OESF Portables Forum
Everything Else => General Support and Discussion => Zaurus General Forums => Archived Forums => Hardware Mods => Topic started by: Capn_Fish on February 06, 2007, 07:59:03 am
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I was wondering if anybody thinks that a full-sized USB port would fit in the mini-USB port's place (with some removal of plastic)? From the picures here (http://www.iral.com/~albertr/linux/zaurus/wireless/) it looks like there is space, but I'm not sure.
Thoughts, ideas, criticism?
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Nobody has anything to say on this matter? Am I the only one who is irritated by the USB host cable?
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Nobody has anything to say on this matter? Am I the only one who is irritated by the USB host cable?
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I'm not sure what you would gain with a full size usb port, isn't the mini on the Z a dual port.
cycle_55
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I don't carry that cable with me everywhere because it has sharp edges and gets caught on things. This way, you could just plug that USB drive right into the Z without worrying about if you have the cable or not. Make the Z's USB more universal.
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I don't carry that cable with me everywhere because it has sharp edges and gets caught on things. This way, you could just plug that USB drive right into the Z without worrying about if you have the cable or not. Make the Z's USB more universal.
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cycle_55
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If you can get the USB kit mentioned here on the forums at a Walgreens, there is a host adapter that is only 1 7/8 inches long
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp...id=prod1507204# (http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100449&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod1507204#)
This kit is listed as $12.99
I have one and am planning on getting another one.
The host adapter is the second one from the right hand side. (Mini-A)
You could always find a miniature box or container for it, so it won't catch your your pocket or bag.
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If you can get the USB kit mentioned here on the forums at a Walgreens, there is a host adapter that is only 1 7/8 inches long
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp...id=prod1507204# (http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100449&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod1507204#)
This kit is listed as $12.99
I have one and am planning on getting another one.
The host adapter is the second one from the right hand side. (Mini-A)
You could always find a miniature box or container for it, so it won't catch your your pocket or bag.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153385\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
One thing about these... that I the connector sticks straight out!... there no flex... that is why I may replace mine with the cable version... it looks "irregular" with it in.
but it does the job :-)
Late
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If you can get the USB kit mentioned here on the forums at a Walgreens, there is a host adapter that is only 1 7/8 inches long
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp...id=prod1507204# (http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?CATID=100449&navAction=jump&navCount=1&id=prod1507204#)
This kit is listed as $12.99
I have one and am planning on getting another one.
The host adapter is the second one from the right hand side. (Mini-A)
You could always find a miniature box or container for it, so it won't catch your your pocket or bag.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=153385\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Still one more thing to carry, and I would worry aboyt damagint the port with the extra leverage.
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Well, my USB port seems to have died anyway, so...
EDIT: Not quite dead, but definitely not totally working either.
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Well, my USB port seems to have died anyway, so...
EDIT: Not quite dead, but definitely not totally working either.
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The plastic piece in mine is bent. Actually I think it's broken, just being held in by the traces. If anyone figures out if a full sized port will fit that would be pretty cool.
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Well, my USB port seems to have died anyway, so...
EDIT: Not quite dead, but definitely not totally working either.
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The plastic piece in mine is bent. Actually I think it's broken, just being held in by the traces. If anyone figures out if a full sized port will fit that would be pretty cool.
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Sorry to hear that your port is broken but from what I can see from the location of the mini port on my Z and the pictues of the interior I would have to say that it is very unlikely that a full size port would fit. At least it wouldn't fit in the location of the mini port.
cycle_55
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Funny, based off of the C1K pictures on albertr's site about adding wifi, it looks like there is a fair amount of space in the case. The full port isn't actually that big.
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Funny, based off of the C1K pictures on albertr's site about adding wifi, it looks like there is a fair amount of space in the case. The full port isn't actually that big.
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You might be able to shoehorn a full size in there but, how are you going to succesfully anchor the port to the Z? A USB port is a what I call a high traffic port because it has lots of plugging and unplugging going on. If it is not properly anchored to the Z it will shear itself off from the stresses.
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Funny, based off of the C1K pictures on albertr's site about adding wifi, it looks like there is a fair amount of space in the case. The full port isn't actually that big.
