GeeThree Stealth Port and the Griffin gPort new clones!

[Protools5LEGuy]

http://alexhixon.com/ sells clones of the GeeThree Stealth Port and the Griffin gPort.

It's called Jamport G4 http://alexhixon.com/jamport/

What is it?

Starting with the PowerMac G3, Apple began removing the old serial port/GeoPort connectors on their product lines, and replacing them with USB.

This was fine if you'd purchased some newer hardware that supported USB, or Firewire. However, if you wanted to use some older device that used the serial port, you were fresh out of luck.

However, most Apple hardware until the PowerMac G5, still (internally) supported the serial port! It was just tucked away on an internal connector!

Jamport allows you to access this hidden serial port and use it on your Mac, as long as you're willing to replace the modem card with it.


What are the alternatives?

There were a number of products that solved this dilemma in the same fashion. These included:

    GeeThree G4+ Stealth Serial Port
    Griffin GPort (G4Port)

However, these are no longer manufactured, and the eBay availability (and prices!) are sometimes a bit ridiculous.

They too, like this device, access the serial port by otherwise unmarked lines on the modem port.

[youtube]NLinSKK1oNA[/youtube]  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLinSKK1oNA

Supported Hardware

The following machines will definitely work:

    PowerMac G4 AGP Graphics
    PowerMac G4 Gigabit Ethernet
    PowerMac G4 QuickSilver
    PowerMac G4 Digital Audio
    PowerMac G4 Mirrored Drive Doors (MDD)

The PowerMac G4 Cube may work; you must ensure it has a similar looking 40-pin connector, as shown in the above photo.

PowerMac G4 (PCI Graphics) is unsupported for the moment, since it has a different internal connector. Head to the bottom of this page for details.

The Powerbook G4 may also work, but requires soldering an additional connector to the logic board. Again, see the bottom of this page for details.
Purchase

Please note there is a currently a 1-2 week lead time while new stock arrives.

Includes:

    Jamport G4
    PCI bracket with female mini-DIN-8 socket and internal connector

Ship to Australia - AU$50
$45 + $5 flat shipping

Ship to Worldwide - US$60
$45 + $15 flat shipping

Installation

Consult the PowerMac G4 service manual for more detailed instructions and photos to accompany you with the following steps:

    Power down, and remove cable. Open the Mac using the little hook thing on the right hand side to flip the motherboard out.
    Disconnect the antenna cable by unclipping it.
    Unscrew the screws surrounding the modem card.
    Push the holder clip outwards and pull the card up out of its slot.
    Now, insert the Jamport in the same place the modem card was previously, and screw it up.
    Insert the PCI faceplate with female mini-DIN socket into a free slot, and connect to Jamport.
    Install the relevant driver for your OS, and reboot.

Drivers

In theory, either driver should work roughly the same since they (well, at least for the OS X drivers) just appear to be the Apple drivers with different copyright strings on them. For more information, see the Technical page

I suggest the Stealth Port drivers since I've tested with those.

In any case, to get the Jamport to work with your computer, just install one of the following based on your OS:
OS 9

Extract, install by dragging to System Extensions folder, and restart.

Stealth Port Driver (recommended; 30KB, .sea.hqx)

gPort Installer v1.2 (193KB, extension)
OS X

Mount the disk image, and run the installer.

Stealth Port Driver for OS X 10.4 (133KB, .dmg)

gPort Driver v1.2 up to OS X 10.2 (954KB, .sit)

You can get the 10.3 and 10.2 GeeThree drivers, as well as Serial/Core MIDI drivers for both brands on their respective websites. I might put them up if there's interest and you can't find them.
Technical Details/How It Works

Please see here for technical information on AppleTalk, pinouts and implementation.
I have a PowerMac G3/Powerbook G3/Powerbook G4. You said it could work there too?
Powerbook G4

The Powerbook G4 should work with the Jamport G4, but is currently untested.

Unfortunately, you will need to solder a connector to the logic board that is needed to plug in the Jamport:

At this stage, I also don't know where the mini-DIN socket would be placed. This presumably requires modification to the case, or perhaps you could remove the modem jack instead.
Power Mac G4 (PCI Graphics) / Power Mac G3

Work in progress.

Powerbook G3

At this point, I am not sure what the connector looks like, nor its pinout.

