From: Wim Lewis (wiml_at_omnigroup.com)
Date: 2002-03-20 20:26:48 UTC
On Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at 08:54 PM, Erik Walthinsen wrote:
> The VG-469 is an ISA-based 365-compatible controller, which is
> definitely not CardBus capable, and can't be put on the PCI bus. Not
> sure where you found that mentioned.
You're entirely right. Not sure where I got that either, especially since I linked to the VG-469's spec sheet.
> Very definitely not CardBus, because CardBus is PCI, and PCI can't go
> more than about 6" before the signal is totally destroyed.
Argh --- I knew that, but managed to forget. :-)
> Sorry to have to shoot down a lot of your suggestions, but I've been at
> this for a while and have learned (as you can see) how many pitfalls
> there are in finding these stupid things.
Not at all --- that's why I asked for advice, after all.
Looks like the Amtron is the best bet out of the ones I've found, though it's as expensive as the cards I'm putting in it.
Re the DWL-650 and similar ricoh-based boards: do you think there's much chance they could be modified to support 3.3v cards? From your description, it sounds like the PCB was laid out to support 3.3v, but a few components were left off and/or changed. I've successfully done small amounts of SMT rework before using hobbyist tools, so I'd be willing to risk destroying a PCB or two in experimentation. (Presumably the physical card could be compared to Ricoh's reference design?) It would have to be a pretty minor change to be worthwhile, I guess.
Wim.