You can skip this part if it bothers you, there is a pre-built adatper for a higher price mentioned below.
There is a four pin header on almost every new or high end sony monitor. (5+, GRND, TX,RX). The TX and RX are at TTL (Transistor Transistor Logic) volatge levels, in order to communicate with your computers serial port (DB9 or DB25) those voltage levels must be inverted and converted to RS232 levels.If you don't have serial, you can use a USB to serial converter.
A copy of the DOS Sony DAS program found on eservice.info contained a schematic of a simple circuit to do the conversion. The TTL<>RS232 converter used in the circuit is powerd by the +5v from the monitor. The TX and RX lines go right through the chip from the monitor to the TX RX of the serial port. The capacitors connected between other leads on the chip and GRND or the +5v are used by the chips internal inversion/conversion circuit, infact, there are some TTL<>RS232 chips that do not require external capacitors.
Though the schematic features the max232t there are many compatible chips, including the cheaper HIN232 which I used.No matter which chip you end up using, the schematics don't really change, the external capacitors may vary from chip to chip, but the TX RX from the devices connect to one of the TX RX pairs on the chip.Just follow the data sheet for your respective chip, if you can build legos, you can easily follow the data sheet.
Here is an example of the info you find in a data sheet, remember, you can buy a pre-assembled adapter if this stuff bothers you. I'd still recommend that you conquer your fear.
Update 5/22/06:
It seems the majority of people are buying pre-built adapters. The issue now seem to be finding cheap shipping for your location.
Right now, a prebulit adapter goes for $19 with shipping included (eBay, see below).
Though the rs232<>ttl chip is only $1, the prices of solderless bread board, wires, a serial connector (optional) and shipping are pushing the total cost of the 'do it yourself' option closer to the 'just buy it' option. Ofcourse, if you already have some of the stuff handy, nothing compares with the 'do it yourself' option.
What is needed is an itemized list of parts and prices, and specific instructions with pictures. Else, the 'do it yourself' option doesn't save enough money to be worth mentioning.
I now suggest eBay as 'the place' to get your cable. In the case you can't find reasonable shipping (cost or time) check below to see if I've listed a regional seller. Better yet, check the thread, as I really can't keep up with all the locations.
The difficult part is finding where to buy the parts, and what parts you want to buy,the only part you really need is the ttl<>rs232 converter chip. Everything else just makes connecting wires from the monitor to the serial port easier.
Your choices are:
I do not recommend any one cable supplier. This list is not exhaustive
or up to date. The order of the list is irrelevant. Search the web.
Search ebay. If you don't live in the US, don't pay for international shipping.
Everybody is selling a $1 chip with the same function, difference is physical
connectors. Massmind.org suggests alternative suppliers on their page.
I highly recommend buying a $1 chip and physically connecting it to
montor/computer on your own, just as I explain on this page. (update 6/6/07)
S.Winston has notified me that a kit costing $6.99 + $3.00 S/H contains everything needed. The wires that connect the 'reset' and 'on LED' of an old PC fit both the header pins on both the monitor and this kit nicely.
It can be found by searching for 'RS232 to TTL 5V converter board KIT' on ebay. Or you can check out the kit being sold here:http://www.nkcelectronics.com/rs232-to-ttl-5v-converter.html This is substantially cheaper with almost negligible increase in difficulty.
James Newton, from massmind.org , has offered a new US based source for
a prebuilt cable!
Just wanted to let you know, the RLC-1 RS232-TTL converter cable you mentioned
at
http://www.geocities.com/gregua/windas/cable.html
is available from me at
http://techref.massmind.org/techref/io/serial/RCL1.htm
for $19 plus $6 S&H in the USA or internationally for $10 more. Faster
shipping, lower price.
The unit comes with the pins in the order: Vcc, GND, Tx, Rx (followed by
RTS, CTS) and so needs to be re-arranged to GND, Vcc, Rx, Tx for use as an
ECS cable. The pins are held in the socket with a simple metal spring which
is visable through the side of the connector, so removing them is a simple
matter of pushing the wire into the socket, pressing down on the spring with
a thumb tack, and then pulling the wire out of the socket.
Thanks!
