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starman · Apr 17, 2005, 12:12 AM

Hi all,
I picked up a cheap eMate 300 today at a local computer show. The problem is, there's software for it for today's 802.11b and Bluetooth, but I can't get the software onto the eMate since all its connectors are WAY out of date. The ethernet cards it works with aren't even sold anymore. The USB connector is $79 - not good for a one-time use.

Is there any way I can get a G5<->eMate connection cheaply?

Mike

mitchell_pgh · Apr 17, 2005, 01:03 AM

Interesting systems... I would check around the Newton websites out there. I can't think of anything inexpensive.

starman · Apr 17, 2005, 01:27 AM

I did. Lots of references to this overpriced Belkin adapter.

I found an OLD Belkin USB->Serial adapter I bought a LONG time ago. The problem is that I need an 8-pin miniDIN->standard RS-232 cable which I had at one point, but no longer do. I have 8-pin DIN cables up the wazoo in a box marked "legacy". All I have to do is get the 802.11b driver on the thing and never need cables again.

Also, the web site mentioneed old 3Com cards. I KNOW I had one at one point. I tore the place apart looking for it but I must have thrown it away years ago. Hell, I even tried an old Farallon Etherwave since the connectors are VERY similar.

Mike

MaxPower · Apr 17, 2005, 01:29 AM

You might be able to get a Netwon serial cable, then a serial --> usb dongle and get it to work. Here is a link to a belkin one for $13 at macmall:

http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/..._id=mwbfroogle

and here's a list of ethernet cards and drivers once you get the cable transfer working:

http://www.chuma.org/newton/ethernet/

Hope that helps!

Stogieman · Apr 17, 2005, 01:47 AM

Does your eMate have a IrDA port? Get at USB-->IrDA adapter. Much cheaper than a serial -->USB route.

starman · Apr 17, 2005, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by Stogieman

Does your eMate have a IrDA port? Get at USB-->IrDA adapter. Much cheaper than a serial -->USB route.

That's not a bad idea.

Yes, it does have an IrDA port.

I've always neglected the mostly unused IrDA ports.

Mike

Captain Obvious · Apr 17, 2005, 02:57 AM

Originally Posted by starman

That's not a bad idea.

Yes, it does have an IrDA port.

I've always neglected the mostly unused IrDA ports.

Mike

Spend $10 (or less) on a 630cd or similar Mac with built in Ir port and do a file transfer.
I can't imagine not having a legacy machine sitting around somewhere for things like this or for native Classic OS operation. Being that you are near a large metro area it should be easy to pick one up from a local eBay seller or from the LEM swap list.

starman · Apr 17, 2005, 03:22 AM

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

Spend $10 (or less) on a 630cd or similar Mac with built in Ir port and do a file transfer.
I can't imagine not having a legacy machine sitting around somewhere for things like this or for native Classic OS operation. Being that you are near a large metro area it should be easy to pick one up from a local eBay seller or from the LEM swap list.

And wouldn't I have to buy a cable for the video port, Captain Obvious?

I have legacy machines, they don't use the now-standard HD-15 pin adapter, so I'm back to buying one kind of cable or another anyway.

Mike

goMac · Apr 17, 2005, 04:07 AM

Somewhere there was an iSync plugin for Newton...

wataru · Apr 17, 2005, 04:51 AM

Do you mean this? Because if you do, then you're only half right (it's not an iSync plugin) and that doesn't solve the problem of physically connecting the thing.

starman · Apr 17, 2005, 02:01 PM

My local mom&pop computer store had a 3Com card in stock!

With a dongle!

$8!

It's listed as supported!

(with a patch)

Mike

mitchell_pgh · Apr 17, 2005, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by starman

My local mom&pop computer store had a 3Com card in stock!

With a dongle!

$8!

It's listed as supported!

(with a patch)

Mike

ha ha... like in the old days of OS 8.

Man #1: "download stuffit"
Man #2: "done"
Man #1: "Now decompress it and install it"
Man #2: "how do I decompress it?"
Man #1: "stuffit"
Man #2: "how do I get that"

Captain Obvious · Apr 17, 2005, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by starman

And wouldn't I have to buy a cable for the video port, Captain Obvious?

I have legacy machines,

they don't use the now-standard HD-15 pin adapter,

So what monitor did you use before with the old machines?

If you're slowly collecting or looking to use older macs, which I assume you are since you are buying ones cir. 1996, you may as well have a junk drawer full of the adapters and cables you need to use them on your network today.
I don't think I have used a serial cable or AAUI transceiver in half a decade but I still have them should the need ever arise. You may as well drop two or three bucks from time to time to get these kinds of things if you have the machines they work with sitting around.

Anyway, if you have the older Macs doesn't the Newton have a serial port too? Just wire them tofether with an old printer or modem cable.

nredman · Apr 17, 2005, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

ha ha... like in the old days of OS 8.

Man #1: "download stuffit"
Man #2: "done"
Man #1: "Now decompress it and install it"
Man #2: "how do I decompress it?"
Man #1: "stuffit"
Man #2: "how do I get that"

starman · Apr 17, 2005, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Obvious

So what monitor did you use before with the old machines?

The older monitors, none of which I have anymore. Just like I have an old Mac but no CD-ROM drive for it. They're there because maybe someday I might want to resurrect them, but this isn't the best reason to do so - not when it's easier to get a network card and get the eMate running. With the 3Com card, I just happened to get one model rev too new today. I might even find a rev C or earlier at work tomorrow.

Mike

starman · Apr 18, 2005, 02:55 PM

Got it working.

I found a null-modem cable at work which made a big difference.

8-pin din<->25-pin serial cable + NULL MODEM + 25-Pin female <->9 pin female serial

I had to use my Windows machine to do all this. Once I got NIE 2.0 and the drivers onto the eMate, I was able to then usemy 3Com card to connect to my Mac over Appletalk.

What a pain in the ass. Newtons were great, but they suffered from ethernet being a hack rather than something they could use natively, and everything's been abandoned for USB. I'll try that USB<->Serial cable again on the Mac now that I have the null modem adapter, but I have a feeling it won't work.

I also installed the Orinoco drivers, but there are no wireless spots here at work so I don't know if it works properly.

Mike