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Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: DyLucke on November 11, 2008, 11:02:59 PM

Title: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: DyLucke on November 11, 2008, 11:02:59 PM
Is there any PCMCIA - USB driver around for OS3.0?

I've seen some PCMCIA cards with 4 USB ports that are really cool to plug some USB pens or such.

Thanks!

Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: MozzerFan on November 12, 2008, 06:15:37 AM
Nope. There are no drivers for that.
Besides I doubt it if these cards are suitable for the 16-bit PCMCIA slot of the Amiga.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: adonay on November 12, 2008, 08:29:46 AM
This have been talked about alot although there are atleased 2 PCMCIA 16bits cards . But will never work unless drivers were to be written
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: MozzerFan on November 12, 2008, 09:04:03 AM
Also if there were any drivers for it, version 3.8 of the poseidon usb stack can't be registered anymore. Version 4.0 and up are locked to E3B hardware.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: MozzerFan on November 12, 2008, 09:19:32 AM
Just looked on aminet and noticed the ANAIIS usb stack. Maybe the author could be persuaded to write a driver for these cards. However this usb stack doesn't support mass storage devices yet. It looks promising though.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: Colani1200 on November 12, 2008, 09:39:57 AM
I guess it's time for a little Poseidon bounty reminder (http://www.power2people.org/bounty_041.html).  ;-) Once the source is available new drivers can be developed much easier.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: DyLucke on November 12, 2008, 12:38:28 PM
Yea bec if some driver is written for one of these babies, just think about what we could plug on the USB port...

Limited speed of course, but what is important is to be capable of using USB devices.

I hope we could see a real improvement on this direction.

Cheers
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: Gilloo on November 12, 2008, 02:58:36 PM
Quote

MozzerFan wrote:
Maybe the author could be persuaded to write a driver for these cards.

Persuaded with what?
- weapon of mass destruction.
- lot of beer.
- girls.

Quote

MozzerFan wrote:
However this usb stack doesn't support mass storage devices yet. It looks promising though.

ANAIIS supports mass storage (usb keys, smart card reader, hppsc) since febuary of this year (0.97 version).
I don't put this in the package because plug/unplug are not managed yet and it's not currently user friendly.
 :-P
You can use external driver using the Sirion API, ANAIIS does the same.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: alexh on November 12, 2008, 03:04:25 PM
Quote

DyLucke wrote:
Is there any PCMCIA - USB driver around for OS3.0?

AFAIK there are no PCMCIA USB host cards compatible with the Amiga. They are all Cardbus (32-bit PCMCIA).

If you want USB on A1200 you need to buy a Subway card from E3B (about £80) which connects to the internal clock port.

Quote

adonay wrote:
There are at least 2 PCMCIA 16bits cards.

What are they?

AFAIK there is only one 16-bit USB host chip (the OXCFU950 designed here at my company) and it is not used in any PCMCIA->USB cards the public can buy.

I sent some samples and the linux driver code to Michael Boehmer and Chris Hodges a long time ago.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: MozzerFan on November 12, 2008, 04:22:14 PM
@Gilloo
Quote
Persuaded with what?


Seriously,
If 16-bit pcmcia usb-cards really do exist and are for sale, and you are willing to write such a driver, maybe a small bounty could be set up. If there are enough users out there, who are interested (and there are still a lot of a600/a1200 users out there), it must be possible.

I am the lucky owner of a subway and deneb card myself, so for me it doesn't matter, but I'm sure there are still enough users who don't have a subway.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: alexh on November 12, 2008, 05:10:15 PM
Quote

MozzerFan wrote:
I'm sure there are still enough users who don't have a subway.

They could always buy one ;-)
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: Fransexy_ on November 12, 2008, 05:12:59 PM
Quote

alexh wrote:
Quote

MozzerFan wrote:
I'm sure there are still enough users who don't have a subway.

They could always buy one ;-)


but, it would freed the clock port for a soundcard or other clockport card  :-D
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: MozzerFan on November 12, 2008, 06:03:41 PM
Quote
They could always buy one


Vesalia sold them for 89€, but are out of stock now.
Couldn't check out amigakit.com (website didn't respond).
I just saw a 32-bit pcmcia usb card for 16€.
Makes me wonder what a 16-bit pcmcia usb card would cost (if they exist). Me thinks it would be a lot cheaper than the subway.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: alexh on November 12, 2008, 06:42:08 PM
My company makes the chips at the heart of the Subway and the only 16-bit PCMCIA USB host chip. There is only a small difference in price.

