Cool Remote

http://vyskocil.free.fr/coolcom/

You need a: Palm PDA, a Palm serial cable, and a Coolpix serial cable. You also need a NULL modem and possible a gender changer, since regular NULL modem cable having one end Male connector and other end Female. What you really need is a NULL modem with both ends Male type. I bought NULL modem and a gender changer from Radio Shack; each costs more than $6.

After reading some posts about modification of USB cable to get a serial cable, I realized that I could modify the serial cable too. Basically, you just need to cut the connector open and switch positions of two cables (RD and TD are official names of the cables, which are connected to pin 2 and 3).

Actually you need to replace the connector with a new DB9 connector, which can be found at Radio Shack for a little over $3.

Detail Steps:

1. Cut open the serial connector side of Coolpix serial cable carefully, write down positions (connect to which pin) of each wire (wires are colored).

2. Cut or use a welder to disconnect the wires from original connector.

3. Weld the wires back to a new serial connector of solder connector type, remember switch the wires connect to pin 2 and pin 3 you write down in step 1

4. Use some silicon rubber glue/sealant as electric insulation and bonding.

Notes: Depends on the new connector you get, you may need to put a rubber or plastic tube to the serial wire at the end going into the connector, just to fill empty space there. Use black heat shrink tube to make it more professional.

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The Palm OS software is free, supports bulb and interval, and is available here: http://vyskocil.free.fr/coolcom/. The PDA buttons can be used to half-press, fully press (take the picture) and zoom in/out.

You will need the generic serial cable, either the Nikon SC-EW3, or its equivalent, made by Harbortronics: http://www.harbortronics.com/DigiSnap/SErialCAbleInfo.htm.

You'll also need a modem adapter (or cable) to match your PDA to the side of the SC-EW3 cable that would normally plug into your PC: the cable adapter includes the crossover functionality. A good source for those is: http://www.syncablesolutions.com

The total cost of this setup, assuming you already have a PDA (an "old" Palm III will do just fine) should be about $50, cheaper than the MC-EU1 or even the DigiSnap.

Disclaimer: I have no relationship with any of the vendors/products mentioned above.

PS: Once you have the SC-EW3 cable, you can also use it to attach your 990/880 to your PC and remap out those hot pixels, with the Cpixmap program found here (version 0.12 or later): http://e2500.narod.ru/ccd_defect_e.htm