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| Author | WTB: PCMCIA card cage for PowerBook 520/540 (Read 110713 times) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Knezzen
Administrator 512 MB  Posts: 608 Village idiot 
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on: December 18, 2022, 20:54
Hi! Looking to replace one of the batteries in my 540c with a PCMCIA (PC-Card) cage so I can use a WiFi adapter with it. Does anyone here have one laying around? 
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wove
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1024 MB  Posts: 1363
Reply #1 on: December 19, 2022, 04:06
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Boy, I wish you well on that. You maybe looking for something even more obscure than the color/greyscale card for the SE/30.
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Knezzen
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Administrator 512 MB Posts: 608 Village idiot
Reply #2 on: December 31, 2022, 15:11
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Yeah, but I can at least try. We'll se what comes up
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cballero
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1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #3 on: December 31, 2022, 16:49
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I know, right? It definitely doesn't hurt to ask! I wonder how hard it might be to build one from other parts of that period? I mean, couldn't the PCMCIA be held by a different setup somehow? It may involve some 3D printing and maybe some metal-shop work, but might it may be cheaper to improvise a cage instead? (of course I haven't the slightest on how hard or costly such an endeavor may be but I'm sure others may have tried it and possibly succeeded? It just sounds like a somewhat more feasible DIY project) Either that or look for a Blackbird for sale that has the cage even if the Powerbook is non-operational. This way you also get spare parts that can come handy in the future 
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wove
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1024 MB Posts: 1363
Reply #4 on: December 31, 2022, 16:53
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I do not have a 520 or 540 but I was intrigued enough to go looking for pictures and schematics. I did not find any schematics, but I di find a few somewhat poor pictures. It appears at least on the 540 the bay has the connector for the cage as part of the stock machine. I could not tell from the picture, but it looked like the connector was a plain PC card connector. Is it possible to simply and carefully reach inside the bay and just push a PC card into the connector? If so you could add a card without needing to have a cage. It might then be possible to just use some bits and bobs to shim it in place. Then perhaps fabricate something to allow one to insert and remove a card. I am something of what is called a "jack leg", meaning I am much more interested in just getting something I want to work working, than I am interested in pristine good looks.
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Neal_SE30
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256 MB Posts: 401 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #5 on: December 31, 2022, 22:57
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You got a picture of what it is? I keep finding all sort in my box of bits but that sounds obscure even my standards lol
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cballero
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1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #6 on: December 31, 2022, 23:23
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Just from memory, I think they retrofitted PCMCIA cards for use in those Powerbooks, but the tech was definitely compatible for use in them. More than likely, the cages used must have had a short run, hence why they are in such low supply anywhere since they were initially sold.
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Neal_SE30
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256 MB Posts: 401 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #7 on: January 01, 2023, 00:26
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Found some on ebay. Sent you a link Theo
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cballero
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1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #8 on: January 01, 2023, 00:48
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I looked for it too, Neal, but didn't locate any of them!  I was looking for any that looked like this (modern browser links): https://www.flickr.com/photos/kalleboo/51058962873/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/kalleboo/51058962783/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/kalleboo/51059683511/in/photostream/
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Neal_SE30
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256 MB Posts: 401 System 7 Newcomer!
Reply #9 on: January 01, 2023, 01:21
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I found some for g4 macs maybe they’ll fit. Ah just seen your picture’s yes none for that model :/ Ok it’s official name is PowerBook PCMCIA expansion module. I could only find an old listing ($299) but none currently for sale. Sorry i got excited seeing lots but all g4
Last Edit: January 01, 2023, 01:31 by Neal_SE30
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cballero
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1024 MB Posts: 1176 System 7, today and forever
Reply #10 on: January 01, 2023, 09:34
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No worries! I also got excited when you mentioned that you had actually found some, so I was hoping a little that I was off and had in some fashion missed all the ones you had found!
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68040
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512 MB Posts: 950 68k - thy kingdom come, thy will be done !
Reply #11 on: January 01, 2023, 11:48
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Oh, the wonderful bulk of days gone by.  Happy 2023 to you all.
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lilliputian
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64 MB Posts: 68 A Good Apple!
Reply #12 on: January 01, 2023, 20:24
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These things tend to go for a ridiculous amount, especially the Rev. C version, which is the one you need in order to use the WiFi cards. Given how much people out there seem to be willing to shell out for them, I regard them as a curiosity rather than a necessity, and so unless one happens to fall into my lap somehow, my own 540c will remain card cage-less!
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lilliputian
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64 MB Posts: 68 A Good Apple!
Reply #13 on: January 01, 2023, 20:28
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Original ("Rev. A") http://revontulet.org/2023/01/01/PB500-PCMCIA-Module-1-from-ebay-user-jpoliti.jpg Rev. B: http://revontulet.org/2023/01/01/PCMCIA-Card-Cage-RevB-5-from-Buyee-user-tdo1711.jpg Rev. C: http://revontulet.org/2023/01/01/Apple-Powerbook-5xx-PCMCIA-Expansion-Module-Rev-C-1-from-ebay-user-atomiciguana.jpg
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lilliputian
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64 MB Posts: 68 A Good Apple!
Reply #14 on: January 01, 2023, 20:37
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And here's a thread from 68kMLA where someone does a teardown of a Rev. C card cage (and later in the thread, Rev. B): https://68kmla.org/bb/index.php?threads/powerbook-500-series-pcmcia-module-rev-c-teardown.30745/
Last Edit: January 01, 2023, 20:40 by lilliputian
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