USB Ethernet Adapter for Windows Mobile

20 Apr 2011

Note: This information is provided as a reference and does not imply that Juniper Systems will provide full support for the use of any specific third-party hardware or software with a Juniper Systems product.

An Ethernet (RJ-45) port can be added externally to any of our rugged handheld computer products running the Microsoft Windows Mobile operating system by connecting a USB-to-Ethernet Adapter to the USB Host port provided on the handheld (most likely would need to use a USB Host Mini to Full Adapter with the Archer). One such adapter is described at the following web page.

http://www.portsmith.com/external-adapters/psa1u1e-usb-to-ethernet-adapter/

Other compatible adapters would most likely utilize a chipset from one of the following manufacturers.

Such adapters may include those listed at the following web pages.

Drivers and Windows registry settings required for USB-to-Ethernet adapters which utilize the MosChip and Asix chipset(s) are already be built into the operating system of the Mesa Rugged NotePad, so no additional driver installation or configuration should be necessary with that product.

Otherwise or with our other products, device drivers must be compatible with Microsoft Windows Mobile (which is based on "Windows CE 5.0"), such as the drivers for the MosChip MCS7830 chipset (which is used in the above mentioned Zonet ZUN2210 adapter) which are available at the following web page.

http://www.moschip.com/mcs7830_downloads.php

The Windows registry on the handheld may also need to be manually edited to allow the device to be recognized (may require a Reset and re-attaching the USB device after entering registry keys), such as using one of the Registry Editors listed at the following web page.

Windows CE/Mobile registry editors

An example is again for the MosChip MCS7830 chipset (Zonet ZUN2210) which requires the following registry keys.

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\ mosusbce\] "DisplayName" = string "MosChip USB to ethernet adapter"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Comm\ mosusbce1\] "DisplayName" = string "MosChip USB to ethernet adapter"

If not already, it is recommended that drivers be signed with a security certificate to prevent issues as described at the following web page.

Signing apps and drivers with security certificates

Note: USB-to-Ethernet adapters may be limited to the maximum speed of the USB Host controller in the handheld and/or by the device drivers, such as past tests of the Zonet adapter achieved a maximum 540KB/s baud rate throughput.

With additional development or customization, it may be possible to implement a built-in RJ-45 Ethernet port on a modified Mesa Mobile Dock. Additional information is provided at the following web page.

Integrating Custom Hardware