T23 and Western Digital Passport

Message

george57l · #1 Post by **george57l** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 2:37 pm

Hi
Thinking of getting a WD Passport drive to move data around but one of my machines is a T23 with USB 1.1. (The other is a T60)

Thinking of putting a PCMCIA USB 2.0 card in the T23 to connect Passport drive to get some sort of decent transfer speed.

Does anyone have any experience/knowledge of the power outputs/requirements of such a set up? Will this work?

(The passport drive is powered off USB - not mains)

Thanks
George.

#2 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:29 pm

As long as that PCMCIA card has 2 USB slots that can provide 500mA each, you are fine.
When you get such a card, look for one with a NEC chipset, they are the best. Also, for a few pounds more, you could get a combo USB2/Firewire card.
Those HDs, when put in an enclosure, need a Y-splitter USB cable, to put into 2 USB ports on the laptop, otherwise there is not enough power.
Most of those cards also have a 5v input for an external power supply.
Note that 2 (laptop OR pcmcia) USB-ports supply enough power for HDs up to 120GB. Larger HDs need that external power supply!

george57l · #3 Post by **george57l** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 3:56 pm

RealBlackStuff

Thanks for the info. BTW, I don't need a firewire - already got a PCMCIA that does that.

Will all (most?) PCMCIA cards provide 500mA per port? Specs seem a bit hard to find on eBay! I guess I can afford to spend a few quid on one to see, and if all else fails, I've now discovered the Passports do have an optional mains adapter...

Cheers
George

#4 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:27 pm

Check eBay with "usb2.0 pcmcia nec", many offerings.
There is a (rare) card with a dongle-cable, that supplies 500mA on one port and only 100mA on the other port. This model card sits 'flush' in the slot, but you need that dongle cable, bit of a hassle, and no good for your purposes.
Any other cards I know all supply 500mA on each port.

george57l · #5 Post by **george57l** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 4:49 pm

Thanks again.

It all seems straightforward I guess. There are plenty of cards on ebay - I saw one that comes with a power cable - has a USB socket on one end and a DC in plug on the other as far as I can see. I assume one puts the USB end in the native USB socket on the PC and the DC end in the PCMCIA card (cannot think of any other use!)

I'll be off to ebay tomorrow to make some purchases - thanks for your help
George

T23 and Western Digital Passport

T23 and Western Digital Passport

Who is online