Cables
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Connection

Besides the software (see PsiWin section) you require a cable to physically connect the PC and Psion.

RS232 cablePC Link (RS232)

The Series 5 and 5mx, Revo, Series 7 and NetBook require an RS232 cable (this is the same cable that the Siena and 3c/3mx uses).

If you don't have one, check out the following:

Where to buy

Build your own

  • Psion Link Protocol - here's some stuff about the Psion Link Protocol that, to be honest, is totally beyond me!

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Serial Ports

Obviously, you'll need a spare serial port (sometimes called a COM port to plug your PC Link (RS232) cable into.

If your PC doesn't have a serial port then you may be able to add one. This is true only for desktop computers, if you have a laptop skip to the USB Cables section below.

PCI serial port

If you have a spare PCI slot in your PC then you may be able to install a serial port PCI card.

PCI Serial Port

You should be able to pick one up for under £20.

Motherboard header (DB9 - IDC10)

If you don't have any spare PCI slots (newer PCs have fewer PCI slots due to the popularity of the newer PCI Express format) then your motherboard may have an IDC10 connector into which you can plug a serial port backplate.

DB9-IDC10 back plate

This is the option that I went for, as my motherboard (Asus P5N-E SLI) has an IDC10 connector.

If you're going to search the internet for one try searching for:

  • DB9-IDC10
  • DB9 to IDC10
  • serial port back plate

Check your motherboard's manual to see if your motherboard supports a serial port. It may not be mentioned within the text of the manual (mine doesn't) but it should be marked on the motherboard diagram.

If you don't have access to the motherboard manual then check the BIOS as it may have settings for a serial port which would indicate that it supports serial connections.

Failing that get a screwdriver, carefully open up the case and take a look for yourself.

I bought one made by Lindy. It cost me £6.20 and was installed in just a couple of minutes. As it was already enabled and supported by the motherboard I didn't need to install any additional drivers.

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USB Cables

Some newer PCs and Laptops do not have a serial port, instead only Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports. In this scenario you will require a USB-to-Serial convertor as well as the standard PC Link (RS232) cable.

In other words you'll need the following chain of connections:

  1. Psion
  2. PC Link (RS232) serial cable
  3. USB-to-Serial adaptor
  4. PC/Laptop USB port

There are a number of manufacturers who can provide the adapter. However ...

Not all cables are created equal!

Be aware that for some reason not all USB to Serial convertor cables appear to work with PsiWin.

And it's not just as simple as finding out which ones work for other users, I've known someone using the same model as mine (Videk) on a Windows XP Professional system (just like mine) and while it worked fine for me, it didn't for him! I've heard similar stories about the Belkin offerings too.

Chipset issue?

I have found this comment from Trygve Henriksen posted to a Psion usergroup helpful:

Many cheap adapters doesn't have all the signals required for PsiWin to be able to establish a link.

If it's any consolation, it probably doesn't work with Palms either...

I generally sort them in two categories, those based on the

FTDI chipset, and rubbish...

If by chance, your adapter does have all the pins enabled, you could try to switch off the FIFO buffer on the serial port as this may also cause some problems.

(In Windows XP this can be found within Control Panel > System > Hardware tab > Device Manager > Ports (COM & LPT) > Communications Port (COM n) > Right-click and select "Properties" > Port Settings tab > Advanced ...)

 

Videk USB to Serial AdaptorVidek USB to Serial Adaptor

Videk Online

Videk USB to Serial Adaptor (2499G)
£15.95

I own two of these USB-to-Serial adaptors and they have successfully worked with every PC or laptop (mostly Windows XP) that I've tried it with, so it's the only one that I can genuinely recommend.

The value for money modem adaptor allows a serial device with a 9D output to connect direct to a USB port on a PC. It is supplied with integral flying lead. The unit is supplied complete with a CD for driver installation.

Features:

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KeyspanKeyspan High Speed USB Serial Adapter (USA-19HS)

www.keyspan.com

Keyspan on Amazon USA

US $33.10

Bob Stoner contacted me to say that he had no problems using the Keyspan High Speed USB Serial Adapter (USA-19HS) with his Psion. He wrote:

The installation was faultless and the Psion linked easily to the PC.

I did have to examine the 'key assistant' software which comes with the installation disk to ensure that we had 2-way traffic permitted.

The cost was £19 plus £4.50 postage through

eBay UK (from Long Beach California!). This compares favourably with Clove and POS Ltd.

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3Link (image from Gadec)

3Link

Series 3 and Series 3a
The Psion Series 3 and Series 3a machines require a 3Link cable which is remarkably different from

You may be able to buy a second-hand one on

Ebay - or possibly try POS Ltd.

Note, you cannot make your own as the cable has a special circuit-board (sometime referred to as a 'soap-on-a-rope') between the Psion connector and the Serial connector to the PC.

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IR cableInfraRed Link

SIBO

If your PC has an InfraRed (IrDA) port you may be able to connect your Psion Siena, 3c or 3mx to your PC via InfraRed.

The trick is to tell the Psion to use its IR port like a Serial port. Full details can be found at:

Windows 2000 or XP
If you are using Windows 2000 or XP you will need to make sure that your IR port is using IrDA, and not IRComms; but if you are using Windows XP then you should be using PsiWin 2.3.3! See

Pscience5 for more details.

Connection problems?
If you are having real problems connecting to either PsiWin 1.1 or PsiWin 2.x you can test to see whether your Psion and Windows are even communicating at the most basic level by opening up the COMMS application on your Psion and yperTerminal on your PC. More details can be found at Mike McConnell's excellent website

www.mgmcc.myby.co.uk under General Info, then click on Comms-Hyper.

EPOC/SYMBIAN

You can also connect your EPOC/Symbian machine to your PC via InfraRed.

Martin Guthrie's excellent Pscience 5 website has a number of articles about connecting via InfraRed.

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