The big cost of the Subway is that they are manufactured and tested in low volumes just for the Amiga market. You cannot compare prices with mass produced CardBus USB cards.

Amigakit seem to have a DNS problem. Their secondary URL seems to be working fine

http://amigakit.leamancomputing.com
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: MozzerFan on November 12, 2008, 06:57:58 PM
I know why the subway is so expensive. I was just pointing out that if amiga users had a choice between paying 88€ or 20€ the choice would be easy.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: alexh on November 12, 2008, 09:42:07 PM
But they dont make €20 16-bit PCMCIA USB cards. I am 90% sure they dont make them at all.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: ncafferkey on November 12, 2008, 10:10:16 PM
What about CF cards? They could probably be used too with an adapter.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: MozzerFan on November 12, 2008, 10:54:00 PM
Quote
But they dont make €20 16-bit PCMCIA USB cards. I am 90% sure they dont make them at all.


How much they would cost I can only guess, but like I said before, if they were really made,I think it will be a lot cheaper than the subway. *Edit: Such a card would be pretty much useless for todays Laptop market and if some shop still sells them, it would surprise me if the price would be in the same league as the subway.*

Anyway I doubt the existence of such a card also (see my first reply to the OP in this thread).

I want to make clear that I like my subway card very much, and I recommend it to anyone who wants an USB solution for his Amiga.
I just think a PCMCIA solution would be nice also.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: MozzerFan on November 12, 2008, 10:57:35 PM
Quote
What about CF cards? They could probably be used too with an adapter.


PCMCIA-CF adapters already can be used on the amiga.
Check out Amigakit.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: LoadWB on November 12, 2008, 11:30:54 PM
In the absence of a real 16-bit PCMCIA USB host (although there are plenty the other way around, that is USB to host a 16-bit PCMCIA card,) something along this line might be the only way to do it:

Ratoc CFU2 (http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/CFU2U.html)

It seems like a bit of a PITA, though maybe not that much.  You need a PCMCIA->CF adapter, then this CF->USB1.1.  And note that it's still USB 1.1, but USB none the less.  Then there's the need for a driver.

I would think the Subway is the better, and least expensive, solution if you can find one.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: Crom00 on November 13, 2008, 12:49:06 AM
So can a clockport USB adapter like the Subway or a thoertical 16 bit PCMCIA use the USB soundcards out there?

What class CPU card do I need in the A1200?

Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: rkauer on November 13, 2008, 01:16:36 AM
 Yeah, 139USD! For this price you can (almost) buy a Subway!

 And don't forget you'll need also a USB hub, since the output connector is male!
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: alexh on November 13, 2008, 01:29:01 AM
Quote

LoadWB wrote:
Ratoc CFU2 (http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/products/CFU2U.html)

That card has a CFU950 in it designed by us.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: alexh on November 13, 2008, 01:31:31 AM
Quote

Crom00 wrote:
So can a clockport USB adapter like the Subway or a thoertical 16 bit PCMCIA use the USB soundcards out there?

AFAIK there are no class drivers for USB soundcards. If you want a sound card you should buy an Amiga sound card.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: Matt_H on November 13, 2008, 01:54:06 AM
Quote

alexh wrote:
Quote

Crom00 wrote:
So can a clockport USB adapter like the Subway or a thoertical 16 bit PCMCIA use the USB soundcards out there?

AFAIK there are no class drivers for USB soundcards. If you want a sound card you should buy an Amiga sound card.

Nope. Poseidon 4.x supports USB sound cards. Don't know which ones, though.
Title: Re: PCMCIA - USB
Post by: MozzerFan on November 13, 2008, 01:57:26 AM
Quote
AFAIK there are no class drivers for USB soundcards. If you want a sound card you should buy an Amiga sound card.


Poseidon 4.0 and up has a usb audio class which is used for usb soundcards. IIRC it was mentioned somewhere that USB soundcards could only be used in combination with the Deneb. Please correct me if I'm wrong.