PCMCIA/CF insertion & extraction

Supamax · 02 February 2009, 20:39

Hi,

I generally prefer to insert my PCMCIA/CF adapter (with the CF fitted) when my Amiga is off.
But sometimes it's useful or needed to hot-insert/extract it.

Ok, I tested that I can hot-insert/extract the PCMCIA card, no problems (the Amiga recognizes the change).

But my question/doubt is this one:
can I hot-insert/extract the CF into/from the PCMCIA adapter (leaving the adapter connected) ?

Or could this create hardware problems, immediately (burned IC's etc.) or later?

davideo · 02 February 2009, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

Hi,

I generally prefer to insert my PCMCIA/CF adapter (with the CF fitted) when my Amiga is off.
But sometimes it's useful or needed to hot-insert/extract it.

Ok, I tested that I can hot-insert/extract the PCMCIA card, no problems (the Amiga recognizes the change).

But my question/doubt is this one:
can I hot-insert/extract the CF into/from the PCMCIA adapter (leaving the adapter connected) ?

Or could this create hardware problems, immediately (burned IC's etc.) or later?

I've inserted it both ways - with and without the card without any problems.

Dave G

r0jaws · 02 February 2009, 20:44

I'm trying to think why you would hot swap the cards out of the adapter, surely its just as easy to pull out the adapter, change the card and replace it or am I missing the point?

Supamax · 02 February 2009, 21:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by r0jaws

I'm trying to think why you would hot swap the cards out of the adapter, surely its just as easy to pull out the adapter, change the card and replace it or am I missing the point?

Yes, it would seem easier to pull out the whole PCMCIA adapter

...
But I find it would be more confortable (less "hard" to extract/insert) to take out the CF only.
Is it safe to swap them directly in the connected PCMCIA adapter?

Quote:

Originally Posted by davideo

I've inserted it both ways - with and without the card without any problems.

Dave G

Did you do it often?
Does the Amiga recognize with no problems the inserted/extracted CF?

Amiga1992 · 02 February 2009, 22:47

I hotswap my SD cards all time. It works like a diskdrive. Amiga recognizes the insertion and extraction.

I wouldn't like to extract and reinsert the PCMCIA adapter all the time. it will actually cause a lot of wear and maybe damage to the PCMCIA port.

davideo · 02 February 2009, 23:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

Did you do it often?
Does the Amiga recognize with no problems the inserted/extracted CF?

Yes on a fairly regular basis. I find it easier to actually remove/refit the card rather than the whole converter. If you bend a pin in the converter - it's a lot easier to get a new converter than repair the 1200 port

Dave G

prowler · 03 February 2009, 00:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

I wouldn't like to extract and reinsert the PCMCIA adapter all the time. it will actually cause a lot of wear and maybe damage to the PCMCIA port.

This would be my concern too.

The PCMCIA port looks to have a very delicate pin array.

Supamax · 03 February 2009, 00:50

@ Akira, davideo and prowler

YES, EXACTLY!!!

That was my concern, too. That's why I opened the thread

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akira

I hotswap my SD cards all time. It works like a diskdrive. Amiga recognizes the insertion and extraction.

You wrote SD... but did you mean CF ?
Or do you really have a PCMCIA/SD adapter ?
Do you know a working model (eBay link, perhaps) ? I know there are IDE/SD adapters, but I didn't know of PCMCIA/SD, *well working* on the miggy

prowler · 03 February 2009, 00:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

@ Akira, davideo and prowler

YES, EXACTLY!!!

That was my concern, too. That's why I opened the thread

Toni Wilen has reported elsewhere that he has a couple of pins broken on the PCMCIA port of his only A1200. This is what alerted me to this problem.

r0jaws · 03 February 2009, 00:51

I see, then in that case, I tried it earlier and it didn't appear to have any ill effects.

Supamax · 03 February 2009, 01:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by r0jaws

I see, then in that case, I tried it earlier and it didn't appear to have any ill effects.

Ok then, if it's safe I'll leave the adapter inserted and swap the CF only

.

I'm very interested in a PCMCIA/SD adapter, though!

Will the A600/A1200 accept a maximum of 4GB SD?
(just asking, 4GB is a huuuge space for my miggy)

prowler · 03 February 2009, 01:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

I'm very interested in a PCMCIA/SD adapter, though!

Will the A600/A1200 accept a maximum of 4GB SD?
(just asking, 4GB is a huuuge space for my miggy)

Hi Supamax,

The maximum you should use is 2GB. This is because 4GB and higher capacity cards are SDHC, which is not compatible. This is the advice I got from BlueAchenar in this post:
http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=...&postcount=215
when I asked the same question.

prowler

Supamax · 03 February 2009, 01:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

The maximum you should use is 2GB. This is because 4GB and higher capacity cards are SDHC, which is not compatible.

Mmmm... 4GB SD (not SDHC) existed, and they can be bought even now (on eBay, for example).
If I could get an 8GB SD, would it be supported by the Amiga? I don't need all that space, obviously, but I would probably find 8Gb ones in stores (more common than 4GB), now... for a cheap price.

