Rugged compact flash card reader?

[Root Moose]

Has anyone seen a "ruggedized" USB CF/SD card flash reader in their travels?

Something with a rubber/plastic dongle or door to cover the opening where the card is inserted?

I could hack apart one of the 3.5" multi-readers but I haven't seen one with doors or covers for the slots. Dust is my main concern.

Getting pretty close to installing the computer into the dash of the XJ and want to hack some card readers into the remaining 0.5 DIN space left in the dash.

T!

 

[DrMoab]

sheesh....geeks with too much time on their hands.

 

[Root Moose]

sheesh....geeks with too much time on their hands.

LOL

I wish! It's only taken, like 14 months to get to this point.

 

[FitchVA]

i've got a multi-card reader with a cover over it. i'll take a pic when i get home. i think it's a lexar brand and i picked it up from wal-mart for little of nothing.

 

[Root Moose]

i've got a multi-card reader with a cover over it. i'll take a pic when i get home. i think it's a lexar brand and i picked it up from wal-mart for little of nothing.

Thanks, I'd appreciate that.

 

[5-90]

Any particular reason you can't "bag" it back into the dash, then just add the cover up front? You could use light-gage Plexi, Lexan, or aluminum, and add a light foam "gasket" - probably fit a latch to it as well.

I'm assuming you're doing this on a later model, since most XJ's I've seen use 1-DIN mounts (I think the 97-up uses 1-1/2-DIN, no?)

Either way, I'd like details when you're done! I'm kicking around designs for mounting mini-ITX-based PC's in my XJ's (Maps, MP3's, stuff like that. Probably tie in GPS as well - even though I don't really need it... Just something to do - as long as I'm going to have the vehicles torn to bits anyhow...)

5-90

 

[Root Moose]

Any particular reason you can't "bag" it back into the dash, then just add the cover up front? You could use light-gage Plexi, Lexan, or aluminum, and add a light foam "gasket" - probably fit a latch to it as well.

I'm assuming you're doing this on a later model, since most XJ's I've seen use 1-DIN mounts (I think the 97-up uses 1-1/2-DIN, no?)

Either way, I'd like details when you're done! I'm kicking around designs for mounting mini-ITX-based PC's in my XJ's (Maps, MP3's, stuff like that. Probably tie in GPS as well - even though I don't really need it... Just something to do - as long as I'm going to have the vehicles torn to bits anyhow...)

Good idea. One of my co-workers suggested something similar over coffee.

97+ is 1.5 DIN

I'm building more or less exactly what you are kicking around - including mini-ITX. I have some old screenshots on my web site. I hope to make a new update soon.

 

[ECKSJAY]

Good idea. One of my co-workers suggested something similar over coffee.

Probably wouldn't taste very good.

 

[5-90]

Dunno - it would probably dissolve in my coffee...

I thought about the "bag and lid" idea simply because it seemed simpler than looking for something that probably doesn't exist yet - and probably won't anytime soon, outside of MILSPEC.

If you're so keen on removable storage tho (any particular reason?) why not seal the electronics, and then pass a cable to a USB header in a safe location? This would allow you to use pretty much any card reader you'd like, or to just use a "thumbdrive" to move data back and forth.

I plan on simplifying things myself, by using 802.11b/g. Then, I can seal up everything... Might design an overhead to stash the thing, tho...

(See what happens when you make me think? Look what you've done! Now, I'll have to get out the notebooks on Project:REDSHIFT again...)

5-90

 

[xjcrawlr]

Hey 5-90, check this out;

http://store.karpc.com/item-Xenarc-MP-SC3-Barebone-P4-12V-Mini-PC--MP-SC3+Barebone


This sounds good enough and inexpesive enough that I might even be able to get one.

 

[5-90]

Interesting. If someone were to come up with a DIN-mount (1-1/2-DIN for you late-model guys) it would be really spiffy!

Given the workload I'd expect a car PC to have, it really don't need much - a mid-line PIII is probably overkill.

Still, I like the smaller cases (last time I looked was at logicsupply.com.) Probably have an easier time fabbing an overhead for these, tho...

<bookmark>

5-90

 

[Root Moose]

If I had my time over again I'd probably be prototyping on a Mac Mini instead of Mini-ITX (M10k-N). Better value.

The only advantage the Mini-ITX stuff is that it is somewhat more rugged and tolerant of temp extremes than most small kit out there.

FWIW, I'm finding the M10kN adequate for compute power (roughly scales to a P3-[7,8]00) BUT the prototyping is pretty slow at times when compiling new stuff like ALSA, kernels, etc.

Those turn-key systems are a good place to start. I've got way too much into my Mini-ITX system.

 

[Root Moose]

If you're so keen on removable storage tho (any particular reason?) why not seal the electronics, and then pass a cable to a USB header in a safe location? This would allow you to use pretty much any card reader you'd like, or to just use a "thumbdrive" to move data back and forth.

That is definitely the plan. I just like the idea of having ready access to both automounted MP3s and quick upload/clear of CF out of the camera without futzing around in the back of the Jeep (PC location). This way my wife can deal with it when we get back in the Jeep and I start getting us moving.

I plan on simplifying things myself, by using 802.11b/g. Then, I can seal up everything... Might design an overhead to stash the thing, tho...

Yeah, been thinking about WiFi as well, but more for leaching bandwidth (i.e. war-driving) to upload (i.e. dump camera) content to the home server. For regular maint. type stuff at home ethernet works well enough.

 

[Bent]

Getting pretty close to installing the computer into the dash of the XJ and want to hack some card readers into the remaining 0.5 DIN space left in the dash.

T!

HAL?

 

[FitchVA]

here ya go...

closed up...

next to a freebie cf card i got (for size comparison)...

"bay door" opened...

insertion :shhh: ...

pic of the label w/ info...

the part # is RW018 Rev C if you can't quite make it out from the pic.

other angles...
http://viewsfrommylens.com/Gallery/albums/album16/IMG_1935.jpg
http://viewsfrommylens.com/Gallery/albums/album16/IMG_1942.jpg
http://viewsfrommylens.com/Gallery/albums/album16/IMG_1944.jpg

i think it'll read 8 different types of memory. and the usb 2.0 makes it pretty nice when transferring pics off of my 2gig CF card.

HTH

 

[FitchVA]

just checked out their site,

http://www.lexarmedia.com/readers/multi.html

dang thing's up to 12 memory types!

The Lexar 12-in-1 reads all these media:
- CompactFlash (types 1 and 2)
- Smart Media
- Memory Stick
- Memory Stick Pro
- MultiMediaCard
- SD Card
- xD-Picture Card
- MicroDrive
- MS Duo
- MS PRO Duo
- miniSD
- RS MMC

 

[RTicUL8]

Make your own. Cover the sucker with this stuff: