[Repairs] [support-gang] Fwd: Serial adapter for repair centers cost question
Ian Daniher
it.daniher at gmail.com
Fri May 23 12:23:04 EDT 2008
If I can get the XO motherboard cord/connector, I can build a limited
number of TTL(5v) to serial and TTL->USB for less than five dollars each
using MAX233 chips and usb-serial connectors from dealextreme.com. I'd have
to test to verify that lvttl wold work with this device. It would be very
helpful stock repair centers with these cords. An alternative is getting
crossover cables (double female) allowing for two XOs to be used, rather
than an XO and a computer with USB.
Cautionary words, likely already said: These cables can be used to brick,
unbrick, and disable the security on XOs. If we're not prepared to deal with
people who have borked their laptops with these devices, pulled off the
jumpers on the motherboard, etc, I believe we need to have them available,
but not just to the general public.
My .02usd,
Ian Daniher
On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 10:37 AM, Steve Holton <sph0lt0n at gmail.com> wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Steve Holton <sph0lt0n at gmail.com>
> Date: Fri, May 23, 2008 at 10:37 AM
> Subject: Re: [Repairs] Serial adapter for repair centers cost question
> To: richard at laptop.org
>
>
> On Fri, May 23, 2008 at 9:55 AM, Richard A. Smith <richard at laptop.org>
> wrote:
> > I'm going to submit 2 additions to the spare parts list for repair
> centers.
> >
> > 1 is the cable that you use for connections to the laptop serial port.
> > Qty 500 I've got a quote for $.50.
>
> These are the 4 slot connector for J1, right?
>
> >
> > The 2nd is the custom usb to serial adapter which in its current form
> > will cost about $35 bucks or so. Perhaps less if we buy them in larger
> > quantities.
>
> Are these essentially the same as this:
> http://www.ftdichip.com/Products/EvaluationKits/TTL-232R-3V3.htm
>
> but with a 4 pin connector?
>
> > My question is that is $35 (plus markup) going to be ok for grassroots
> > repair centers? They may need several depending on the size.
>
> Is the D6 bricking a one-off thing, or do we expect there to be more
> cases where repair centers will need to access the XO through the
> serial port?
>
> Has anyone seen an interest (from XO owners, or weekend developers) in
> buying these cables for 'home' use?
>
> Is there any thougt about repair centers selling a kit to build one
> of these from discrete components and boards? This is beginning to
> sound like franchising.
>
> --
> Steve Holton
> sph0lt0n at gmail.com
>
>
>
> --
> Steve Holton
> sph0lt0n at gmail.com
> _______________________________________________
> support-gang mailing list
> support-gang at lists.laptop.org
> http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/support-gang
>
--
Ian Daniher
it.daniher at gmail.com
Skype : it.daniher
irc.freenode.com: Ian_Daniher
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