Opti-pac USB cable

[mhkohne]

I just picked up an Opti-pac second hand, and I didn't get a USB cable with it. Does anyone know the pinout of that cable? It's not expensive to get one from Ultimarc, but since I don't need anything else from them, the shipping would make it expensive. I've got plenty of extra USB cables and DB9s around, so if I knew the pinout, I could construct it easily myself.

[Hoopz]

I don't know the specs you need, but you could order one from Divemaster127 in the B/S/T forum.  He's in the US and his shipping rates are spot on.  Just an alternative.

[mhkohne]

Divemaster does carry the cables, but of course he's got to pay to get them, and then make a profit, so even though his shipping is very reasonable, it ends up costing more for the 2 I need (one Opti-Pack, one IPac) to get them from him than to get them from Ultimarc straight.

For others considering buying an IPac or OptiPac used: Be sure to consider cabling in your purchase decision. I bought from a person who didn't have the cables I needed, so now I'm having to cope. If I bought the cables from Ultimarc now, I'd end up paying MORE than if I'd just bought the whole mess from them originally. Buy making them myself from junk I already have, I'm keeping the cost down, but as a warning: Consider cables and their cost!


I've worked out the pinout for the IPac USB cable myself.

Connector diagrams are found at http://pinouts.ru/connector/6_pin_mini-DIN_male_PS2_STYLE_connector.shtml and http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml .

I will describe the wiring between a MALE PS/2 connector (cut one off a dead keyboard or mouse) and a MALE USB A connector, using the pinouts given at the sites above.

USB Pin 1 (VCC) PS/2 Pin 4
USB Pin 2 (D-) PS/2 Pin 1
USB Pin 3 (D+) PS/2 Pin 5
USB Pin 4 (GND) PS/2 Pin 3

If you go the Cypress web site you can download a data sheet for the CPU used on the IPAC and OptiPac. On my IPac (40 pin CY7C63413C-PXC), Pin 1 is D+, Pin 2 is D-, Pin 20 is VSS (GND) and Pin 40 is VCC. After building the cable, be sure to plug it into the IPAC and use a meter to test continuity from each pin of the USB all the way down to the CPU. That way, you know you've got it right.

When testing, be sure to use a hub - not your computer. That way, in the unlikely event of something going horribly wrong, you won't blow up anything important.

If you are stupid or incompetent, please don't try to do this yourself.

I'll post again later after I build the OptiPac cable.

[AndyWarne]

There is a much easier way to do this. Just drop me an email and I will send you a diagram of the cable.

Andy

[mhkohne]

Here's the Opti-pac USB cable. Make sure to put the OptiPac in USB mode (both jumpers) before firing this up. I've no idea what happens if you don't.

Connector diagrams are found at http://pinouts.ru/connector/9_pin_D-SUB_male_connector.shtml and http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml .

I will describe the wiring between a MALE 9 pin d-sub connector (cut one off a dead keyboard or mouse) and a MALE USB A connector, using the pinouts given at the sites above.

Just like any USB cable, it's only 4 pins. Hack a USB A connector off of a dead keyboard or whatever and find a 9 pin D-Sub in one of your junk boxes and you're good to go.

USB Pin 1 (VCC) D-Sub Pin 1
USB Pin 2 (D-) D-Sub Pin 8
USB Pin 3 (D+) D-Sub Pin 9
USB Pin 4 (GND) D-Sub Pin 5

If you go the Cypress web site you can download a data sheet for the CPU used on the IPAC and OptiPac. On my IPac (40 pin CY7C63413C-PXC), Pin 1 is D+, Pin 2 is D-, Pin 20 is VSS (GND) and Pin 40 is VCC. After building the cable, be sure to plug it into the IPAC and use a meter to test continuity from each pin of the USB all the way down to the CPU. That way, you know you've got it right.

When testing, be sure to use a hub - not your computer. That way, in the unlikely event of something going horribly wrong, you won't blow up anything important.

If you are stupid or incompetent, please don't try to do this yourself.

NOTE: I only built this cable because I was kind of stupid and got an OptiPac with the wrong cables, and wanted to fix my problem using parts at hand. If ordered with your OptiPac or IPac the cables are only $4 or $5 each - far less than the time required to build this cable.