM chip and a handful of other parts rather than the DLP-USB232BM module pictured above. It would be nice if I could get a popular supplier of DC stuff to sell this as new improved coders cable ;)

Why are you replacing it, cost/size? Anyway, you could probably get Lik-Sang interested in it.

This is just a prototype. I'm not happy with it' yet. I've done some redesign and just ordered some more parts. Revision B will solve the problems I've seen with the device under WindowsME and OS-X.

makes you wonder if you could sell these yourself and how much for etc, once you have all the details sorted

Damn i just read this and this would be good news for the coders i dont know how fast the original cables are but it seems its a hell of a lot faster

Eric, you're making this a habit. It is a lot faster, but you need to have something to compare it to. The standard coder's cable uses the serial port on the DC and the serial port on a computer. That only gets you up to about 115 kbits. The Dreamcast's serial port is capable of much more, so by building a USB <-> DC interface you can get much closer to the DC serial max. ~1.5 mbits would be a huge boost for coders who don't own a BBA/LAN adapter.

Axlen: I'm glad to hear you're working out its issues. Once you have something you're happy with, you should definitely see if someone is interested in building them. You could build them yourself, if you were so inclined. I'm sure the price would beat the pants off buying a BBA off ebay.

i need one of these!

hey thanks alex for the info on that but i dont know why you make a habit of making me look stupid

There are in the market some serial-to-usb adaptors for pc. They cost around 30 euros (in Greece). if we connect a DC coder's cable to the one end and the other to a usb port on the pc won't it work faster than the usual rs232 interface???

Perhaps that is because they designed it to be compatible with standard RS232 serial devices. Or perhaps it is a limitation with the serial coder's cable itself. I don't know. But it's not the same as a custom USB to DC serial solution like the talented Axlen is working on.

Eric: I'm sorry if you feel that way, but you really do need to reign in your enthusiasm sometimes. If you don't know, you can always ask. But if you assume, you make an ass out of some guy named Ume. (that's the Home Improvement version of that joke)

I'm working on revision B, no I should say revision B is designed. This version will be built on a printed circuit board. Just submitted the layout to ExpressPCB lastnight. It's a 4 layer board and it will fit into a RadioShack 3x2x1 project enclosure. I went a little overboard and ordered the soldermask and silkscreening options. So if the boards don't work at least they will look pretty ;D

As far as manufacturing goes I have not made up my mind. A kit version of the current design would be too advanced since the surface mount parts are terribly small. A design based on the DLP module would be kitable, and may make more sense in the long run as far as kits are concerned.

A built and tested unit would probably be easier to market and sell. I'm doing this for fun now with an eye on possibly making them available for sale. It costs more to build then a standard serial coders cable, but should be less than a BBA. It seems there is interest in this USB-Serial UART based coders cable, but I'm not sure if there is enough to make it cover the costs and still make a modest profit. After I test and debug this next version perhaps one of the admins can setup a pole to plumb the hearts and minds of the DC faithful. The last thing I want to do is get everyones hopes up and then end up with a vaporware product.

polls can be missleading, someone could vote, so u will make them for coders, but might have no intention of buy one.

a pre-pre-order, like cagame's did would be more usefull cause u will know how much people willing to pay and u will have there names too.

i think quzar would be your first customer
;)

If you don't want to go it alone, but still want to get this into people's hands, you could contact one lik-sang, lan-kwei, one of those sites. They might be interested in your work. Otherwise you have to figure out what you can get the cost down to on your own and see if there's enough people who want one. I know one big problem is that a good amount of coders caved and bought a BBA.

Maybe Staff here can buy some and offer them for contests in the future. I know with the slow speed of the coders cable larger projects i dont even attempt any more.

Prizes aye! I've already had offers from folx willing to test'em fer me. Slow coders cables sux, but they're good for debug output... if you have BBA or Lan Adaptor that is ;)

I sold my BBA thinking I'd never get bit by the DC bug again... thus the USB-Serial UART based coders cable was born.

BTW: I got word (email) today from ExpressPCB that my boards are complete and have been shipped. Yea! There will be some toaster oven soldering this weekend fer sure :D That is if my solder paste supplier comes through with my order :P

Pics of the bare board Rev B:
http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]/pcbrevb.jpg http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]/pcbnbox.jpg

ExpressPCB does nice work, and they turned them around before the promised delivery day of 21-October 8)

There is an error in the layout.. :-[ but I'll tell you more about that after I build and test the new board.

Error, in what you sent them or in what they produced? Something you can fix easily by hand, I hope?

Just posted some pics of the solder reflow operation on the Console Vision forums.

Heres what Axlen posted over at CSV for those who are too lazy :P

Here are a few images of my first attempt at toaster oven IR reflow soldering this evening:

http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]/workarea.jpg http://www.geocities.com/pboese@sbcg.../tinyparts.jpg
My work area. / Tiny parts.
http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]/myview.jpg http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]/mounting.jpg
My eyes need some help. / Ceramic mounts on a bunsen burner screen: Yes those are brass paper fasteners holding the board onto the screen :wink:
http://www.geocities.com/pboese@sbcg.../pcbgooped.jpg http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]/oven.jpg
Components in wet solder paste. The little red chip is the temperature marker. When the board reaches 215C it melts. / The IR source.
http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]/pcbbaked.jpg http://www.geocities.com/[email protected]
In the oven. / Cooled and ready for the next step. Note the black blob left by the temperature marker.

I purchased the toaster oven at Target on cleareance for about $20 off regular price. I guess nobody liked the color :wink: The box was opened so it might have been an unwanted sweetest day gift... Damit Carl, I said I wanted to toast our love with champaign, not a toaster oven...

The solder paste was easier to apply than I antisipated, but it's pretty hard to guage how much to put on each pad. There is one IC not yet mounted... because... well... the pads are the wrong size :oops: I choose the right shape and number of pins from the library, but I overlooked the pad spacing. Those are 0.5mm and the actual part uses 0.8mm... ouch! Never fear though I have a plan to solve the problem... an ugly plan, but a plan none the less :twisted:

Thanks to axlen for the news :)

So when are these gonna go into mass production and replace the old coders cables?

The short answer:
1) Testing, verifying, beating unit up mercilessly...
2) Muntz the design: i.e. get rid of any non-critical parts and reduce costs...
3) Kid test it.

4) Mother approve it?

lame I know... anyway, good luck.

Mothers approval is only important if she catches you in the act :P