I'd probably sidestep the whole backshell problem and use an IDC plug.

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/assmann-wsw-components/A-DFF-09LPIII-FP/HHFP09H-ND/5400097

or the same thing with a cable pre-crimped, strain-relief included in both cases.

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/assmann-wsw-components/H7FXH-0906G/H7FXH-0906G-ND/998799

You'll need a usb plug that you can make as flat as possible...
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/hirose-electric-co-ltd/UX20-MB-5P/UX20-MB-5P-ND/1836470

But then you have a soldered plug with no backshell again, just on the usb now... At least that is small enough you could just blob some hot-glue or sugru or even just a piece of grey 3m foam tape to cover those pins. Next-best is you're cutting and splicing two different cable together which is ugly and annoying. You could get a pre-molded right-angle usb-mini cable and cut the wire and splice to the ribbon wire from the 9-pin.
http://www.yourcablestore.com/YCS-Basics-3-Foot-USB-20-Mini-B-Female-to-Right-Angle-Mini-B-Male-Extension-Cable_p_1304.html
Blech.



For myself, I think I'm going something kind of unnecessarily fancy. I don't want any external cables, especially on a M100 where the bcr port isn't right next to the serial. And I don't want anything sticking even further out that inconveniently positioned usb plug.

So I found this neat combined lipo charger/manager + buck/boost power supply. It has everything needed already integrated. A lipo charger/manager to take in usb/4.5v-6v and properly & safely charge & manage a 3.7v lipo cell, and a buck/boost module to take the battery power which ranges from 2.5 to 4.2, and outputs both 5v and 3.3. It has a micro-usb for charging input and a JST plug for the lipo cell. And you can buy the lipo cells in several sizes with a wire and JST plug already on.

https://hhtronik.com/product/pgcpsu-duo/
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1570
https://www.adafruit.com/product/1317

So the only thing to solder is just 2 short wires for the output to some place on the WiModem.

The module supplies bothe 5v and 3.3v.
There is no good place to tap the 5v input on the WiModem, especially not on the OLED version where the oled module covers up the back of the usb plug, and it's soldered in too.

But there are at least 2 easy places to access the 3.3v rail. Assuming the WiModem doesn't actually use the 5v from the usb anywhere except to feed the 3.3v regulator, it should be fine to just run 3.3 & gnd right to both sides of that yellow cap right behind the usb plug. Or backfeed into the the pins for the oled. I'll have to test this to make sure it doesn't maybe use the 5v to power the rs232 level shifter.

Glue or foam tape the module down and maybe use velcro for the battery even though mostly you'd never remove it until a few years later.

Could even add a 5.5x2.1 dc barrel jack to the input to the module, because the module can accept up to 6v in place of the usb, so you could charge it with the laptop charger instead of needing a separate usb charger. Maybe add a diode to drop the input from the barrel jack a little just to be safe.
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/tensility-international-corp/54-00166/839-54-00166-ND/10459294


But after looking at all that, it does seem pretty practical to just run a cable from the bcr port or the battery compartment or something. An external cable and plug is kind of hacky, but not having a separate battery to charge is good, and a wire sure is simpler.

--
bkw

On 7/12/20 3:50 PM, Mike Stein wrote:

Wow! That looks nasty ;-)
I believe that like many RS-232 dongles the Firefly can draw its power from pin 9 of the DE-9 connector, so adding a little wire inside the Model T would get rid of that BCR plug & cable... just sayin'... I'd also make a custom right angle adapter for the RS-232 connection; take an in-line DB25 connector, either PCB or solder cup:
Add a right-angle DE9 connector:
Join them together with a bit of perfboard, wire appropriately, cover with some epoxy and Bob's your uncle. Something like this, but more compact and with a straight DB25 and right-angle DE9 (the pins on right-angle DB25s are on the wrong side). Think I'll have to build a couple myself ;-)
You can also get right-angle DE9 adapters:
https://www.winford.com/products/adr9.php
m

    ----- Original Message -----
    *From:* Gary Weber <mailto:g...@web8201.com>
    *To:* m...@bitchin100.com <mailto:m...@bitchin100.com>
    *Sent:* Saturday, July 11, 2020 4:48 PM
    *Subject:* Re: [M100] Slim style DB25/DE9 connectors

    Thanks, Mike.  Yes that's about the size I was looking for.  I'm
    using them to pull power from a BCR port, which is just 2 wires.
    The slimmer the better.  Like this:
    https://www.web8201.net/images/Bluetooth_BCR_Powered.jpg

    Thanks for that link, that just may be the best one can get today.
    Gary


    On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 1:38 PM Mike Stein <mhs.st...@gmail.com
    <mailto:mhs.st...@gmail.com>> wrote:

        __
        Not sure what your criteria are; are you talking about the length?
        These any good?
        https://www.electronicsurplus.com/md9-00j-vl-connector-hoods-for-db9-de9

            ----- Original Message -----
            *From:* Gary Weber <mailto:g...@web8201.com>
            *To:* m...@bitchin100.com <mailto:m...@bitchin100.com>
            *Sent:* Saturday, July 11, 2020 4:26 PM
            *Subject:* Re: [M100] Slim style DB25/DE9 connectors

            Thanks for the tip, Brian.   About the best I've been able
            to find is this:
            
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/cinch-connectivity-solutions-aim-cambridge/40-9709H/367-1139-ND/3830261


            Apparently those half-size hoods that I linked earlier
            aren't made these days.


            On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 1:08 PM Brian White
            <b.kenyo...@gmail.com <mailto:b.kenyo...@gmail.com>> wrote:

                I don't know about 9 pin, but Mike Stein found a really
                good 25 pin when I was trying to find something good for
                tpdd cables.

                
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/09670250411/1195-2690-ND/3181274/

                If I wasn't on my phone I'd just try searching "dsub" on
                digikey and filter by 9 pin instead of 25 and scroll
                through all of them.

-- bkw

                On Sat, Jul 11, 2020, 2:14 PM Mitch Parker
                <mbp...@gmail.com <mailto:mbp...@gmail.com>> wrote:

                    Gary,

                    I may have some in stock.  LMK if you want pics.

                    Mitch


                    On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 1:58 PM Gary Weber
                    <g...@web8201.com <mailto:g...@web8201.com>> wrote:

                        Anyone know where you can source this style of
                        D-sub connector anymore?  I like how slim they
                        are.  The only connectors I can find these days
                        are quite a bit larger.
                        https://www.web8201.net/images/db9_hood.jpg
                        https://www.web8201.net/images/db25_db9_hoods.jpg

                        Thanks for any info,


-- Gary Weber
                        g...@web8201.com <mailto:g...@web8201.com>



--
bkw

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