Comments on: Shortened usb pcmcia card

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 08:55:09 +0000

You are pointing out the same thigs here.

By: LoneSwordsmanTheory

LoneSwordsmanTheory — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:30:52 +0000

Nicely done! How do you know which parts of the circuit are unnecessary? I’m considering trying this on mine, a cheap Dynex card, and don’t know if the layout would be the same. Also, how’d you get the card apart without breaking anything? Just a mini screwdriver, or something else?

By: strider_mt2k

strider_mt2k — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:16:40 +0000

Nice!

It looks much better.

By: viktor

viktor — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 06:43:30 +0000

just be careful with longer wires–i’m almost certain with the new wiring, it’s out of usb spec because you need controlled impedance for high speed stuff. trust me, I did some sloppy modding of a usb cable before, and you can’t get away with too much

By: Rune Kyndal

Rune Kyndal — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 03:53:31 +0000

easier? it is absolutely possible.
but you would have to use non standard cables then

/Kyndal

By: Corvus382

Corvus382 — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:05:12 +0000

I have been waiting to see a hack like this for a while now. I wonder if it would be easier if you used smaller usb connectors like http://www.ramelectronics.net/assets/images/mini-usb2-5pin.jpg you might even be able to cram a 4 port card in a flush mount package.

By: Rune Kyndal

Rune Kyndal — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 18:20:51 +0000

#4 akmixdown : You do it carefully :o)

By: Eric

Eric — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:45:07 +0000

This is very cool, but I don’t have a laptop without USB to try it on.

By: Henry Hallam

Henry Hallam — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 16:39:47 +0000

Beautiful! This really is a classic example of a clever hack that does its job well, looks good on the outside and functional-but-ugly on the inside. Bravo!

By: Liam

Liam — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:39:15 +0000

BRILLIANT!

Thankyou, this EXACT mod with the EXACT same card has been on my to-do list for some months now... you legend!

By: akmixdown

akmixdown — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 15:33:48 +0000

he left out the most important part… how the hell he got the PCMCIA card apart without it looking like total ass afterward… :-)

By: toaste

toaste — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 08:59:53 +0000

From TFA:
"Next version / Or upgrade will include a 3.3 to 5v boost converter.. "

If you plan on making this a permanent fixture in the computer, you could draw +5v from the board somewhere -- other usb (1.1?) ports are a good place, or a PS2 port depending on the age of the machine.

Another option is to make the card occupy both slots (if two exist) to find room for a boost converter or to hide it in some other spare space and run extra wire to connect it internally.

By: Rune Kyndal

Rune Kyndal — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:53:35 +0000

this specific card didn't supply 5v from the factory
it shipped with a cable that powers the card from the laptops usb1 port

which currently is unchanged. but I will upgrade
the card with a miniature boost converter
to produce 5v for the ports

/Kyndal

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 07:35:45 +0000

Interesting… But did I understand correctly? That you neet to plug in USB power to it to make it work correctly?!