Argo Navis Serial Cable Question.

[[1ponders]]

:help:In a fit of tidying up (dumb mistake) I've mixed up my AN serial cable with some others. Is there an easy way to identify which of these cables is my AN one? A few of them have RJ11 ends plugged into an RJ11/DB9 adapter. :shrug:

[renormalised]

:doh::doh:

Might have to just do a suck it and see run with the cables:)

[[1ponders]]

:scared: :sad:

[renormalised]

It really shouldn't make much, if any, difference. They're all copper cored cables with the same connectors on them. Just make sure you have the right DB9 connector.....although a quick look will tell you which one it is. If it's female or male.

[erick]

I can identify mine - it's in a packet with a paper slip that says "Wildcard Innovations pn-ser-cbl Argo Navis Serial Cable" :P

OK, here are some photos of the cable which I bought from Wildcard Innovations several months ago.

[[1ponders]]

The DB9s are male as they all go into USB/serial adapters anyway. I'll give it a go tomorrow when I get out ( I hear it might be fine here for a change). I want to try to run the AN with The Sky 6

[acropolite]

Not so, even if the cables run straight in to the connectors without any transpositions there are 2 possible outcomes, one is straight through the other is mirrored depending on whether the cable is inverted between connectors. If you place the cable flat with no twists and both connectors are facing the same way up then it's a mirrored pinout, if on connector is up and the other down it's straight through.


Paul, I suggest you look at your Argonavis manual, the pinouts will probably be shown there (page 199 of the V10 manual).

[[1ponders]]

:lol:Your a funny man Eric :P
Ok that drops it down to a choice of two. Black cable instead of grey. Are the RJ11s straight through or cross over?

[erick]

By the way, the cable I bought is stamped "www.wildcard-innovations.com.au" every 30cm along its length. I think Gary has started to do this recently.

[[1ponders]]

I'll do that Phil.....but you know how I am with 'lictronikz.

[erick]

You mean you want me to go out to the garage and get my multimeter??

[[1ponders]]

I bought mine from the Qld Astrofest about 3 years ago Eric, so no stamp on that.

[renormalised]

Ah...that will make a difference, for sure. Should've realised that:doh::D

[[1ponders]]

No just look at the cable and with both retaining lugs down are the plugs pointing in the same direction are the wires the same layout or mirrored. The one I have that I think it is has the wires mirrored. Lug down, pugs side by side pointing in the same direction BRGY and YGRB (or visa versa depending on which plug is on the outside).

[[1ponders]]

What? you want me to go back in the house Phil? I'm out in the garage. :lol: brb

[erick]

OK, I think its crossover. Bit late for my brain so let me describe so you can decide. Lay both RJ11 plugs side by side - in exactly the same orientation. One is wired, left to right - black, red, green, yellow. The one beside it is wired left to right - yellow, green, red, black.

I didn't really need my multimeter - I can see the colours! But I did get it and confirm that wiring. Gee it's a lot cooler outside than in the house! Whew!

[[1ponders]]

:lol: Thanks Eric.

Phil I've looked at the Port Pin description page, for what it's worth
Pin 1 - TxD Argo Navis to PC (PC RxD)
Pin 2 - RxD PC to Argo Navis (PC TxD)
Pin 3 - ground
Pin 4 No Connection

[[1ponders]]

but won't it also depend on how the RJ/DB connector is wired?

[gary]

Hi Paul,

They should be mirrored.

All our cables have black insulators and all our DB-9 plugs are beige with long
steel retaining fasteners on either side.

Best regards

Gary Kopff
Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd.

[gary]

Hi Paul,

Indeed it does. The DB connector internally has the necessary wiring to
map from the RJ receptacle to the appropriate DB-9 pin to match the
standard PC COM port pinout.

Even though your cable will pre-date when we started to manufacture our own cable
with www.wildcard-innovations.com.au embossed along it, apart from that it
should look identical to the pictures that were posted.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd

[[1ponders]]

Thanks Gary, I'll have a closer look at the two cables and connectors tonight. Both have the long steel retainers, but I'll have to check the colour.

cheers