PCMCIA Multicard readers

Amiga1992 · 16 May 2008, 17:59

Hey all!

I am on a solid state frenzy

I've seen here some pretty cheap mlticard readers for the PCMCIA port. They take SD, MMC, CF, MS and others.

Since I have a bunch of MemorySticks Pro (and Duo), I was wondering if I could use them with this adapter in an Amiga, to transfer files. I don't want to buy yet another media (like another CF card).

Also, is tehre any idiotsproof guide to reading these davices? I presume you have to install a FAT32 file system, does this exist? (got to admit I was lazy to search on the forums but I am now going to

)

Thanks as always

Calgor · 16 May 2008, 19:28

I thought you could not use a cardbus adapter in the pcmcia slot, but then I was proved wrong by someone who showed one working.

But if it is pcmcia it should pretty much work. Cardbus may not. My multi adapter does not work, but my PCMCIA-CF adapter does.

adolescent · 16 May 2008, 19:45

If you give me a couple of days I will try to test my SanDisk card reader with the Amiga. I know the CF reader works because I have tried it, but I haven't tried the other adapter (SD/MMC, MS, SM card).

cane · 16 May 2008, 20:30

I know that this multireader posted here works - off course you'll understand shit, but just look at the pictures. I think that's a little gamble - maybe you'll find one that works, maybe not.
A while ago somebody here posted the adf with all software that you need to get it working. I can take a look for it, I have it somewhere. It basically adds card reader as new drive, and than you can read it normally as other drives.

Amiga1992 · 17 May 2008, 12:35

As far as I could tell the one I found was PCMCIA Type 2 and not Cardbus!
After looking at those pics, I think I found the same one, like this:

I probably will take the gamble and buy it, it wasn't expensive. I can't find it right now..hmm... let me take a look...

Yeah!
Look.
I can buy this:
http://www1.conrad.de/fas6/fh.php?fh...&fsm_insertkz=

Does this work? Can you help me out Cane?

Amiga1992 · 17 May 2008, 12:37

According to the user's manual of this device:

Features
• PCMCIA card of type II
• Slot for a memory card of the format SD, MMC, Memorystick or XD
• No drivers required (included in Windows)

So I take it this WOULD run in an Amiga.
I remember the price being in teh shop was a bit less, like 16 euro.
I will check this out, it would be awesome.

mfilos · 17 May 2008, 13:38

An PCMCIA to CF adapter (NOT CARDBUS since that doesn't work in Amiga's PCMCIA slot) that many of us use or used can run just fine with adaptors of CF to SD/MS etc etc etc.
I haven't tested it since I don't have CF to other cards adapters, but I don't find a reason why this couldn't work.

cane · 17 May 2008, 15:00

@Akira
The link that you posted doesn't work, something regarding Warenkorb - basket.

The reader on link that I posted works, but I just noticed that it's a little bit modified. It is 3.3V and it physically doesn't fit in Amiga PCMCIA slot (5V). But the writer of that post has simply chop the corner off the reader to make it fit in Amiga slot. After that it normally works with SD and MS DUO - the ones that are on picture. The different voltage makes no problems.
And this is copy/paste from wikipedia regarding voltage:
The original standard was defined for both 5 volt and 3.3 volt cards. The 3.3 V cards have a key on the side to protect them from being damaged by being put into a 5 V-only slot. Some cards and some slots operate at both voltages as needed.

Amiga1992 · 19 May 2008, 01:09

go to www.conrad.de , use SEARCH function, type PCMCIA, click on 17-IN-1 KARTENLESER PCMCIA

It's the same one as the one in the forum.

I guess I'll take the gamble

alexh · 19 May 2008, 03:03

I suspect they wont work... not without new drivers. The CFD driver that accesses CF cards via PCMCIA does only CF cards.

CF cards (if you didnt already know) are just IDE.

Non of the other cards mentioned are IDE (They are SPI or SDIO etc.).

Calgor · 19 May 2008, 09:57

Good point about the driver alexh. So maybe the best way is to use a PCMCIA-CF adapter, and from that a CF-multi format adapter. (Unless of course internally some of them convert them all to CF internally before feeding to PCMCIA slot.....)

I seem to remember some common drivers being fat95 for the filesystem and a .device file for the pcmcia slot (possibly the cfd package). Both available from aminet. There would be others too.

Jope · 19 May 2008, 11:32

I have a similar looking adapter (exactly the same blue sticker) that takes MMC/SD and it works.

The CF -> PCMCIA adapters are just connectors and wires, but the other adapters make the alien cards look like a CF in PCMCIA mode and most of them work fine.

http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=339453&postcount=61

I wrote a writeup about it and everything. Also cfd.lha's readme has a note that many kinds of flash -> pcmcia adapters will work.

