USB Adaptor & Cables

[acmeanvil]

Nilch,
An I/O cable for a sl-5500/5600 will connect a 6000 to a pc without the cradle (at least in Win2K, WinXP and Fedora Linux).  The difference is that the connector in the bottom of a 6000 is turned 180degs from a 5500/5600 (the physical connector, not the connector pinout).  However, unlike a SerialIO thincable, you can't use the keyboard on the 6000 while it is plugged in.

[dfisher]

Hi there,

I am using a MiniSync cable from Boxwave.  They're not too expensive and you can find them here:

Boxwave

I use it for file transfer, sync and VNC.  They delivered in about 4 days to Canada.

Regards,
Doug

[nilch]

Thanx. Just ordered the BoxWave miniSYnc cable. Looks nice and carry-able too.

[RobbH]

As already mentioned, a G.E. USB 2.0 6-in-1 Cable Kit (stock number HO97920) is being sold in closeout stores.  I found it in a Big Lots store in Georgia, priced at $7.99.  It includes a 6-foot USB extension cable (male A to female A) and four molded adapters that can be attached to the cable.  One of the adapters is mini A to female A.  I've just used this adapter to attach an iriver h120 player to the 6K.  Using directions posted earlier in this thread, I was able to mount the h120 drive and read from it.

[gdog]

Cool thing about the Zthin cable from SerialIO is that it can be used to charge the Z, and the keyboard can be used while connected (assuming one connects it after the keyboard has been slid open first).  Now if only Sharp had not made the Z require a proprietary driver and software and instead just let it show up as a mass storage device....

[unplug]

Hey
I found a USB to mini A cable that works on a SL 6000.
You can plug USB peripherals such as keyboards, mice, externally powered USB hard drives and card readers into the Zaurus.

 http://www.dcables.com/catalog/1_8_meter_u...in__3239068.htm
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No, it does not work for SL 6000. They say it on the web site clearly. Too bad I notice that after I placed my order.  

[xjqian]

Cool thing about the Zthin cable from SerialIO is that it can be used to charge the Z, and the keyboard can be used while connected (assuming one connects it after the keyboard has been slid open first).

"miniSync simultaneously charges and synchronizes your handheld".

I don't see why you can't use keyboard with the miniSync as with the Zthin

Now if only Sharp had not made the Z require a proprietary driver and software and instead just let it show up as a mass storage device....
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The only solution I see is to carry a usb thumbdrive, as you probably would anyway  , with the sharp drivers loaded in it. Anybody got better solution?

[nilch]

Just got the Boxwave miniSync cable yesterday, fired it up today at office and everythiing works fine - File transfer (which is so damned slow) and VNC. It does also charge the Zaurus (so I can possibly keep the charger at home).
Note : it also seems to work fine thru my USB hub on my monitor.

I really do miss the USB storage feature that my C750 (Caco ROM) had. That was so nifty to tranfer files between my HDD and Zaurus. Allright the Zaurus file transfer utility does do the same, albeit you have to start off a new app (it does not work integrated in the File explorer as USB storage feature) - but its sooooo slow and flaky.

I tried the Qtopia Desktop (I dont really need sync) to just sync the Documents tab - so as to use that to tranfer files to the Zaurus, but this Qtopia desktop doesnt seem to have any Documents TAB sync at all - just the regular Addressbook, Calendar and Todo sync.

Well I guess we got to wait till we have a Cacko rom for the Zaurus 6000L too (but has Sharp released the source for the 6000L ?)

Last thought - will give the FTP method a try by installing an FTP server on the zaurus, that should be faster and stabler than the crazy prorietary Sharp file Transfer thingie.

[Tehas]

I'll second that comment about the Zaurus file transfer being slow.

 With my SL5600, I was able to mount the Zaurus (in the cradle/USB) as a remote drive from my Windows box.  It was much faster and you could drag and drop files betwen the PC and the Z.  In addition, since it was a logical drive, you could edit files right off of the Z's drive (for example fire up Excel to edit a worksheet stored on the Z's SD card.

THe bad news is that I can't figure out how to make it work on the 6000.  I've been back over what I thought I did on the 5600 but the 6000 does not work the same way.  I cannot mount the Z as a drive.  If I'm running on my WIFI network at home, I can see it and mount it after tweaking the Samba stuff.  But it does not work over the USB/Cradle at work.  

I do notice that when I put the 6000 in the cradle, the qtsamba program starts but I still cannot make the connection.

[offroadgeek]

I don't know if there is another way to order or get an hand on these iRiver adapters, but shipping and handling charges to send in Canada is 25.00$ for 5$ gizmo. A little bit pricey...  

hubcapboy: Don't you have a tranfer in Toronto or Montreal?
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did you ever get one of these?  if not, let me know and I'll ship one to you for free

[xjqian]

I'm very temped by the Boxwave minisync. But  wondering if there're any better options out there. Are the Zthin cable's transfer rate any faster then minisync?

I'm planning to include THIS battery adaptor for minisync if ever going to pull the trigger.

[dlee27]

Since 6000 came with Samba installed, I just use that to copy files to Zaurus. I don't think it can be any easier.

[guylhem]

Hello

Can you access the keyboard while charging with boxwaave minisync on a SL6000 ?
That would make it very interesting to me.

Regarding mass storage emulation, I have that working on my SL6000. I did create a separate 128 Mb partition on my 1 Gig SD card, which makes my Zaurus a big USB key :-) That's the preferred method - if you try to access/mount the partition from a PC and the Zaurus at the same time, it crashes often. Using /dev/mmcda2 is a nice workaround.

I also created a small script to switch between usb net/storage modes.

It's just a matter of taking your C750 scripts on your 6000 and using my kernel - I recommand you don't use the ffpe version (some ppl experience bugs) and that you create /etc/modules before starting, or you may experience SD/WIFI problems.

[nilch]

Can you access the keyboard while charging with boxwaave minisync on a SL6000 ?
That would make it very interesting to me.

I also created a small script to switch between usb net/storage modes.

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Sadly you cant use the internal keyboard on the 6000 while using the boxwave minisync. It just blocks the keyboard from sliding out by a little margin.

I would be inetrested in the USB NET/sorage switcher script and try your new kernel too for emulating the USB mass storage feature.

[xjqian]

Sadly you cant use the internal keyboard on the 6000 while using the boxwave minisync. It just blocks the keyboard from sliding out by a little margin.
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Can you pull out the cover of the keyboard first, then connect the cable? If not, is it possible to shave down that margin without damaging it? Last question, can I use the serial port on the side of Z6K sled with minisync? no access of internal keyboard certainly offsets the advantage of having this cable.