Re: T&T: Night Vision Lights
Before you guys start spending $$$ working on red night vision lighting, you might want to read this: http://stlplaces.com/night_vision_red_myth/
He basically says it's a myth, and the best night lighting is a fully dimmable white light. Very good article with lots of references.
----- Original Message ----
From: GARY RITZMAN ritzmans@msn.com
SNIP>>>Much to my dismay our new to us boat had no rig for red lights to
protect
night vision when operating at night. ...
For the one over the helm they put in two lights, white as well as red LEDs
each on its own switch.
In past discussions regarding serial port NMEA format to USB connectors; the
discussion only touched on how to plug a GPS into a laptop having only a USB
port.
My question relates to multiple Serial port requirements.
Will a USB hub retain the identity of the various serial port devices
feeding into the computer?
I have a specialized application where two Azimuth compasses each feed data
into a laptop having two serial ports.
The software reads the data coming in on serial port #1 and then when preset
values are read, the program then reads the data on serial port #2. Both
ports receive data in NMEA 183 format. Baud rate is 9600 and the data blocks
are updated ten times per second.
The old Toshiba 1200 laptop needs to be replaced. But with what?
Not only would I need to rewire the serial port DB-9 connectors with a USB
but will I need completely new software.
Or would it require some specialized converter box like maybe a Ship Modul4
to interface the compasses to the computer.
I haven't had enough playtime with USB devices to really know the intimate
details. Can anyone help? Jeff Siegel or George maybe?
cheers
Arild
Arild
You should be able to use your software on a new computer, one thing you might
need to check is Windows Vista compatibility. Personally I would look for a
laptop with Windows XP Pro.
Each USB port is assigned its own com port, any new laptop will have multiple
USB ports and some new ones still come with a 9 pin serial port. If you get
one with a serial port you can use the serial port for one device and a USB to
serial adapter for your other device. Or if you cant find a laptop with a
serial port then you could use two USB to serial adapters.
The serial to USB adapters can be set to a baud rate and a com port.
I just did a quick Google search and found this site that has all kinds of USB
to serial adapters, the cheap $20 ones will work fine.
Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2007 22:37:52 -0800> Subject: T&T: GPS and Compass> > In past
discussions regarding serial port NMEA format to USB connectors; the>
discussion only touched on how to plug a GPS into a laptop having only a USB>
port.> > My question relates to multiple Serial port requirements.> Will a USB
hub retain the identity of the various serial port devices> feeding into the
computer?> > I have a specialized application where two Azimuth compasses each
feed data> into a laptop having two serial ports.> The software reads the data
coming in on serial port #1 and then when preset> values are read, the program
then reads the data on serial port #2. Both> ports receive data in NMEA 183
format. Baud rate is 9600 and the data blocks> are updated ten times per
second.> > The old Toshiba 1200 laptop needs to be replaced. But with what?> >
Not only would I need to rewire the serial port DB-9 connectors with a USB>
but will I need completely new software.> Or would it require some specialized
converter box like maybe a Ship Modul4> to interface the compasses to the
computer.> > I haven't had enough playtime with USB devices to really know the
intimate> details. Can anyone help? Jeff Siegel or George maybe?> > > cheers>
Arild> _______________________________________________>
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"Arild Jensen" 2elnav@netbistro.com writes:
I haven't had enough playtime with USB devices to really know the intimate
details. Can anyone help?
I run an 8-port USB/serial converter on Island Eagle, and all of the ports
show up as virtual serial ports. Your software should run with no changes.
Scott Welch
FirstClass Product Manager
www.firstclass.com
Those who make no mistake rarely make anything.
I agree with the recommendation to look for a machine with XP Pro with the
operating system. Microsoft has recognized there is still a large demand
for XP and has authorized its sale. I don't know what computer brands have
started offering XP again other than Dell. I also doubt that you'll find XP
preloaded on a store shelf machine.
Ed
PT-38 "Makin' Do"
Poulsbo, WA
-----Original Message-----
Arild
You should be able to use your software on a new computer, one thing you
might need to check is Windows Vista compatibility. Personally I would look
for a laptop with Windows XP Pro.