EDIT: perhaps not, I would stay on 4Gb ones.

Calgor · 03 February 2009, 01:39

I would think it should work with SDHC as long as you have a PCMCIA-SD adapter compatible with SDHC (good luck finding one?).

8GB SDs are generally not recommended as it is non-standard and many other adapters/card readers which support SDHC mostly are said not to support >4GB standard SD.

prowler · 03 February 2009, 01:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

Mmmm... 4GB SD (not SDHC) existed, and they can be bought even now (on eBay, for example).
If I could get an 8GB SD, would it be supported by the Amiga? I don't need all that space, obviously, but I would probably find 8Gb ones in stores (more common than 4GB), now... for a cheap price.

EDIT: perhaps not, I would stay on 4Gb ones.

Have another look above, mate. I've added a link to BlueAchenar's original post.

Supamax · 03 February 2009, 01:43

No no, SDHC would be wasted for the Amiga (sorry

).

Look here, 4GB SD-only can be easily found:
http://cgi.ebay.it/MEMORY-CARD-SECUR...1%7C240%3A1309

Another one:

http://cgi.ebay.it/SD-4GB-TAKEMS-4-G...3A1|240%3A1318

prowler · 03 February 2009, 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

No no, SDHC would be wasted for the Amiga (sorry

).

Look here, 4GB SD-only can be easily found:
http://cgi.ebay.it/MEMORY-CARD-SECUR...1%7C240%3A1309

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

Another one:

http://cgi.ebay.it/SD-4GB-TAKEMS-4-G...3A1|240%3A1318

I am suspicious of cards of this type being wrongly labelled.

Supamax · 03 February 2009, 01:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

I am suspicious of cards of this type being wrongly labelled.

The SD standard reached 4GB capacity way before the new SDHC was introduced

prowler · 03 February 2009, 01:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supamax

The SD standard reached 4GB capacity way before the new SDHC was introduced

Well, good luck with that, and let me know whether they work (4GB SD cards can be bought here in the UK too).

Supamax · 03 February 2009, 01:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by prowler

Well, good luck with that, and let me know whether they work (4GB SD cards can be bought here in the UK too).

Are you saying that all 4GB SD cards are fakes/SDHC/non standard?
But I perfectly remember 4GB SD cards *before* SDHC appeared.
Furthermore, my father has a 4GB SD card for his Nikon camera

. So I could try his one before buying another, he he!

Look here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secure_Digital_card

However, before thinking about buying one, were could I buy a good PCMCIA/SD adapter, preferably from those Hong Kongish eBay sellers

?

02 February 2009, 20:39	#1
Supamax Da Digger :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Monza, Italy Posts: 2,822	PCMCIA/CF insertion & extraction Hi, I generally prefer to insert my PCMCIA/CF adapter (with the CF fitted) when my Amiga is off. But sometimes it's useful or needed to hot-insert/extract it. Ok, I tested that I can hot-insert/extract the PCMCIA card, no problems (the Amiga recognizes the change). But my question/doubt is this one: can I hot-insert/extract the CF into/from the PCMCIA adapter (leaving the adapter connected) ? Or could this create hardware problems, immediately (burned IC's etc.) or later?

03 February 2009, 01:43	#16
Supamax Da Digger :) Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Monza, Italy Posts: 2,822	No no, SDHC would be wasted for the Amiga (sorry ). Look here, 4GB SD-only can be easily found: http://cgi.ebay.it/MEMORY-CARD-SECUR...1%7C240%3A1309 Another one: http://cgi.ebay.it/SD-4GB-TAKEMS-4-G...3A1\|240%3A1318 Last edited by Supamax; 03 February 2009 at 03:22. Reason: merged two posts into one

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02 February 2009, 20:44	#3
r0jaws Amibay fanboi Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire Age: 49 Posts: 154	I'm trying to think why you would hot swap the cards out of the adapter, surely its just as easy to pull out the adapter, change the card and replace it or am I missing the point?

02 February 2009, 22:47	#5
Amiga1992 Registered User Join Date: May 2001 Location: ? Posts: 19,644	I hotswap my SD cards all time. It works like a diskdrive. Amiga recognizes the insertion and extraction. I wouldn't like to extract and reinsert the PCMCIA adapter all the time. it will actually cause a lot of wear and maybe damage to the PCMCIA port.

03 February 2009, 00:51	#10
r0jaws Amibay fanboi Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Boston, Lincolnshire Age: 49 Posts: 154	I see, then in that case, I tried it earlier and it didn't appear to have any ill effects.

03 February 2009, 01:39	#14
Calgor (Amigas && Amigos)++ Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Anrea Posts: 999	I would think it should work with SDHC as long as you have a PCMCIA-SD adapter compatible with SDHC (good luck finding one?). 8GB SDs are generally not recommended as it is non-standard and many other adapters/card readers which support SDHC mostly are said not to support >4GB standard SD.

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