SL-6000 Expansion Adaptor

[Lichen]

I can't seem to come up with any details on the SL-6000 Expansion Adptor CE-JC2.  It's listed for sale a number of places, but no descriptions or specifications.   According to Amazon a fair number of people have purchased it.

Do you have one?  Do you like it?  So it has another CF slot, and comes with a second battery if I remember the pre-release description.  Are there any other inputs or outputs on it?  There was a thread mention of an issue with the software for moving between the two batteries, still a problem for anyone?

Thanks,
Lichen
(SL-6000L running Linux Apache MySQL Php)

[ybiC]

I bought an expansion adapter for my Zaurus SL-6000L and am quite happy with it, for my purposes anyways as a laptop-replacement.

It attaches to the back of the 6000, more or less doubling the bulk/weight of the Zaurus, and provides/includes a second full battery, a second serial port, and a second CF slot.  The microphone, speaker, and reset button are still fully accessible and functional.  I'm not sure if both serial ports are simultaneously usable, as they both seem to be addressed as /dev/ttyS0.  

My favorite benefit of the expansion adapter is extended run-time from the additional battery.  A close second is the flexibility provided by the second CF slot - I use a 128 MB SD card as additional system flash for installing programs to, the first CF slot for data storage on a 256 MB card, and the second CF slot for a 1GB card for oggv music files.

I've not done quantitative tests, but I sure *seem* to get much longer run-time with the second battery. I suspect that the battery monitor toolbar applet may mis-report status - it will say that the secondary battery is almost depleted, and appear to *not* switch over to the primary battery, shutting down instead.  But it seems that what may really be happening is that the Z has already depleted *both* batteries when it says that the secondary is gone.  But like I said, this is just my impression without any timed tests to confirm or deny.

cheers and God bless,
ybiC

[Gaines]

I can't take credit for this information as I read it on another user's post, but it is important to note that the second compact flash slot that you get with the expansion sleeve functions on the power from the expansion sleeve's battery. This means, if the battery in your expansion sleeve is drained then the second CF slot will NOT FUNCTION!

For me, this means my CF GPS card wont work (once I get it working that is). Not a big deal. Just don't have your programs installed to a card in that slot.

Oh yeah, and so far I think it's great. It makes the unit a good bit bulkier, but it was already too big to put in a pocket so a little more heft doesn't change much and I like the way it feels in my hand. I think it's important to note that this is a pretty permanent addon as it not only slides on the back and has a switch that locks it in place, but you're supposed to use two screws that come with it to secure it as well. I think the iPAQ has an expansion sleeve that just slides on and off. This does not seem to be meant to be removed on a regular basis.

There are also three tiny screw holes on the back of the expansion slot that almost look as if they are designed to mount something else to it. I was wondering to myself if I might be able to fashion a car mount for my PDA that makes use of these screw holes to secure it (such as using plastic pegs that just barely fit in the holes to allow the pda to be popped on and pulled off). Just a thought.

[xjqian]

One quick, maybe dumb, question.

Suppose I have something that needs to run non-stoppably for the life of three batteries. Can you change the battery in the expansion adaptor without affecting anything, except for the CF, etc on the adaptor?

[Gaines]

One quick, maybe dumb, question.

Suppose I have something that needs to run non-stoppably for the life of three batteries. Can you change the battery in the expansion adaptor without affecting anything, except for the CF, etc on the adaptor?

I believe you can do this by putting whatever needs to run non-stop on the PDA's original CF slot. The only battery you can get to easily is the one in the expansion sleeve and pulling it out should only affect the expansion sleeve CF slot.

So if someone can find a good deal on batteries and a standalone battery charger then you could theoretically use your PDA for 18 hours or more straight by swapping batteries in the sleeve...if you needed to.

[lardman]

I don't suppose there's a pin out of this expansion port anywhere?

Or even a decent photo perhaps?

I'm still wondering whether it'd be possible to create one of these for one of the other machines (assuming it's just a matter of connecting the CF pins differently or something like that ;-))

Si

[dsavard]

Since it slides in place in the back of the 6K, I suppose it covers the speaker and microphone in the back. Not they are extremely useful, but just to know, are they replicated on the sleeve's back?

If I understand it right, the sleeve comes with a battery, which explain the high price tag, otherwise, I wonder why it is so expensive?

[el_borak]

Since it slides in place in the back of the 6K, I suppose it covers the speaker and microphone in the back. Not they are extremely useful, but just to know, are they replicated on the sleeve's back?

Please read the 2nd post in this thread...

[dsavard]

Oups  

I apologize, I just remember I read the post few weeks ago and I was thinking it solved one of my question. I just forgot about it and didn't re-read the full thread before asking  .