From: rmspires (rmspires_at_yahoo.com)
Date: Thu Jun 14 2001 - 20:21:26 PDT
on 6/14/01 7:46 PM, PCBman at pcbman_at_ix.netcom.com wrote:
>
> Sean Luke observed:
>
>> I agree. Absolutely astonishing. Though I might have two suggestions
>> after staring at the pictures:
>>
>> 1. The port is white. Surely you can get it in black?
>
> Actually, it is gray, the same as the original dongle. In fact, it is the
> same part.
> It is a special part made for the GeoPort (notice the 9th pin).
>
>
>> 2. The port doesn't appear to be holding on to the plastic wall. One of
>> the problems with the Interconnect Port is that its only support is the
>> solder joint connections to the motherboard, so after repeated stress they
>> break and it collapses. What are the connections which keep the serial
>> port firmly in place against what undoubtably will be even greater stress?
>
> All units have a notch milled in the top of the connector that mates with
> the slight
> step in the housing.
> As you quite rightly point out, the NI Port becomes flaky because of a
> combination
> of a number of facts:
>
> It is a surface mounted connector.
>
> It has to deal with a large moment of force due to the dongle.
>
> It has a fairly aggressive hold on its' mating plug, requiring a good pull
> to release.
>
>
>
> My connector, on the other hand, is thru-hole mounted. This provides a much
> stronger interface.
>
> The body is made of glass-filled polyester and is very durable. The cheaper
> black
> plastic connectors, while initially aesthetic, eventually show the wear of
> slightly
> misaligned pins scraping the front face.
>
> The insertion force for this connector is very gentle, just enough for a
> good, stable
> connection but easy to put in and take out.
>
> I have also provided two mounting holes in the PCB to fit screws if you
> wish.
> I have found these to be unnecessary.
>
> Once fitted, I think you will find things quite snug.
>
> Please bear in mind that the overriding goal was to design a product that
> would
> not alter the MP2x00 in any way. I have achieved that using off the shelf
> parts.
>
> A custom connector would have been prohibitively expensive.
>
> I hope this answers your questions.
>
> Regards,
>
> David Humphreys
> Designer
>
>
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