drdan
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2004
- Messages
- 549
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- Location
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Website
- thegoodsleepstore.com
I found out about USB bridges recently. They are devices which can copy files from one USB device to another with a push of a button without the use of a computer. This includes transferring files from a card reader (and directly from some cameras) to an external USB hard drive.
Since I already have an external hard drive this immediately presented as a solution for storage when on shoots away from the computer. Not as convenient as a portable digital storage device but at less than $40 compared to several hundred it seemed worth a try. Being able to "dump" my memory sticks into my external hard drive without a computer would be great.
I settled on a MacAlly Syncbox from Newegg. Although it took a couple of unanticipated steps to get it to work, it did what it said it would do.
I hooked a Sandisk USB 2.0 memory Stick reader to the "source" side of the small Syncbox and the cable from the USB hard drive to the "target" side. Pushed the button to activate and it started copying files.
Pros:
1. Small and lightweight (approx 2.5x2.5x.6 inches)
2. It works!
Cons:
1. It only copies, pictures on card must be deleted in camera after copying if you want to free the space on the card
2. Will not read or transfer to NTFS (I had to wipe and reformat my external hard drive to FAT32) A separate FAT32 partition should work.
3. Device itself is USB 1.1. It will work fine with USB 2.0 devices but only transfers at 1.1 speeds. A full 256MB card took 6-8 minutes to copy.
4. Although batteries in the Syncbox power the bridge and card reader, the external hard drive needs an AC power source. If away from an outlet an AC cigarette lighter adaptor for the car might work.
All in all, a neat little device if you already have an external hard drive, a USB enclosure for a hard drive or some other USB storage option.
Since I already have an external hard drive this immediately presented as a solution for storage when on shoots away from the computer. Not as convenient as a portable digital storage device but at less than $40 compared to several hundred it seemed worth a try. Being able to "dump" my memory sticks into my external hard drive without a computer would be great.
I settled on a MacAlly Syncbox from Newegg. Although it took a couple of unanticipated steps to get it to work, it did what it said it would do.
I hooked a Sandisk USB 2.0 memory Stick reader to the "source" side of the small Syncbox and the cable from the USB hard drive to the "target" side. Pushed the button to activate and it started copying files.
Pros:
1. Small and lightweight (approx 2.5x2.5x.6 inches)
2. It works!
Cons:
1. It only copies, pictures on card must be deleted in camera after copying if you want to free the space on the card
2. Will not read or transfer to NTFS (I had to wipe and reformat my external hard drive to FAT32) A separate FAT32 partition should work.
3. Device itself is USB 1.1. It will work fine with USB 2.0 devices but only transfers at 1.1 speeds. A full 256MB card took 6-8 minutes to copy.
4. Although batteries in the Syncbox power the bridge and card reader, the external hard drive needs an AC power source. If away from an outlet an AC cigarette lighter adaptor for the car might work.
All in all, a neat little device if you already have an external hard drive, a USB enclosure for a hard drive or some other USB storage option.