The WatchDog Sprayer Station requires a customer-provided PDA and serial cable. This is used as a display and data logging device, running SpecWare Mobile. The PDA should be running Windows Mobil5 or Pocket PC 2003. The following PDAs and cables are listed alphabetically.

Asus
Asus PDAs lack a serial port. However a Socket Communications Serial I/O Card could be used in their CF slot to communicate with the Sprayer Station.

Compaq
See HP

Dell
Dell has discontinued their Axim PDA line. The following models can be used with the Sprayer Station: X51, X51V, X50, X50V

HP
Hewlett Packard has offered a multitude of iPaq PDA models with varying capabilities. The 2000 and 47xx series, as well as the model 1950/1955 have serial communications capabilities, and can be used with the Sprayer Station provided they are running Windows Mobile 5 or Pocket PC 2003. The remaining models do not have a built-in serial port, and can only be used if they have a CF Card Slot (most do not) to hold a Socket Communications Serial I/O Card.

Palm
Palm and PalmOne PDAs and Treos cannot be used with the Sprayer Station.

Sony
Sony PDAs cannot be used with the Sprayer Station

Toshiba
Toshiba discontinued their PDA line several years ago. Check your specific model to confirm it has serial communications capability (cable, not Bluetooth).

Serial Cable
You must also provide a serial (RS-232) cable for your PDA. One end of this cable will connect to your PDA, and the other end must terminate in a DB-9 male connector. If your cable ends in a DB-9 female connector, it is probably a hotsync cable. If so, you will also require a null modem cable or connector, and a male-to-male gender changer.

A web site for serial cables is:
www.serialio.com (805-964-8883)

Another source is www.gomadic.com (703-437-9319). However, some cables, such as for the Dell X50 family, only pass TX, RX, and GND. The original Sprayer Station connector box requires either DTR or RTS or both to be passed through the cable, so the Gomadic cable will not work. The second generation box (labeled as 3349CB) does not have this restriction, so Gomadic cables will work.

Note that many PDAs do not have enough battery power to function all day. As a result, you may wish to purchase a cable with a power input option, and the corresponding "auto adapter" cable.