Q1: What is N90 Buddy?
N90 Buddy is an application for Palm Computing connected organizers which allows you to connect your Nikon N90/F90 or N90s/F90X camera to your organizer. See the manual for a complete list of features.
Q2: What do I need to use N90 Buddy?
ANY Palm Computing connected organizer: original Pilot 1000/5000, PalmPilot Personal/Professional, Palm III, V, VII, etc., IBM Workpad series, or Handspring PDAs*; a Palm modem cable** (or equivalent); and a Nikon MC-31 cable (or equivalent).
*NOTE: The Handspring series have USB connectors instead of serial connectors. This means you'll also need a USB-to-serial converter such as the serial cradle. See Q3 as well.
**NOTE: The Palm modem cable has been discontinued and no modem cable is available for the Palm V.
Q3: What can I use instead of the Palm modem cable?
A Hot Sync cable or cradle may be used instead of the Palm modem cable. However you'll need an adapter to convert the cradle to have the same wiring as a modem cable. You can use a combination of a null modem adapter AND a gender-changer. You can also by pre-made adapters from other sources.
Here are a few suggestions sent in by other N90 Buddy customers:
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Also, I [Fidel Villa <badzny5@yahoo.com>] developed an adapter that would make the MC-31 works with the Palm Hotsync or Palm cradle. Do you think it is possible to promote it on your web site. I mentioned you on mine: check it out http://photovillage.net/adapter.html
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Thanks for the info on the Null Modem Cable/Adapter. I ordered them from Cyberguys http://www.cyberguys.com Their prices on them are very low. $1.92 for the Null-Modem adapter. $1.70 for a thin style gender changer. $3.50 for Priority Mail.
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MarkSpace also makes serial cables for both Palm AND Handspring units. At the current time, I do not know of anyone who has tested this solution, but if it works, it would make for an elegant solution. Please e-mail me if you any experience one way or another with these cables. http://www.markspace.com/datacord.html
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Q4: Does it work with Windows CE or other handhelds?
No, though someone is welcome to write their own. I provide a N90s Protocols page so that others may do similar programs on other platforms.
Q5: Does N90 Buddy work with the F5, F100, N70, etc.?
No. Both the F5 and F100 have serial ports and so a version could be made to support these two cameras. Nikon's lower-end cameras such as the N8008, N70, N50, etc. do not have serial ports so it is not possible to make a similar product for these cameras. Nikon's F4, while not lower-end, does not have a serial port either.
Q6: Why doesn't it work with the F5 and F100?
I haven't had time to add support yet. While I have received protocol descriptions from others, they have not yet been added to N90 Buddy. Someday soon, I hope.