I have a 48MB solid state PCMCIA card at home that I'm going to try some day.

cane · 19 May 2008, 11:47

@Akira
Yup, it seems like it indeed is the same card.

I don't know internal logic of those adapters, do they work using IDE and do multicard readers have different logic and transfers for different cards. But there is a interesting part of readme that comes with cf drivers from aminet:

Quote:

I got positive testing reports from CompactFlash, IBM MicroDrive,
Sony MemoryStick and - taadaa! - SmartMedia adapter :^))

So the drivers should work with other types of cards.

alexh · 19 May 2008, 11:49

If it works with MMC/SD then there must be a chip inside which converts to CF.

Amiga1992 · 19 May 2008, 13:33

I'll report back, I am going to get this as soon as I return to Berlin and tell you what happens.

Amiga1992 · 27 May 2008, 00:44

SUCCESS!!!

This baby is working and reading my Memory Sticks!
Tried with a Memory Stick PRO 1GB and a Memory Stick Pro DUO 4GB.
I had to file the dent so it would fit properly but that is ALL. CFD mounted the device using the FAT95 filesystem and all is dandy ;D

Fucking amazing! nice file transfers from now on

Seems like fat95 doesn't like certain long filenames (could be the '&' character) but everything besides that seems to be working fine. Also, I didn't get any volume name, just some numbers, but who cares!

You can buy this adapter easily in any CONRAD shop in Europe. 25 euros might sound a bit much but it's damn worth it. I'm now going to get a special SD card to boot from. I found some 2GB models for 9 euros being sold at Woolworth in Germany :O

Amiga1992 · 27 May 2008, 01:09

Pictures of the thing. You probably find it with another blister but chances are it probably is the same one as this (at least in conrad, it will be):

Amiga1992 · 27 May 2008, 02:04

Well quick test was too enthusiastic.
The Memory Stick Pro DUO is not being recognized by the system.
It is perhaps because it's 4GB, I don't have any other to test.

Will post more tests as I get cards!

Fingerlickin_B · 27 May 2008, 02:51

Following this thread with much interest!

Although I've been using CDRWs & ZIP drives a lot more than the PCMCIA slot lately, being able to use different types of cards would be great!

Now if only there were such a thing as a PCMCIA extension lead, all us towered 1200 types could use a backplane access method!

PZ.

Amiga1992 · 27 May 2008, 02:59

Perhaps you can try a PCMCIA to IDE converter that runs in a bay of your tower, like this one:

OK, it's not hotswappable or anything like that, but you certainly can mount the device with the FAT95 filesystem I reckon.

16 May 2008, 17:59	#1
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	PCMCIA Multicard readers Hey all! I am on a solid state frenzy I've seen here some pretty cheap mlticard readers for the PCMCIA port. They take SD, MMC, CF, MS and others. Since I have a bunch of MemorySticks Pro (and Duo), I was wondering if I could use them with this adapter in an Amiga, to transfer files. I don't want to buy yet another media (like another CF card). Also, is tehre any idiotsproof guide to reading these davices? I presume you have to install a FAT32 file system, does this exist? (got to admit I was lazy to search on the forums but I am now going to ) Thanks as always

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16 May 2008, 19:28	#2
Calgor (Amigas && Amigos)++ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Anrea Posts: 999	I thought you could not use a cardbus adapter in the pcmcia slot, but then I was proved wrong by someone who showed one working. But if it is pcmcia it should pretty much work. Cardbus may not. My multi adapter does not work, but my PCMCIA-CF adapter does.

16 May 2008, 19:45	#3
adolescent Powered by Motorola Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Age: 52 Posts: 1,065	If you give me a couple of days I will try to test my SanDisk card reader with the Amiga. I know the CF reader works because I have tried it, but I haven't tried the other adapter (SD/MMC, MS, SM card).

16 May 2008, 20:30	#4
cane Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: .hr Age: 45 Posts: 540	I know that this multireader posted here works - off course you'll understand shit, but just look at the pictures. I think that's a little gamble - maybe you'll find one that works, maybe not. A while ago somebody here posted the adf with all software that you need to get it working. I can take a look for it, I have it somewhere. It basically adds card reader as new drive, and than you can read it normally as other drives.

17 May 2008, 12:35	#5
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	As far as I could tell the one I found was PCMCIA Type 2 and not Cardbus! After looking at those pics, I think I found the same one, like this: I probably will take the gamble and buy it, it wasn't expensive. I can't find it right now..hmm... let me take a look... Yeah! Look. I can buy this: http://www1.conrad.de/fas6/fh.php?fh...&fsm_insertkz= Does this work? Can you help me out Cane?

17 May 2008, 12:37	#6
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	According to the user's manual of this device: Features • PCMCIA card of type II • Slot for a memory card of the format SD, MMC, Memorystick or XD • No drivers required (included in Windows) So I take it this WOULD run in an Amiga. I remember the price being in teh shop was a bit less, like 16 euro. I will check this out, it would be awesome.

