Serial Port Compact Flash Card for PDAs

[Andy Sjostrom]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/interface/cf332.php' target='_blank'>http://www.elandigitalsystems.com/i...rface/cf332.php</a><br /><br /></div>British company Elan just announced the first ever RS232 dual port Compact Flash Card for PDAs. Based in Fareham, UK, Elan has won the UK government SMART Awards for creative design. I can see numerous areas of use for this type of product as Field Service scenarios are among the most common in terms of enterprise mobile solutions. Just about any electronic field equipment supports serial RS232 communication and using this product mobile solutions can be built around standard Pocket PCs.<br /><br />"Elan's CF332 dual port card is the only one on the market with two ports, both isolated from the host, thereby helping to eliminate grounding problems, such as ground loops and offset voltages associated with long cable lengths. Set to revolutionise market areas such as the control and monitoring of plant equipment or sensors via the power of the PDA, the CF332 comes in a choice of a standard or ruggedised version. Its low power consumption means that it conserves the life of the PDA battery. "The card automatically configures to become two COM ports by using the Elan supplied drivers that are optimized to work in the Pocket PC environment. The CF332 works with all versions of Pocket PC and drivers can be downloaded via the Elan website. The serial ports feature TX, RX, CTS and RTS signals on each port, and are isolated up to 50V DC from the host supply. The CF332 offers high speed and reliable communications up to 115K Baud."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/elan.jpg" />

[Deralict]

Note that their "first ever" claim refers only to the dual-port feature in a CF card. Socket has had single-port serial CF cards and dual- and quad-port PCMCIA cards for some time now. If you have only one serial device to hook up to a PDA, the single port card makes more sense than having a second cable flopping around. Plus, Socket's products and drivers are proven, and the service is great.

[lonesniper]

"Elan has won the UK government SMART Awards for creative design"

How typically British to get an award for developing something on an outdated standard. Would have been worth an award in my book if it was a CF to USB converter. Having USB input would be more useful in this day and age (and the future) rather than silly old serial.

Isn't being creative about looking to the future???
England is still stuck in the 1870's when it comes to creativity.

Colin

[Sven Johannsen]

Comes right on time when serial ports are considered a legacy concesion on new devices and CF slots are getting fewer and farther between. This will be a big seller :?

[GoldKey]

Would have been worth an award in my book if it was a CF to USB converter. Having USB input would be more useful in this day and age (and the future) rather than silly old serial.


Amen, one company makes a CF to USB converter, but it is way to expensive IMO. If someone can make one for around $40 that supports a USB hard disk, I would be sold.

[ctmagnus]

Poking around the Dell site last night, only one model of notebook (that I looked at) still comes with a serial port: The high-end one.