I don't know what computer brands have
started offering XP again other than Dell. I also doubt that you'll find XP
preloaded on a store shelf machine.
Lenovo Thinkpads are available with XP pre-installed. (And I think
their build quality is much better than Dell). Vista should to be
avoided at all costs (just time how long it takes to boot).
Best,
Steve
Steve Dubnoff
1966 Willard Pilothouse
www.mvnereid.com
sdubnoff@circlesys.com
Panasonic ToughBooks are available with XP Pro and depending on the
model can be water proof or just resistant, titaniam case, daylight
readable screens, etc. Almost bullet proof, I dropped mine and it
didn't skip a beat.
John Blackburn
44 DeFever "Yak rack"
Deale, MD
Ed Bruette wrote:
I agree with the recommendation to look for a machine with XP Pro with the
operating system. Microsoft has recognized there is still a large demand
for XP and has authorized its sale. I don't know what computer brands have
started offering XP again other than Dell. I also doubt that you'll find XP
preloaded on a store shelf machine.
Ed
PT-38 "Makin' Do"
Poulsbo, WA
-----Original Message-----
Arild
You should be able to use your software on a new computer, one thing you
might need to check is Windows Vista compatibility. Personally I would look
for a laptop with Windows XP Pro.
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-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Bruette
I agree with the recommendation to look for a machine with XP Pro with the
operating system.
REPLY
I guess I should have mentioned but forgot.
My compass deviation/calibration machine runs machine code.
I think the old Toshiba ran DOS 3.2 but the program boots from the floppy
and was written in C+ as a very tight fast machine language app.
If I repackage the whole thing including the 400hz 26V gyro reference; the
processor would be a gutted laptop buried inside the guts. It would boot
from a BIOS chip specially programmed with this extra code added to the
basic BIOS. The idea being the machine has to run from a 12V DC cigarette
plug.
I would not need a keyboard unless a lot of frills was added like the
ability to generate a form wherein you enter Vessel Name, Owner, Date of
check/calibration, and a dotted line for the compass adjustor to sign off.
Only five keys are needed. ON OFF, STANDBY, LOG PRINT.
But those are frills we didn't bother with when I designed this compass
calibrator some 10 years ago.
I'm not a programmer! A friend who happens to be rather good and who can
write about 1000 lines of checked and verified code per day, knocked off
this little program in less than a hour. There can't be more than a hundred
or so line of code. It isn't Windoze code bloat.
REGARDS
Arild
I guess I should have mentioned but forgot.
My compass deviation/calibration machine runs machine code.
I think the old Toshiba ran DOS 3.2 but the program boots
from the floppy...
This detail changes the whole thing. It's time to bite the bullet and have
some dedicated hardware that will do exactly what you need. I wouldn't
consider using a DOS-based system any longer. It would be much less
expensive (even considering the re-programming) to use your own hardware.
There are simple ways to do what you need. Google "basic stamp" and that
will get you started. Many off-the-shelf "stamps" have a single serial port
built in. You just need to figure out a way to add an additional port. It
shouldn't be hard.
Messing around with Basic Stamps will give you ideas about hundreds of other
simple little projects that need just a little intelligence between two
devices. There are many companies that started out selling products built
on stamps...
---=
Jeffrey Siegel
M/V aCappella
DeFever 53PH
W1ACA/WDB4350
Castine, Maine
www.activecaptain.com
Content, Communications, Community
You are much more likely to find XP if you select Business instead of
Personal.
Also be real careful of the available ports. Most newer machines are doing
away with serial and parallel ports. If you get a installed serial port you
do not have to worry about a USB adapter for your GPS. If your favorite
printer has a big parallel cable then you want to make sure the computer
has one. They all use to come with these ports but they are quickly leaving
the scene.
Frank Burrows
At 10:59 AM 11/7/2007 -0800, you wrote:
I agree with the recommendation to look for a machine with XP Pro with the
operating system. Microsoft has recognized there is still a large demand
for XP and has authorized its sale. I don't know what computer brands have
started offering XP again other than Dell. I also doubt that you'll find XP
preloaded on a store shelf machine.