WARNING: This adapter is sold out, the pins are confirmed to be in the wrong
order, though re-ordering is not too much of a hassle. I do not recommend
this adapter as there are cheaper alternatives on eBay.They have gotten
quite a windfall of profit thanks to my mentioning of them. I'd remove this
option, but I think it is a good example of some of the higher priced stuff
you'll find online which may have the wrong pin order.
There are lots of Hobby/Robotics/Electronics sites that sell this type of
cable, assembled and disassembled. You usually have to switch pins. If you
can't find good shipping on ebay, you may want to look for such a shop near
you.
It is $20 + $4 S/H
Here is the message that he posted:
I got my cable from a guy called Ashley Roll in Australia and delivery was
very quick(uk).
http://www.digitalnemesis.com/products/rlc1/
They can make the cable up to your own specs.
config is(from pin 1) GND/5+/RX/TX
This cable worked perfectly with my Dell P1110's with the config above.
This is exactly the kind of thing to look for when eBay fails you.
Jameco has the chips, the capacitors it may require (in the max232 and hin232 cases it's 5 1uf 16v caps), and breadboard and wires. I couldn't find a DB9 to breadboard adapter though, I probably didn't search right. If you have a spare serial cable, you can just cut it to get your wires and DB9 connector for cheap.Check out the cable Atomist built , shows how little you need. If you go the Jameco route, make sure to get:
Sodderless breadboard is more expensive, but easier to work with than PCB board. Jameco caries the 4pin connector and other things to make your adapter fancy, best of all their prices are very cheap.Jameco is probably your best overall bet.
Actually, max 233 uses internal capacitors, and may be easier/cheaper than the max232 or it's derivatives when you factor in the cost of the capacitors.
If you live in the UK, Maplin would be your equivalent of Jameco.
Ebay is always an option, but if you need many different parts that aren't carried by one seller, shipping will kill you.I think they'd have cheap wires, jameco only sells a big kit for $9.99
Again,Hobby Engineering has an RS232 kit with 5 capacitors, a max232 a DB-9 connector for $6.99 + S/H.You still need wires and PCB board though, and that will run you about $12 more.Not recommended. RS232 kit.
Do you live near Torronto, Canada? Despotic has found a local electronics store with everything neded for under $12 canadian including tax!
His post:
Here are a few pics of my kickass cable ... was easy to make, thanks again p991 ... used 1uf 50V capacitors, small breadboard, female db9 connector with an easy clamp, 4-pin connector, and a bunch of wire ... all were purchased @ Supremetronic located in downtown Toronto, Canada: Google Maps Link for under $12CAD (tax included) ... (this price actually included a bunch of resistors in case the windas fix didnt work ...glad I didn't have to use them since I don't have a soldering iron here).
Check your phone books for local electronics stores, you may hit the jackpot like Despotic.
There are some TTL<>RS232 circuits that don't include an IC (chip/Integrated Circuit), but require resistors and transistors or diodes. It doesn't matter how you do it, it's a very common task with many cheap solutions.Look it up on google if you're interested.
I've seen a few of these prebuilt RS232<>TTL converters with a builtin DB9 connector for $30 or something, problem is, you still need to connect it with your own wires to the 4 pin header on your monitor, and worse still, they will try to sell you a power supply which you don't need ( your monitor supplies the +5v). I've seen some people ask as much as $40!!!Don't be fooled, this is a very common circuit and even when buying all optional parts shouldn't cost more than $15.
Here is some info on what pin mean what on your computers DB9 or DB25 serial ports, if you only have USB you could use a Serial<>USB converter.
You will need this information to find out what serial port pin is TX RX GRND etc.Unless... you bought the complete adapter from eBay, or some other store.
http://www.lammertbies.nl/comm/cable/RS-232.html
http://www.loop-back.com/rs232_std.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-subminiature
It depends on what parts you use. Check the thread for many step by step photographed adapters. I may put them up here so that you do not have to wade through other posts to find them. There are as many ways to do this as there are people, be creative!
Generally, it goes as follows.
Possible Solutions:
(a)cut a serial cable, long ones can yield extra wires for step 2
(b)buy wires and poke them into the connector
(c)buy wires and db25 or db9 connector (if using bread board, use breadboard
adapter)
*All options present choice of using breadboard/prototyping board, or just
pinched wire and household tape to connect wires to leads on chip.
I will make a better howto if it's needed, post to the forum and tell me how you think it should be, thanks for reading!