Upgrading to external USB 2.0 - possible?

Dear Friends,

A quick question for the hardware gurus ... I would like to increase the effective capture rate from my Phillips ToUCam webcam from the current 5-10 fps to a much higher rate such as 25 or 30 fps.

I am limited by the built-in USB 1.1 port on my laptop. Is it possible to upgrade to USB 2.0 using some sort of external adapter and, if so, how is the connection made to my laptop? I do have IEEE-1394 (firewire) capability already built-in with my Dell laptop.

Alternatively, is there a way to feed the output from my webcam and its USB cable into my IEEE-1394 firewire port for presumably an enhanced throughput rate? I would assume some sort of USB-IEEE adapter would be needed which would go between the USB end of the webcam cable and the IEEE port of the laptop. I believe this scenario would be the most efficient (most direct and cheapest solution).

Any advice/leads would be very much appreciated.

Clear skies!

Anthony.

PS. I may have blown it by forgetting to include a UV-IR filter but the result is still not too bad: www.perseus.gr/Astro-Planet-Sat-20041107b.htm ....

Hi Anthony,

It should be possible to putchase a pcmcia to usb 2 card. Something like www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00027.../202-8760618-5916619

This will certainly allow you to use USB2 devices, but you would need to check the specifications of the card you are buying to see if you would get the full benefit of the throughput. I'ts possible that the pcmcia card operates slower than USB2 in which case you wont see much benefit.

Cheers,
~Al

Anthony,

You can upgrade your laptop to USB2 via a PCMCIA card. There are a number (that offer up to 4 ports) available at:
www.mrusb.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=...798931af80574024c5b3
Other PC component suppliers should stock similar units. Prices range between STG£20 - £40.

I'm not aware of any USB to Firewire adaptors (cheap ones anyway).

Cheers,

Gary.

anthony,
if your laptop supports cardbus you could use something like the link below:-
www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00008.../026-5949523-0090034
if your laptop is fairly new you should have no problems.
i have never seen a fireire/usb connector. the toucam appears only to be usb 1.1 so i don't think you would get any benefit.
stephen.

Anthony

The TouCam is a USB1.1 device so increasing your laptop or PC up to usb2 will NOT give you any higher frame rates. You would have to get a USB2 webcam to achieve higher frame rates without compression. Check out my Hints and Tips page for astrophotographers where there is a link to the specs on various webcams including usb2 and firewire.

www.eaas.co.uk/club_members/astrophotography_resources.html

Clear Skies


MarkDJ

Dear Friends,A quick question for the hardware gurus ... I would like to increase the effective capture rate from my Phillips ToUCam webcam from the current 5-10 fps to a much higher rate such as 25 or 30 fps. Anthony.

Anthony,

Just wondering why you want to increase the frame rate. Talking to Damian Peach at the weekend, he told me he uses 10 fps on the Moon and planets and even 5 fps at times on Saturn, and look at his images!

Gordon