USB to PCMCIA and Expresscard: For 3G Data Cards
USB to PCMCIA has really one main use: to connect PCMCIA data cards and air cards with a computer without a PCMCIA slot, but one with USB ports (which the majority of computers today have).
What is 3G?
You've probably heard the term 3G a lot these days, it's pretty ubiquitous. It's a term used to describe a certain type of signal that comes off of your local cell towers. Typically in the US you'll run into two types of 3G signals: EV-DO and HSPA (sometimes referred to as HSDPA and HSUPA; these two are simply referring to the upload and download signals, HSPA refers to the communication method entirely), depending on which cell carrier you are with. I recently purchased a palm pre which is able to receive EV-DO through Sprint. I could pay more and get a PCMCIA card that receives the same signal and use it with my laptop. If my laptop doesn't have PCMCIA however, I'll have to get a USB to PCMCIA adapter.
USB to PCMCIA: Only for 3G Cards
Last seen here for $172.95
Most PCMCIA cards wouldn't work with with this adapter because it requires that your PCMCIA card (aka PC Cardbus) be USB based. The issue with PCMCIA and USB based cards is fundamentally an architectural one. PCMCIA was designed from the original PCI bus (that slot on the back of desktop computers), and under this architecture there are different data transfer protocols and speeds which we won't get into here. Most 3G cards are USB based, which basically means that the Cardbus interface on the card translates to a pinout of a USB interface. The USB to PCMCIA is not truly PCMCIA, but no matter, you'll probably only need it for your 3G card.
USB to Expresscard, Same Story
Last seen here for $28.95
The same goes for the USB to Expresscard as it does for the USB to PCMCIA. These days it might be more likely that you have an expresscard slot on your laptop, and your cellular provider likely has 3G expresscards in stock. These 3G cards are ok to use with USB to expresscard as expresscard 3G cards are USB based as well.
Another option is Expresscard to PCMCIA, and is commonly used for the similar applications (last seen for $94.95).
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