Shorter Comms Port Pins

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NotFitForPurpose
Posts: 90
Joined: Tue Sep 03, 2024 12:06 pm
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Re: Shorter Comms Port Pins

Post by NotFitForPurpose »

Hi,
I get 8 mm length ones from Mouser.

One (of a few options) might be:
Mouser Pt No Comment
649-1012938291604BLF 10129382-916004BLF Headers & Wire Housings ECONOSTIK HEADER DR RA TH 2X8

A photo of the part referenced above was previously shared in the forum.
https://github.com/nofitnessforpurpose/ ... %20(2).jpg

I still have not located one with the 'full body' moulding similar to that used on the classic top slot PCB's. The best I have located to date is a SAMTEC part which has the outer body dimensions though not the fuller moulding. It also requires all PCB side pins to be cut, which is OK for a few off.
amenjet
Posts: 393
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2023 7:54 pm

Re: Shorter Comms Port Pins

Post by amenjet »

Yes, those are the ones I bought, I have just found the order. I bought 100 of them, apparently.
thesourcerer
Posts: 98
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2023 1:00 pm

Re: Shorter Comms Port Pins

Post by thesourcerer »

Regarding Olivier’s original Comms Links, he was aware that the pins were too short. I was selling them for him, and found that sometimes they would work with some organisers but but not with others (same models)!
He said he could not source any longer ones.
The tolerance must have been extremely fine between working ones and non working with the same model organisers!
When they worked, they worked well, but when they didn’t it caused me a lot of problems.
But I don’t know what happened to him? Does anyone have any clues?
amenjet
Posts: 393
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2023 7:54 pm

Re: Shorter Comms Port Pins

Post by amenjet »

thesourcerer wrote: Thu Jan 30, 2025 7:01 pm Regarding Olivier’s original Comms Links, he was aware that the pins were too short. I was selling them for him, and found that sometimes they would work with some organisers but but not with others (same models)!
He said he could not source any longer ones.
The tolerance must have been extremely fine between working ones and non working with the same model organisers!
When they worked, they worked well, but when they didn’t it caused me a lot of problems.
But I don’t know what happened to him? Does anyone have any clues?
I emailed him recently about an error or two I found on this OPL web pages and he replied. I used the webmaster email on his web site. So he's about...
thesourcerer
Posts: 98
Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2023 1:00 pm

Re: Shorter Comms Port Pins

Post by thesourcerer »

That’s great to know, thanks.
Daren
Posts: 92
Joined: Tue Jan 03, 2023 10:03 pm

Re: Shorter Comms Port Pins

Post by Daren »

I have one of Oliviers USB comms link, the one with the mini USB rather than the later micro USB, it was working fine when I first got it, then I ended up getting a few more Psions and a few original comms links. Then one day I went to use it, I had been using an original comms link for a while in the interim period, when I tried it though it would not work at all. I think it must have been a different Psion than the one I used when I first got it, because I tried it in another Psion and it worked again. I have noticed, depending on which Psion I use it with I occasionally get a resizing pack message when going into comms, or other times it will not display the comms menu, but a few extra presses of on/clear usually gets it working. I suspect that the short pins are ok with some Psions but not others, and probably making sure it is fully inserted has a better chance of success. I suspect either wear from use or maybe a bit of oxidation in the female socket makes the shorter pins more prone to intermittent behaviour perhaps.
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