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i think a saw a photo somewhere on one of the japanese sites where someone actually stuffed a full usb port into their Zaurus. however, wouldn't it be better if you just get the retractable usb sync/charger cable and splice another cable onto it with a modified connector for mini a to create a three in one retractable cable for charging/usb client/usb host?
just an idea. such a cable would be great as it is small and can be easily carried and you don't need to carry 3 different cables around with you...
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I have a 12" usb extension that is very flexible.
I have it plugged into the usb host and there is not any strain at all on the usb port.
I would much rather carry a cable than take a chance on damaging the unit.
Also, from what I see, the only thing holding the usb port in place is the fact that it is connected to the pcb.
So how would a full sized port would withstand any more stress than the mini port?
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why not just use the right type of cable with mini on one end, full size on the other? just a thought.
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The main point here is that I don't like carrying a cable or adapter with me to use USB devices. I was thinking of epoxying the port to the case to make it withstand the stress, and I think this would work since I'm thinking of using wires to connect the port to the PCB (so I'll still be able to dismantle the Z).
As for the full-sized port taking less stress, it would simply have less leverage on it. Any adaptor or cable has to have a solid connector on the Z's end that creates a longer arm (the USB device), which can exert more force on the port with less exerted on the USB device.
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I have a 12" usb extension that is very flexible.
I have it plugged into the usb host and there is not any strain at all on the usb port.
I would much rather carry a cable than take a chance on damaging the unit.
Also, from what I see, the only thing holding the usb port in place is the fact that it is connected to the pcb.
So how would a full sized port would withstand any more stress than the mini port?
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Yes, the connector is soldered to the PCB by 4 anchors (highlighted in blue) as you can see in the attached jpg from albertr's site.
The full size USB connector is larger then the original so you will only be able to, if you are lucky, use two of the existing anchor holes on one side. That will cause the connector to flex too much and put too much pressure on the the usb leads to the PCB (which shouldn't be used for anchoring in the first place).
The full-size connector will eventually sheer off from the stress. To avoid that you would need to precision drill new anchor holes in the PCB to accomodate the the full-size connector but, since the PCB is quite dense on a Z you risk puncturing a trace and possibly FUBARing you Z. Not worth it in my opinion.
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actually i cut my case so that i could put 2 full sized connectors above the CF port, the only problem i had was that i couldnt get the thing to boot off of the CF card slot, it was wired to the internal microdrive slot (OZ). it just needed a bit more hacking and i could have got it working
a also had it set up for an antenna where the stylus was. must get back to finishing that now that i have a dremel to tidy things up a bit
now that i have hosting and a camera i should really start documenting some of my hacking
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now that i have hosting and a camera i should really start documenting some of my hacking
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please do!
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now that i have hosting and a camera i should really start documenting some of my hacking
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please do!
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I second that!
On a different note, it looks like the mini-! connecter on the Z has 5 pins while that normal one has 4. How would the the connection to the Z look (where would each of the normal USB pins connect in relation to where the mini-A pins were connected)?
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now that i have hosting and a camera i should really start documenting some of my hacking
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=154018\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
please do!
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I second that!
On a different note, it looks like the mini-! connecter on the Z has 5 pins while that normal one has 4. How would the the connection to the Z look (where would each of the normal USB pins connect in relation to where the mini-A pins were connected)?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=154063\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
That 5th pin tells the z what kind of connector you have plugged in.
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now that i have hosting and a camera i should really start documenting some of my hacking
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=154018\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
please do!
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=154021\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
I second that!
On a different note, it looks like the mini-! connecter on the Z has 5 pins while that normal one has 4. How would the the connection to the Z look (where would each of the normal USB pins connect in relation to where the mini-A pins were connected)?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=154063\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
That 5th pin tells the z what kind of connector you have plugged in.
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So I ignore it (connect pin 1 to pin 1, 2 to 2, etc.), as all things connected will be clients and it will be a host?
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actually i cut my case so that i could put 2 full sized connectors above the CF port
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Could you post some pictures, both external and internal (if possible)?
Thanks.