CF Card with USB Port????

Does anyone make a CF card with a USB port built in, or with a USB dongle? I have a Samsung A500 phone with unlimited PCS Vision and I want to use it as a modem for an Axim (it is USB only).

Is anyone currently hooking an A500 phone to their Axim?

[Tom61]

Does anyone make a CF card with a USB port built in, or with a USB dongle?

Nope. You're out of luck unless your phone has serial or IR connectivity.

[mialutz]

Lexar makes a card that you can hook a usb cable directly too. Meant to be used without a card reader. I am not sure if it will do what you want but they make it.

USB-Enabled CF FAQ's

Q:    What is a USB-enabled CompactFlash card?
A:    USB-enabled CompactFlashTM integrates USB functionality into the controller chip on the CompactFlash card. This patented technology enables Lexar Media to manufacture and produce a low-cost USB-connectivity solution for your Mac and PC platform. This solution only requires a USB-enabled CompactFlash card, a JumpShotTM cable, and a CD-ROM with optimized software drivers.

Q:    What is JumpShot TM ?
A:    JumpShot is a small, low-cost, and optimized USB cable used to connect your USB-enabled CompactFlash card with your PC or Mac system at speeds up to 800KB/sec.. Lexar Media is able to manufacture JumpShot at a low cost because the USB feature is integrated in the USB-enabled CompactFlash card, which eliminates extra components in the cable. JumpShot ONLY works with USB-enabled CompactFlash cards.

Q:    Will the USB-enabled CompactFlash card work in my digital camera?
A:    Yes. USB-enabled CompactFlash cards are guaranteed to work in all digital cameras plus it has the USB feature, which means it also works with the JumpShot cable.

Q:    What are the system requirements for JumpShot?
A:    Windows - Windows 98 operating system with USB support, 486 CPU or higher, one available USB port, 16MB or more RAM, 5MB of available hard-disk space, CD-ROM drive. Macintosh - Mac OS 8.5 or higher, one available USB port, 16MB or more RAM, 5MB of available hard-disk space, CD-ROM drive.

Q:    Will older Lexar Media CompactFlash cards without the USB logo work in my JumpShot cable?
A:    No. Only USB-enabled CompactFlash cards work with the JumpShot cable.

Q:    What systems are compatible with USB-enabled CompactFlash cards?
A: Lexar Media's USB-CompactFlash cards have been exhaustively tested and are compatible with digital cameras, notebook computers, card readers and other CompactFlash-based systems.

Q:    Are JumpShot cables compatible with all CompactFlash cards?
A:    Jumpshot cables will operate with only USB-enabled CompactFlash cards?

Q:    How can I tell if my card is a USB-enabled CompactFlash card?
A:    All USB-enabled CompactFlash cards have the "USB-enabled" logo clearly marked on the top side of the card.

Q:    What will happen if I insert a non-USB-enabled CompactFlash card in JumpShot ?
A:    The activity LED on the JumpShot cable will not turn on and the card will not be seen by the computer. This will not damage the non-USB-enabled CompactFlash card, JumpShot or the computer system in any way.  

[Mike C]

I remember just seeing another type that actually has a USB mini connector on the top edge, but it's probably also the device end of the cable, not the host. (Same as the jumpshot in other words)

I would definitely need a CF card that has the USB port for the PC side, not peripheral.

I wonder if there is some way to jerry-rig a connection? Even if I could, I'm not sure there would be a way to drive it.

[JakeRich]

Originally posted by pelikan3@Jan 19 2003, 06:10 PM
I would definitely need a CF card that has the USB port for the PC side, not peripheral.

I wonder if there is some way to jerry-rig a connection? Even if I could, I'm not sure there would be a way to drive it.

And therein lies the problem--driving it. USB is not like RS232 where all you have to do is to connect two devices and you have communications. USB has a controller end, called the USB Host, and a controlled end, call the USB Device. (you called them PC side and peripheral). The Device end has the square socket (peripheral), and the Host end has the flat socket (PC side). You cannot connect Host to Host or Device to Device in USB. It is exactly that reason that the USB cables have two different connectors.

I suspect your phone is a USB Device, designed to connect to the PC, which is always a USB Host. So to work with the Ax you would have to find some way to have the Ax be the Host end, and to my knowledge, there is nothing out there right now to allow that at all.

It was, indeed, my hope that the Axim could be used as a host (a desktop or a laptop can be, why not a PPC?). It was also my primary reason for considering the Axim over the HP iPAQ 1910.

[Tom61]

The only PDA with USB host that I know of is the Casio E-200. But, you'd have to find Windows CE/Pocket PC drivers for your phone, which might still put you out of luck.

[shaneincottondale]

I have a 256MB CF card with the mentioned mini-connector. It is the device end of a USB connection so it wouldn't work for what you're wanting to do. I was a bit miffed that the cable didnt come with it. Anyone know where I can get one?

shane