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USB power conversion?

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First post, by Hamby

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I'm looking to use a portable wireless access point with my vintage laptop computer(s). Several of the one's I've seen that should do the job are powered via USB. But none of my laptops have USB.

I was wondering if it would be possible to make up a converter cable so it would draw power from, say a joystick/midi port, or serial/parallel ports, instead?

Reply 1 of 11, by Koltoroc

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Serial and parallel port don't have a 5V line, they provide no power. The gameport does, but I have no idea how much current it can provide. PS/2 and AT keyboard ports do as well, and they are limited to around 275mA. I guess PS/2 is your best bet, but frankly, since USB is required to support at least 500mA I wouldn't try.

Reply 2 of 11, by spiroyster

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Even if you managed to power it, how will you connect to it?

I've never heard of a laptop that doesn't support USB but does support wireless... unless I'm missing something here o.0

Reply 3 of 11, by Koltoroc

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16 bit PCMCIA W-Lan cards exist.

Reply 4 of 11, by spiroyster

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Why of course 😊

How about using a USB PCMCIA card and plugging both the portable access point and some wireless USB dongle into it? What kind of current can a PCMCIA slot draw?

Reply 5 of 11, by Koltoroc

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nice idea, but there are no 16 bit USB PCMCIA cards AFAIK.

Reply 6 of 11, by spiroyster

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My last pointless contribution to this thread would maybe perhaps suggest a USB powerbrick for the access point... it would save draining valuable laptop power, and probably last longer than the laptop battery anyhows 🤣

Reply 7 of 11, by luckybob

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+1 for the usb battery.

You can just grab a cheap one from your local gas station. Shouldn't cost more than a few dollars.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

Reply 8 of 11, by Koltoroc

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spiroyster wrote:

My last pointless contribution to this thread would maybe perhaps suggest a USB powerbrick for the access point... it would save draining valuable laptop power, and probably last longer than the laptop battery anyhows 🤣

Way to obvious. and Way too practical. 🤣

Reply 9 of 11, by luckybob

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Also, some phones with usb-c connectors will supply power. So you can just get an adapter cable for a few dollars, and do that.

It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.

Reply 10 of 11, by spiroyster

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Koltoroc wrote:
spiroyster wrote:

My last pointless contribution to this thread would maybe perhaps suggest a USB powerbrick for the access point... it would save draining valuable laptop power, and probably last longer than the laptop battery anyhows 🤣

Way to obvious. and Way too practical. 🤣

Agreed... we don't like that round 'ere

If it was me, I would fashon some sort of wearable PV array out of old calculator solar cells to look like some 80's reflective puffer jacket, and fix some 120mm fans to my shoulders... wire it all up, then I can keep fit by running really fast on a sunny day and have to ability check faceache while I'm at it. 🤣

Reply 11 of 11, by Hamby

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spiroyster wrote:

Even if you managed to power it, how will you connect to it?

I've never heard of a laptop that doesn't support USB but does support wireless... unless I'm missing something here o.0

spiroyster wrote:

Why of course 😊

How about using a USB PCMCIA card and plugging both the portable access point and some wireless USB dongle into it? What kind of current can a PCMCIA slot draw?

The laptop in question is a Toshiba T5200. I've put a network card in it, and plan to connect to a wireless access point via the access point's RJ-45 port. It doesn't have wireless, usb or PCMCIA. I'd just rather not have to drag a powerstrip around to plug both the computer and the access point into the wall.

The USB battery is the best solution, I guess.