Suunto Vyper interface for Sony Clie
T/NR/NX/SL/SJ series
Check my GPS interface page
Originally I made this interface specifically for Suunto Vyper dive computer with Roli’s PC interface and Sony Clie SJ30 with HotSync serial cable. However, it should work with other Suunto Vyper, Vytec, Cobra, Mosquito dive computers and Sony Clie T415, T615C, T665C, NR70, NR70V, NX70, NX70V, SL10, SJ20, SJ30 handheld computers that have 18 pin HotSync connector.
1. Suunto Vyper contact assembly.
There are many different ways in which you can connect to Suunto Vyper dive computer including buying the original Suunto interface. However, if you are making your own interface, you may find out soon that the contact block is very important part of it. Of cause you can just hold two wires against the contacts on the dive computer. In fact I did it when I tested my interface for the first time. Believe me, you don’t want to do that, because some strange words may come out of your mouth when you loose the connection all the time. To make it more fun I came up with some strangely looking design. Here is the list of supplies that you need in order to make it:
- One 5.5mm x 13.2mm x 50mm piece of plexiglass material
- One 5.5mm x 30mm piece of 2mm thick double sided circuit board material
- Old computer motherboard with ISA slots (even broken)
First, you will have to make a plastic clip. It is better to take your dive computer from its protective cover at this time. Using small files try to shape the piece of plexiglass, so it will slide perfectly inside the contact area. Refer to the pictures below (I can e-mail you AutoCAD file). Then, cut out some material from inside. Now if you squeeze this clip, it should go inside the contact area easily, and stay locked there when released. To remove it, squeeze it and pull it out. If necessary, file it until you have a perfect fit. Place you dive computer back into its protective cover now.
Second, file a small area in one corner of the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) as it shown on the picture below. As you may guess, it should fit between the contacts of the dive computer. Later this part will be glued to the plastic clip, so you will have to match these two parts together well. Check if you can place the plastic clip inside the contact area with PCB attached.
Next, take the old motherboard and extract one ISA slot from it. You will need two contacts from inside, so you will have to BREAK this ISA slot, but be careful. Breaking may not be as easy as it sounds. Try to file it down first. When you have two contacts, try to understand how you are going to use them. Straighten the longer part of each contact, so the contact will be L-shaped with a slight curve. Refer to the picture below. These contacts must be soldered to the PCB in the right place. It may be little bit tricky, but you can adjust them after few trials.
After you solder contacts to PCB, check how they fit together with contact clip. If you are satisfied with your work, then you can attach small two wire cable to PCB above each contact. Check the fit again. Drill a small hole in the top part of the clip for the cable. Apply small amount of epoxy glue to PCB and put it together with the clip. Insert it into you dive computer, and let epoxy to harden. Be careful, so you don’t glue it to the dive computer by mistake, or you will never have troubles with lost connection, except it will not be very convenient to dive with it. Apply only small amount of epoxy, and keep the working area clean. Later, remove the clip from the dive computer, and apply additional amount of epoxy for extra strength. You may use some other solvent based type of glue. However, solvent based glue may dissolve plexiglass and cause some deformation of the clip if applied too much. Be careful then.
If you already have DIY interface, you are ready to test the contact assembly.
It is fun, isn’t it?
2. Using with Roli’s Interface and
HotSync Cable.
You will need a serial HotSync cable. Serial HotSync cables have built-in circuit which requires some power to function properly. These cables function properly, if connected to DB9 serial port of a desktop PC, because the internal circuit of HotSync cable is connected to DTR, RTS, CTS (pins 4, 7, 8) of DB9 serial port as a source of +5…12 Volts. If you connect this serial HotSync cable to Roli’s PC interface directly then the circuit will not work, because Roli’s interface requires +5…12 Volts on DTR pin as well. Try to connect them according the following diagram. Use four AA batteries connected in series or one 9 Volt battery to power the circuits. Connect “plus” to pin 4 (DTR) and “minus” to pin 5 (GND).
Note that it does not matter which side you plug you handheld and dive computer. The diagram above looks symmetric, and it works with both, GPS and Suunto dive computer.
I don’t know if it will work with Suunto OEM cable, because I never had one. If it works, please let me know.
3. Making Complete Interface.
I found another solution that does not require external batteries, but it needs some extra work making a complete interface. As you can see on the diagram below that I decided to use MAX233A for a TTL/RS232 converter. MAX233A is powered with +3.5-4.2 Volts from Sony Clie (pin 10 of Clie connector). MAX233A has internal voltage doubler that can supply about +7-8 Volts (pin 14) to the rest of the circuit which is the same as Roli’s.
The other components are Q1, Q2 – 2N4402; Q3 – 2N4401; D1, D2, D3 – 1N4148; D4 – Zener 5.1 Volt; R1, R4, R5, R6 – 22 kOhm; R2 – 1 kOhm; R3 – 10 kOhm; R7 – 27 kOhm; C1 – 1 mkF.
(Originally I did not connect the right side of the circuit to the voltage doubler of MAX233, and I used the power from Clie. However, 3-4 Volts was not enough to power dive computer interface, so I rewired the diagram as it shown above. Diod D1 may not be needed. Circuit works fine though. Also I used a small audio connector for the dive computer contact clip cable as it can be seen on the picture below, but it is not essential.)
Important note: Sometimes when I start uploading data from the dive computer, the program would freeze. I don’t know if it is software or hardware problem. In this case I simply cancel the upload, check all connections and try again. It does not happen very often though.
For comments e-mail me at nn1i@arrl.net.
Igor Anisimov
December 9, 2002