17 May 2008, 13:38	#7
mfilos Paranoid Amigoid Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Athens/Greece Age: 45 Posts: 1,978	An PCMCIA to CF adapter (NOT CARDBUS since that doesn't work in Amiga's PCMCIA slot) that many of us use or used can run just fine with adaptors of CF to SD/MS etc etc etc. I haven't tested it since I don't have CF to other cards adapters, but I don't find a reason why this couldn't work.

17 May 2008, 15:00	#8
cane Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: .hr Age: 45 Posts: 540	@Akira The link that you posted doesn't work, something regarding Warenkorb - basket. The reader on link that I posted works, but I just noticed that it's a little bit modified. It is 3.3V and it physically doesn't fit in Amiga PCMCIA slot (5V). But the writer of that post has simply chop the corner off the reader to make it fit in Amiga slot. After that it normally works with SD and MS DUO - the ones that are on picture. The different voltage makes no problems. And this is copy/paste from wikipedia regarding voltage: The original standard was defined for both 5 volt and 3.3 volt cards. The 3.3 V cards have a key on the side to protect them from being damaged by being put into a 5 V-only slot. Some cards and some slots operate at both voltages as needed.

19 May 2008, 01:09	#9
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	go to www.conrad.de , use SEARCH function, type PCMCIA, click on 17-IN-1 KARTENLESER PCMCIA It's the same one as the one in the forum. I guess I'll take the gamble

19 May 2008, 03:03	#10
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,357	I suspect they wont work... not without new drivers. The CFD driver that accesses CF cards via PCMCIA does only CF cards. CF cards (if you didnt already know) are just IDE. Non of the other cards mentioned are IDE (They are SPI or SDIO etc.).

19 May 2008, 09:57	#11
Calgor (Amigas && Amigos)++ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Anrea Posts: 999	Good point about the driver alexh. So maybe the best way is to use a PCMCIA-CF adapter, and from that a CF-multi format adapter. (Unless of course internally some of them convert them all to CF internally before feeding to PCMCIA slot.....) I seem to remember some common drivers being fat95 for the filesystem and a .device file for the pcmcia slot (possibly the cfd package). Both available from aminet. There would be others too.

19 May 2008, 11:32	#12
Jope - Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Helsinki / Finland Age: 43 Posts: 9,865	I have a similar looking adapter (exactly the same blue sticker) that takes MMC/SD and it works. The CF -> PCMCIA adapters are just connectors and wires, but the other adapters make the alien cards look like a CF in PCMCIA mode and most of them work fine. http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=339453&postcount=61 I wrote a writeup about it and everything. Also cfd.lha's readme has a note that many kinds of flash -> pcmcia adapters will work. I have a 48MB solid state PCMCIA card at home that I'm going to try some day.

19 May 2008, 11:49	#14
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,357	If it works with MMC/SD then there must be a chip inside which converts to CF.

19 May 2008, 13:33	#15
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	I'll report back, I am going to get this as soon as I return to Berlin and tell you what happens.

27 May 2008, 00:44	#16
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	SUCCESS!!! This baby is working and reading my Memory Sticks! Tried with a Memory Stick PRO 1GB and a Memory Stick Pro DUO 4GB. I had to file the dent so it would fit properly but that is ALL. CFD mounted the device using the FAT95 filesystem and all is dandy ;D Fucking amazing! nice file transfers from now on Seems like fat95 doesn't like certain long filenames (could be the '&' character) but everything besides that seems to be working fine. Also, I didn't get any volume name, just some numbers, but who cares! You can buy this adapter easily in any CONRAD shop in Europe. 25 euros might sound a bit much but it's damn worth it. I'm now going to get a special SD card to boot from. I found some 2GB models for 9 euros being sold at Woolworth in Germany :O

27 May 2008, 01:09	#17
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	Pictures of the thing. You probably find it with another blister but chances are it probably is the same one as this (at least in conrad, it will be):

27 May 2008, 02:04	#18
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	Well quick test was too enthusiastic. The Memory Stick Pro DUO is not being recognized by the system. It is perhaps because it's 4GB, I don't have any other to test. Will post more tests as I get cards!

27 May 2008, 02:51	#19
Fingerlickin_B Amiga Nut Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Belco, Australia Posts: 2,242	Following this thread with much interest! Although I've been using CDRWs & ZIP drives a lot more than the PCMCIA slot lately, being able to use different types of cards would be great! Now if only there were such a thing as a PCMCIA extension lead, all us towered 1200 types could use a backplane access method! PZ.

27 May 2008, 02:59	#20
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,646	Perhaps you can try a PCMCIA to IDE converter that runs in a bay of your tower, like this one: OK, it's not hotswappable or anything like that, but you certainly can mount the device with the FAT95 filesystem I reckon.

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