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Author Topic: MSD8x/USB8x  (Read 19733 times)

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Offline Darl181

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #15 on: October 31, 2010, 06:36:34 pm »
So...how can one tell the difference between mini-A and mini-B?
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Offline FloppusMaximus

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #16 on: October 31, 2010, 06:46:17 pm »
In any USB system, there must be one "host" device controlling the bus at all times.  Normally, the host device is also the one that supplies power to the other devices.  So obviously, when you connect two devices, it's important for them to know which is the host.  This is what the A and B cables are about: a host has an A (or mini- or micro-A) socket, whereas a peripheral has either an A plug or a B (or mini- or micro-B) socket.  Standard USB cables always follow this rule (either an A plug on one end and a B plug on the other, or an A plug on one end and an A socket on the other.)  Unfortunately, some manufacturers sell non-standard cables that violate this rule (such as the mini-B to mini-B cable that LordConiupiter mentioned - although I can't imagine what the purpose of such a thing would be.)

This becomes somewhat more confusing with the TI-84+, which has a socket that can accept either a mini-A or a mini-B plug, and allows the calculator to detect which type of plug is connected.  So if you insert a mini-A cable, the calculator acts as a host, while if you insert a mini-B cable, the calculator acts as a peripheral.

(It's also true that USB8x doesn't support peripheral mode, but that's a separate issue.)

@Darl181: Mini-A plugs have white plastic inside, and a roundish overmold.  Mini-B plugs have black plastic inside, and a squarish overmold.  Also, most devices you encounter only have a mini-B socket, so a mini-A plug won't fit.
« Last Edit: October 31, 2010, 06:48:07 pm by FloppusMaximus »
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Offline Michael.3545

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #17 on: October 31, 2010, 09:19:09 pm »
Quote from: Darl181 on October 31, 2010, 01:39:00 am
Quote from: Michael.3545 on October 30, 2010, 11:30:52 pm
@Darl181: Are you having problems?  I almost made one, but I couldn't bring myself to buy a cord just to cut in half for USB ends.  I did the research though.
Yes, I've tried to make two.  Neither gave the slightest indication of working.  0C00 error.
drives I've tried are an old Dane-elec 84mb and a sandisk cruzer micro skin 128mb.
more details in this forum on Cemetech (the last three pages)

Did you connect the grounds?  Besides the 4 pins, the grounds also need to be connected.  If you want, I can do a connectivity check on my working one and give you the exact wiring info.
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Offline Darl181

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #18 on: November 01, 2010, 12:59:11 am »
I cut the two cables in half, spliced together the like colors, taped each separate cord to its matching-color cord (making sure the bare wires touched each other) with electrical tape, then sort of twisted together the shields (the bunch of bare wires on the outside).
The mini-A vs. mini-B thing seems to hit home, though.  So, it's like this pic?

Pic found on Google

So, I need to find a mini-A plug for USB8X/MSD8X to work.
I feel like I'm a lot closer to getting this stupid adapter made than I was five minutes ago...
« Last Edit: November 01, 2010, 01:01:01 am by Darl181 »
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Offline DJ Omnimaga

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #19 on: November 01, 2010, 01:09:34 am »
Woah I never noticed that difference O.o. I always picked a random USB to mini USB cable without checking then connected my calc to my computer, lol. I never had issues transferring stuff. :P
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Offline Darl181

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #20 on: November 01, 2010, 01:24:17 am »
Same here about the calc→PC connection, it's only now that I even know the difference. :P

I'd better check what cable I'm splicing together.
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Offline LordConiupiter

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #21 on: November 01, 2010, 03:54:35 am »
when you just only have a USB A to USB mini B cable, you could just connect pin x with pin 4, since that is the only difference between mini A an mini B. I did this to two of my cables, and they both work now! Here is some info about USB plugs: http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml
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Offline Darl181

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #22 on: November 01, 2010, 03:57:13 am »
I guess pin x goes to the shield?
*goes off to check and/or look for a mini-A cable
« Last Edit: November 01, 2010, 04:01:29 am by Darl181 »
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Offline LordConiupiter

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #23 on: November 01, 2010, 04:05:02 am »
yes, one of the pins x and 4 already goes off to the shield, and you can easily connect pin x and 4 by putting a small metal sheet behind the two pins!
« Last Edit: November 01, 2010, 04:05:09 am by LordConiupiter »
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Offline ztrumpet

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #24 on: November 01, 2010, 04:21:28 pm »
Ah, so that's the difference!  I've always wondered. :)

Thanks Floppus for enlightening me. ;D
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Offline Darl181

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #25 on: November 01, 2010, 06:54:10 pm »
Quote from: LordConiupiter on November 01, 2010, 04:05:02 am
small metal sheet
Would a piece of aluminum foil work?  And how did you make it stay in?
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Offline Darl181

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #26 on: November 16, 2010, 07:20:17 pm »
*bump*
What kind of small metal sheet would work?
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Offline thepenguin77

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #27 on: November 16, 2010, 07:30:29 pm »
Haha, I can't believe that I just did this. I made a usb mini A with a piece of aluminum foil. It doesn't fit all the way in the calculator (I probably used too much), but the calculator sees it as a mini A (bit 4 of port ($4D) is set).

1. Take a piece of aluminum foil 1 cm x 1 cm and smash it into a tiny ball.
2. Shove it into your mini B adapter.
3. Looking at it with the pins on the bottom, use something sharp (thumb tack) to smash it to the right side so that it connects the right most 2 pins.
4. Shove it in your calculator to smash it backwards.

Done!! To see if it really is a mini usb A, plug it in, turn the calc off, turn it back on. If there is a mega lag, You just made a mini usb A adapter!

This obviously isn't the best way to get an A adapter, but it works.
« Last Edit: July 02, 2011, 01:45:12 pm by thepenguin77 »
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Offline Netham45

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #28 on: November 16, 2010, 07:39:37 pm »
Quote from: thepenguin77 on November 16, 2010, 07:30:29 pm
This obviously isn't the best way to get an A adapter, but it works.
QFT.


The easiest way to tell if it's mini-a or mini-b is look at the shape on it. I wanna say that mini-A has a rounded little square thingey, whereas mini-b has a square little square thingey.

lol
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Offline MRide

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Re: MSD8x/USB8x
« Reply #29 on: November 16, 2010, 08:58:38 pm »
Quote from: Netham45 on November 16, 2010, 07:39:37 pm
The easiest way to tell if it's mini-a or mini-b is look at the shape on it. I wanna say that mini-A has a rounded little square thingey, whereas mini-b has a square little square thingey.
That's so descriptive. :P
But I know what you mean.
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