USB Cable instead of Cradle?

[loom001]

Has anyone tried the Serialo.com USB cable?  Was wondering if it is worth the 39.95 price tag?  Seems like it has a nice feature.  Really cool that you can charge the Zaurus without power attached.

http://www.serialio.com/products/adaptors/...hinCableUSB.htm

[offroadgeek]

This is the first I\'ve seen this!  I have serialo\'s \"zthincable\", and I really like it.  With Crows 2.38 rom, it was the most stable way for me to sync with my win2k laptop and outlook.

Since upgrading to the Sharp 3.10 and now the cacko 3.10 rom, I\'m having hugh troubles syncing, and I haven\'t figured out the serial sync yet... (actually haven\'t spent any time on the since this site went up!).

I\'m now thinking of getting this usb cable... it would be nice to only carry that around in my backpack, as I travel between multiple offices daily, and am getting tired of carrying the spare cradle and power cord.  (Yes, I actually have a spare cradle and powercable)

[VivianC]

I bought one of these a few months ago and it has been great for syncing with my laptop at work. I don\'t need to carry a charger since it takes power off the USB port. All in all, it works just like a bright red cradle. Ok, maybe the color is a bit much, but it makes my desk look \'dangerous\'.

The only downside is that the connector is a bit stiff and it still feels like I\'m forcing it every time.

[Anonymous]

Just ordered it here for $36 plus $5 UPS
https://www.expansys.us/product.asp?code=USB-A-6

I don\'t like dragging the power cable back and forth from work/home so being able to charge via USB will be handy.

[tapjpa]

Thanks guest-
Just ordered one for myself.

tapjap

[loom001]

Thanks for the feedback guys just order one for myself also!


------------
loom001

[offroadgeek]

would someone who has one of these usb cables (or soon to get one) kindly post a review, possibly with pictures in our reviews section?

That way people down the road don\'t have to search the forums for this info!

Thanks

[tapjpa]

No problem, hopefully it comes quick!

[tapjpa]

Well I got my cable and I am not impressed! Keeps dropping connection between the Z and my PC. Ckeck out my review for more details. The part that really sucks is per their web site to use it with a 5600 you have to knock 2 locking ears off (of course I have a 5600) so I am really doubting they will take it back. If anyone has any suggestions on getting this to work please let me know. I have exhausted all ideas I can think of. By the way I am connecting the Z to a laptop running Win XP.

[offroadgeek]

Well I got my cable and I am not impressed! Keeps dropping connection between the Z and my PC. Ckeck out my review for more details. The part that really sucks is per their web site to use it with a 5600 you have to knock 2 locking ears off (of course I have a 5600) so I am really doubting they will take it back. If anyone has any suggestions on getting this to work please let me know. I have exhausted all ideas I can think of. By the way I am connecting the Z to a laptop running Win XP.

Someone wonderful posted on the devnet forums how to setup wireless syncing, and I did exactly what the instructions said... and it works perfectly!  It\'s the only syncing method that has worked flawless for me.  I\'ve used the cradle and a serial cable, both were a little flaky, mostly on the PC side (probably).  I really like the ability to sync wirelessly!

I should go back to the forum and copy/paste it into our FAQ section..  maybe I\'ll do that tomorrow.

[tapjpa]

Well it looks like the problem with the USB cable is that the Z draws to much power from the USB port causing it to drop out. Going to test it more on other laptops and desktops and see if the results change any.

[tapjpa]

Well test the cable some more. Works great in my desktop, and with my laptop off the docking stations USB ports. After looking at Dell\'s spec\'s the laptop port is only rated 5vcd @ 1a, so it looks like this is the problem. Oh well can\'t use it like I wanted but still fits part of my needs namely not dragging the dock/power cable to work but will still have to when I travel.

[offroadgeek]

I can\'t remember the details of the cable, but I found at compusa (I believe) a usb power cable that was manufactured for the Ipaq.  I remembered seeing on the old ZaurusZone boards that it was compatible with the Z, so I bought it.  It\'s worked great as a portable power source.  It seems to work with IBM thinkpad laptops (tested to work on 600x, t20, t21, and t23 models).  

Now that I sync via wifi, I just carry this powercord and my wifi card... I love it.

[edo]

I spotted an iPaq usb charging cable (Charge via USB port on pc OR Charge via Car Cigarette Lighter adapter) on Ebuyer\'s website.
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/in...oduct_uid=45496
It is intended for charging the iPaq H3800 or H3900 in a car or at a pc. I bought one for just over £10, and I then chopped the iPaq proprietary connector off the end. With a removable dc plug from a multi-purpose mains-to-dc adapter, which was the same size
as the Zaurus charger plug, and a soldering iron... I was able to create my own Zaurus in-car charger/usb charger.

The Zaurus charges at approximately the same current and voltage as the iPaqs, so I wasn\'t scared that I\'d break mine.
This has been working great for me, ever since I built it. It is smaller and lighter than carrying around the Zaurus charger.
If anyone else copies this idea... it worked for me, but I take no responsibility if you wreck your Zaurus. I used a multimeter to
make sure I connected the + and - cables the right way round to the dc plug. I used heat-shrink and electrician\'s tape to cover
up the soldered cabling. I checked my work, with the multimeter before I connected it to the Zaurus. It worked a treat!

Now I\'m never sitting with a useless uncharged Zaurus in my pocket.

[corky]

offroadgeek:
If you want to get serial sync working I posted 3 HowTo\'s that  should get you going.  
Serial sync with Qtopia Desktop
Air Cable Serial Setup
Connecting to Win2K from the Z