8 replies to this topic

[nakchak]

Does anyone know where I can get some IDC sockets to make up some GO! cables? Reason i ask is that it occurs to me that most people will have a surplus of suitable ribbon cable lying around and not even realise it! I now have a use for all the "high speed" (ATA100/133 80 wire) IDE ribbon cables that come bundled with various motherboards over the years, seeing as everyone and their dog uses SATA these days these cables are the same pitch as the ribbon used for go cables. If you split the old IDE cable every 10 conductors you should have at a minimum 8 x 1 foot sections of suitable cable to make GO! leads from. Which is cool as every little helps when it comes to recycling and you can get a lead that's "just so" without having to pay over the odds for a custom length cable, shipping etc.

[ItsDan]

I found the connectors but even in volume they were over $1 each, and you obviously need 2 of them, making them more pricey than buying assembled cables for the most part.

[ErikN]

I found the connectors but even in volume they were over $1 each, and you obviously need 2 of them, making them more pricey than buying assembled cables for the most part.

But the pre-assembled are in specific lengths. The OP isn't suggesting this would be cheaper but rather would lead to more custom lengths and would make use of the currently wasted ribbon cables.

[nakchak]

Very much so, also if you bulk buy the plugs they are a lot cheaper than $1, from what i have seen the price decreases rapidly once you order > 50 which is only 25 leads all told, i'm sure if all else fails you could ebay them as gadgeteer cables as well

[emg]

Uhh, except one end's connector would be keyed the wrong way around...?

[ItsDan]

I didn't see them cheaper, please feel free to post a link. Also note that you currently can't use arbitrary length cables, short lengths should work but over a certain length and you'll get errors. My understanding is that a firmware update will enable adaptive speeds so you can use any length cable.

[nakchak]

Uhh, except one end's connector would be keyed the wrong way around...?

Only if you make it wrong, the point being that you could reuse old ide cables to make your own cables

[Nevyn]

Only if you make it wrong,

I think emg's point is that the sockets on the GO! and the Gadgeteer have the notches in the sockets in different directions. You'd need to twist/bend/fold cables when switching systems.

Regards,
Mark

[nakchak]

I think emg's point is that the sockets on the GO! and the Gadgeteer have the notches in the sockets in different directions. You'd need to twist/bend/fold cables when switching systems.

Regards,
Mark

Yes agreed, but as you would be making the cable yourself i would assume you would know what style of cable you are making.

That said perhaps I wasn't clear enough, I am not suggesting that you would create a one size fits all cable, rather you would have the means to construct either style, and that as a means to recoup cost of investment you could always Ebay GO! or Gadgeteer Cables.