USB 2.0 for X30 using Compact Flash Slot?

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mrjcleaver · #1 Post by **mrjcleaver** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 8:47 am

I've an X30

I want to add USB2.0 and was wondering whether anyone knows of a product that converts the CF slot for this purpose? I don't want a PCMCIA card that would protrude and would prefer to reserve that for later.

The nearest I found is http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/pro ... cfu1u.html - this adds USB1.1 to Pocket PCs.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Regards,
M.

cooldavy · #2 Post by **cooldavy** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 9:47 am

Why not using a PCMCIA card?
It will offer better compatiblity and better performance and it's cheap enough

PS:you won't be able to see a USB2.0 adapter for Pocket PC

mrjcleaver · #3 Post by **mrjcleaver** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 9:58 am

Well, quite often drop other cards in the slot whereas I seldom use the CF slot.

As I understand - http://www.compactflash.org/faqs/faq.htm - it the CF slot is very similar to PCMCIA, I know that a PCMCIA converter for CF looks like nothing but a form factor converter - electrically it just passed through.

I agree I could use a PCMCIA one, I don't like the one I have for two reasons: 1) it protrudes from the machine so I have to remove it before packing away the laptop. 2) its stopped working

I would also like to be able to use a CF2USB adapter on my g/f's X22 - and she has the PCMCIA card slot permanently occupied with a WiFi card.

bhtooefr · #4 Post by **bhtooefr** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 10:29 am

I know it's an UGLY configuration (both technically and aesthetically), but CompactFlash IS the same protocol as PCMCIA. So, all you have to do is get a PCMCIA slot (I've got an old Cybiko that isn't doing anything... *looks at soldering iron*), and wire it to a CompactFlash card somehow (*looks at unused IDE cabling*)

The only catch? While it's a CompactFlash Type II slot, that does NOT mean that it's a CF VERSION 2.0 slot. A Version 1.0 (CF or PCMCIA) slot can work with things like flash media and microdrives. A V2 slot can work with other stuff - like this USB card, and things life WiFi cards.

In CF and PCMCIA, type refers to thickness - Type I is only thick enough for flash memory. Hard drives are Type II (size of two Type I slots, IIRC) in both. Most addons are Type II, as well, but the REALLY thick ones are Type III (size of two Type II slots).

CF and PCMCIA versions refer to capabilities. Version 1.0 is only good for media - hard drives and flash memory. Version 2.0 is good for addons - it implements an ISA-like protocol over IDE (that may be why there's no USB 2 CF card - FWIW, this sentence is IIRC). Version 3.0 is only available in PCMCIA, and it's called CardBus. It is PCI over IDE.

mrjcleaver · #5 Post by **mrjcleaver** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 12:36 pm

This is useful information, thanks bhtooefr

Given the slot is type II, anyone an idea whether the X30's CF slot is version 2.0?

Searching "Compact Flash" "type I version 2.0" and varients thereof and "x30 technical specification" did not help.

bhtooefr · #6 Post by **bhtooefr** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 1:01 pm

Anybody got an X30 and a CF wifi card (they're not uncommon)?

If it's version 2.0, Windows will at least detect that SOMETHING is in there, and try to find drivers.

Of course, if the X30 has v2.0, then I need to try the same experiment with an X21

It shouldn't be too hard to make a CF to PCMCIA adaptor.

Simply take a dead CF card, gut it, and hook the pins on the inside to the appropriate pins on a PCMCIA slot (I've got a worthless handheld with a PCMCIA slot, so I can use that). IDE cable would probably work best for this...

mrjcleaver · #7 Post by **mrjcleaver** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 1:21 pm

Funnily enough, *I* have a CF TrueMobile 1180 WiFI card for my Dell AXIM that I never used. (PocketPC yuk).

My IBM X30 did indeed start looking for drivers... I'd expect they'd make it a second device on the IDE bus in parallel with the PCMCIA slot... System shows it appears under 82801 BAM/CAM PCI Bridge, under the Ricoh R/RL/5C476(II) controller.

I guess this means if someone were to sell such a device I would be able to use it.

I would assume others with machines would be able to too... perhaps we can find enough of a market to persuade someone to release a product - there are many thinkpad laptops without USB2.0.

I tried the TrueMobile card in my girlfriends' 2662-9BU X22 as well. It also looked for drivers.

mrjcleaver · #8 Post by **mrjcleaver** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 1:31 pm

I ought to add that my task was driven by the goal of elegance... I'm trying to avoid things hanging off in different direction. Of course, what I'd really like is a clean and dependable way to give my X30 USB2.0 instead of USB1.1 but I assume that the USB 1.1 function is soldered onto the motherboard.

bhtooefr · #9 Post by **bhtooefr** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 2:56 pm

I completely understand on that front... That was the only problem I saw with my idea. And, you're right about USB not being upgradable on the mobo. You'd have to swap out to an X31 mobo (if that's even possible) to get USB 2.0.

Your results mean that they're not even using adaptor chips - they're running the CF slot straight off of the PCMCIA bus. That's good - anything PCMCIA that can fit in a CF form factor could be made for this.

mrjcleaver · #10 Post by **mrjcleaver** » Sat Jun 11, 2005 3:44 pm

Great, thanks.

USB 2.0 for X30 using Compact Flash Slot?

USB 2.0 for X30 using Compact Flash Slot?

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