Adtron SCSI Compact Flash drive?

[snuci]

Has anyone used this compact flash SCSI card? It's an Adtron S25CF card. Picked it up recently as a "total shot in the dark" purchase to replace a SCSI hard drive. Here are some pics:



It's advertised as a 128MB version but the original Compact flash card is missing so I need to replace it. I'm going to wait until it arrives to try different sizes but there is very little on the Internet about it. I also purchased a 2.5" SCSI to 3.5" drive adapter so I will see if it can replace a drive. Since it is straight SCSI, I hope a Mac can boot from it. It seems similar to the CF PowerMonster II but it's much earlier (1999). There is also a 3.5" version of this but I could only find the 2.5" version.

Could be interesting or could be a dud. When I get it, I'll play around with it to see if it will work but I'm just wondering if anyone has used one or knows anything about them.

Thanks.

 

[Macdrone]

That would be awesome. Tell us how it goes please.

 

[Paralel]

Thanks a lot for posting this. It looks very promising. As such, I found a seller on e-bay and picked one up. The only difference with this one is that it has two compact flash interfaces on the bottom.

The seller said from his testing it acts just like a 2.5" SCSI drive with a CF card installed on it, so I would imagine it will work just fine in any Mac with a 2.5" interface (can't speak to any other inferfaces).

Here's the listing:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221289125799

I made an offer and he accepted. Might want to snap them up before they are all gone. All the rest on there are going for way more.

Now I just need to figure out what that one jumper on the board does... It is labeled at "TD". Termination Disconnect? Termination something? Not sure...

I also contacted the company that makes these, although it has changed quite a bit since then (Became SMART Storage Solutions, then got eaten by SanDisk), to try and find out what they are capable of (what is the maximum size Compact Flash they can take, anything special unusual about them, etc...)

 

[snuci]

Glad you found them Paralel,

I was wondering how long it would take for someone to find those Mine is the single CF card version that has a slightly newer firmware. I would have posted a link to the auction but I have no idea if these would work so I didn't want to point to something unless someone here has tried it or knows about it. I have downloaded the info sheet at home so I'll get it tonight and post it. TD = Terminate Disable (if I recall correctly). From the little I've read, these were military grade units that cost a lot of money a long time ago. I just don't know enough these so it still is "a shot in the dark" unless someone has used one.

Now I have a fellow explorer to check these out!

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

I'm definitely watching with interest, I've got a SCSI solution hungry Portable. ;D

 

[NJRoadfan]

Expect Powerbook 100 series test results within a week with this. I wouldn't be surprised if the CF slots were assigned LUNs similar to how those SCSI flash card readers work.

 

[snuci]

As promised, here's the S25CF spec sheet that I dug up through the Wayback Machine. It was originally a complete "drop in" solution with (I assume) different size CF cards to make different size drives. That's why I'm wondering if I can drop in a 2GB CF card, will it find it or is the firmware specific to the size.

S25CF_ProdSpec.zip

Being in Canada and using that God-awful eBay Global Shipping Program, you guys will get it before I do so best of luck and please post your results.

 

[NJRoadfan]

Keep in mind the time period these units came out. Back in 2000, CompactFlash cards in the gigabyte range were the largest available and VERY expensive.

 

[Paralel]

Looks like a maximum CF size of 2 GB. I wonder what it is for the two slot model like I ordered?

 

[snuci]

Looks like a maximum CF size of 2 GB. I wonder what it is for the two slot model like I ordered?

There could be a couple of possibilities. Either you can install 2 x 1GB CF cards and I can only install 1 or mine has a later revision to handle bigger 2 GB cards? Or better yet, they didn't bother with anything over 2GB because it was too expensive to even market? I don't know but it'll be an adventure finding out

 

[NJRoadfan]

I don't think there were CF cards larger than 2GB back in 2000. Assuming the hardware uses CF-IDE mode and the onboard firmware is modern enough, you should be good with cards up to 128GB (the 28bit LBA limit). Its doubtful something that early supports 48bit LBA, but its certainly worth a shot.

 

[Paralel]

Well, with HFS size limits, I'm happy with 2GB.

 

[techknight]

Wow... that is nuts. They all got bought up within 24 hours just by posting a link here. lol.

 

[olePigeon]

:lol: Mark me down as one of the buyers. Sent an offer for $50 and it was accepted. Less than half the price of those Aztec CF Monster cards. Couldn't pass it up. I have a bunch of ideas running through my head that could use a small, compact card like that.

... now I need to find something to sell so I can afford it.

 

[snuci]

Welcome to the club olePigeon!

I'm collecting various size CF cards while waiting for delivery to to see if they work. I have a 4GB but it's used in my Amiga 1200 so I can't try that one. I do have a 64, 128 and 512 MB card so far. Let's see what we can do with it.

 

[Paralel]

What all did everyone else pay that made an offer? I offered $35 and it was accepted.

 

[uniserver]

wow that is good deal.

 

[snuci]

Sure is! I paid $40 and thought I was low balling him to get to $50. Good job (if they work of course)!

 

[CC_333]

Any chance he'll get more?

c