[Xastir] bluetooth serial port issues

[Alex Carver]

If the software is written natively for OS X (rather than just a Unix compile) it might be more aware of the hardware system and gracefully handle hardware errors including the disappearance of hardware.  That's why I was suggesting an actual OS X application and not necessarily another Unix/Linux program.

You're not going to be able to MUX the devices easily if they speak only RS232.  Each one will need an address.  What you're talking about is trying to convert nearly every device to RS485 but there will have to be much additional hardware at each link node to ensure that data passes around properly.  There are Bluetooth based RS485 systems (multi-drop) that would be a start for you but none of them are going to be in your budget.  I believe one node is around $120.  On top of that, you'll have to put in a microprocessor at each node in order to repackage the data stream and insert an address into the data header.  I've seen a couple standalone converters that will let you attach an address to an RS232 device but, again, more money.  You'll also have to do lots of manipulation at the computer end to translate the data in and out of the virtual serial ports while tagging everything in and out of the real port with addresses so that the data is routed
 properly.


--- On Tue, 4/22/08, Jason KG4WSV <kg4wsv at gmail.com> wrote:

> From: Jason KG4WSV <kg4wsv at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Xastir] bluetooth serial port issues
> To: "Xastir list mailing" <Xastir at xastir.org>
> Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2008, 9:12 AM
> thanks guys.  I've had gpsd in mind, but I have a larger
> idea I'm
> working on, involving multiplexing serial data streams over
> a single
> serial/bluetooth link.  I want to eliminate all cables
> (multiple TNCs,
> DF unit, GPS, etc) in my mobile rig, and being a ham
> I'm trying to do
> it cheaply.  The easy way is to spend $60 per endpoint to
> purchase one
> of these bluetooth/232 devices, but I'm looking for a
> way that costs
> less than $300.
> 
> In any event, I suspect that using gpsd or some other port
> replication
> tool will simply shift the problem, not remove it.  I guess
> restarting
> a serial mux daemon is less of a problem than restating
> xastir, but if
> the serial mux daemon hangs in the same way xastir did,
> I'm still
> looking at a reboot.
> 
> -Jason
> kg4wsv
> _______________________________________________
> Xastir mailing list
> Xastir at xastir.org
> http://lists.xastir.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/xastir


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