If you have more details, such as a high resolution photo of the logic board, or know the pinout of the debug connector, please contact me.

More tech info also on http://alexhixon.com/jamport/tech.html

[mrhappy]

Hey...nice to know!

[MacTron]

A great find!. Really 

[nickbirkby]

Wow and it works well with midi? I always heard that the stealth port didnt work well with midi for some reason.
I have used a beige G3 for years (since 98) mainly because of the Opcode64XTC interface works so nicely with it on the serial port. I also have a 128X something as well now.

[MacTron]

Wow and it works well with midi?

Yes it does. In fact it's one of the best ways to connect MIDI devices to G3 and G4 Macintosh.

[Knezzen]

Im getting one! Feels like a must-have.

[MacTron]

Im getting one! Feels like a must-have.

I have two of them. I used them for years without any issue.
BTW, It works without any extra drivers. The extension included it's only to be used with the chooser (old serial printers or appletalk on serial port) , but not it is not necessary to be used with MIDI devices.

[MacOS Plus]

  I realized another machine variant this should fit in by default.  The iMac G4 ('iLamp') uses the same modem as the tower machines.  Other than removing the phone jack to feed out the cable, it should work with no further modifications.

[rvense]

I e-mailed the guy with the suggestion to make a Powerbook version but haven't heard back. The Lombard and (I assume) Pismos use the same board.

For me, a Lombard with SCSI, USB, *and* real serial would be fantastic.

[Irisman]

I purchased a couple of Jamport cards.  Fast delivery and well product.

Installed very easily on the MDD 2003, it does the work perfectly!

OMS "New Studio Setup" recognized the Studio4 on the serial port, as well as the Unitor8/AMT8 connected to the USB port.

Great addition at great price!   

[macStuff]

too bad it has to take up a pci slot to mount the bracket

[Irisman]

too bad it has to take up a pci slot to mount the bracket

That is no problem for me, as the MOTU PCI424 takes almost all bandwidth of the PCI bus, if you make extensive use of the CUEMIX. 

[teroyk]

Has anybody tested Jamport to Powerbook?
http://alexhixon.com/projects/jamport/powerbook-g4.html

[hageir]

Has anybody tested Jamport to Powerbook?
http://alexhixon.com/projects/jamport/powerbook-g4.html

I've been looking into this for my PowerBook G4 15"
Instead of going for the debug port on the motherboard
or possibly wiring a Mini DIN 8 Pin to Modem RJ11 cable and using the modem port,
what about utilizing the Cardbus (PCI) Slot??

+

Has anybody tried this combination out?

I have a TDK Music Card (PCMCIA) with MIDI IN & OUT for my Toshiba 480CDT and that works flawlessly...

*just noticed this is in the marketplace LOL, gonna post it over at Oldschooldaw*
http://www.oldschooldaw.com/forums/index.php/board,66.0.html

-Geiri

[macStuff]

has anyone been in contact with alex hixon?
i been trying to reach him for some time without any reply
i hope the guy didnt get hit by a bus or somethign

[teroyk]

Has anybody tested Jamport to Powerbook?
http://alexhixon.com/projects/jamport/powerbook-g4.html

I've been looking into this for my PowerBook G4 15"
Instead of going for the debug port on the motherboard
or possibly wiring a Mini DIN 8 Pin to Modem RJ11 cable and using the modem port,
what about utilizing the Cardbus (PCI) Slot??

I started to think for more this.  So my question can I have second cardbus-slot from airport-cardplace and wire from card to outside through modem port hole?  Of course I have take out connector from card and extra plastic too.

[part12studios]

might need to take this one down.. or update it..  the guy no longer sells or makes these cards. 

[teroyk]

might need to take this one down.. or update it..  the guy no longer sells or makes these cards.

Did you get an answer from Alex Hixton (the maker)? I hope that he release information that we can continue his work, can somebody ask about this?

[rvense]

Most of the required info is on his technical page:

http://alexhixon.com/projects/jamport/development.html

If he doesn't want to build them anymore, maybe he wants to release his design files as open hardware.

I believe the connector is Molex part 52885-0474, available here. I bought one and it seemed to fit, but I never managed to make a a board for it.

[no_doz]

I wrote him today, I'm looking for a few of these (or the original variants).  I'll let you know what I hear!