Mini SD Reader for Audiovox SMTP 5600

[Guano@GT]

I want to purchase a miniSD card but don't know how to use it with my smartphone. I have tried to buy a reader but all of them are usb. The Audiovox SMTP 5600 does not have usb capabilities. Were can I buy a mini SD reader for my phone??? tks

[Sven Johannsen]

The mini SD goes into the SMT5600, under the battery. If you want an external reader to hook to your PC to ease loading things onto the mini-SD, just get a regular USB SD reader. Mini-SD cards come with an adapter that allows them to fit in an SD slot.

[elijstar]

Ok I need a clarification here.

When I connect my phone to my computer through the USB cable that came with it, the transfer speeds are SO SLOW it's really tough.

So I bought a PCMCIA card reader that supports SD cards and tried to insert my MiniSD card in there with its adapter. But it didn't work. Then I exchanged that PCMCIA reader for another one at my local Fry's. It still didn't work.

I then called MacAlly (the distributor brand of one of the cards I bought) and asked them about MiniSD. They said that their card doesn't support MiniSD and they had no advice for me.

Now, I'm faced with the choice of either keeping on with the phone's USB cable, or buying an external multi-format card reader that connects to my laptop through USB.

My question is this: are the transfer speeds of the external multi-format readers any good? Is it the same speed if I just direct connect?

If the speeds are the same with external USB readers and the included USB phone cord I wouldn't bother. But surely there's a FAST way to get data onto these phones!

Regards,
Eli


The mini SD goes into the SMT5600, under the battery. If you want an external reader to hook to your PC to ease loading things onto the mini-SD, just get a regular USB SD reader. Mini-SD cards come with an adapter that allows them to fit in an SD slot.

[Mike Temporale]

Using an external USB (or even a PCMCIA card) is much faster than transfering data through the phone.

I have never come across the problem you are describing. It must be something to do with it being PCMCIA. I hve a USB key that takes SD cards. It has to be a good 2 years old, and it has no problems with a miniSD card (when using the miniSD adapter). :)

[elijstar]

Geez what a relief! Anybody got a favorite external reader then, or are they all similar?

Regards,
elijstar

Using an external USB (or even a PCMCIA card) is much faster than transfering data through the phone.

I have never come across the problem you are describing. It must be something to do with it being PCMCIA. I hve a USB key that takes SD cards. It has to be a good 2 years old, and it has no problems with a miniSD card (when using the miniSD adapter). :)

[Mike Temporale]

I don't have a favourite one, but I do prefer the ones that don't have a cable. It's just a little key that plugs directly in. I don't like the ones that have a cable so it can sit nicely on my desk. :P Small, and easy to carry is tops with me. I couldn't tell you who makes mine. It's small, and black, and has a triangle-ish shape. :lol:

[Sven Johannsen]

I can't imagine why your PCMCIA reader doesn't work. I don't have a PCMCIA reader, but do have a couple of CF sized SD readers that I stick in a PCMCIA adapter that work fine. (I can stick the CF sized reader in a PPC and sort of get two SD slots too, for copying, between them.

As far as favorites, you need to consider what your most oft used scenario is. Do you normally need something like the PC card thing. If so you should be able to find something that works. There are tons of straight USB ones. Unlike Mike, having short exension cable isn't all bad. Sometimes the USB socket arrangement can make getting a reader in there difficult.

I have one of these, http://www.pictureline.com/product.php?id=12246 , and one of these, http://www.pictureline.com/product.php?id=12230 . Both work fine with my mini-SDs in an SD adapter. The single slot one is very portable and i can just leave the mini to SD adapter in it for travel.

[elijstar]

Sven, dude, I had the same thought.

When I called technical support about why none of the PCMCIA cards I bought would work, they said that nearly all of them were designed three years ago by the same small group of companies, regardless of 'brand,' and that miniSD is newer and doesn't work.

LAME

I can't imagine why your PCMCIA reader doesn't work. I don't have a PCMCIA reader, but do have a couple of CF sized SD readers that I stick in a PCMCIA adapter that work fine. (I can stick the CF sized reader in a PPC and sort of get two SD slots too, for copying, between them.

[Sven Johannsen]

Sven, dude, I had the same thought.

When I called technical support about why none of the PCMCIA cards I bought would work, they said that nearly all of them were designed three years ago by the same small group of companies, regardless of 'brand,' and that miniSD is newer and doesn't work.

LAME

I can't imagine why your PCMCIA reader doesn't work. I don't have a PCMCIA reader, but do have a couple of CF sized SD readers that I stick in a PCMCIA adapter that work fine. (I can stick the CF sized reader in a PPC and sort of get two SD slots too, for copying, between them.

That's nuts. Does it work with standard SD cards? The mini-SD in the adapter shouldn't look any different. The adapter is just a passive device to get the size right AFAIK.

[elijstar]

It did work with normal cards. The phone tech representative made it sound like the cards were actually designed and manufactured before MiniSD existed as a standard, but I'm with you -- I thought it would work anyway.

So btw, I went and bought a tiny 12-in-one external USB 2.0 card reader and it works perfectly, with no drivers, and is very fast. WOOT.

Elijstar

Sven, dude, I had the same thought.

When I called technical support about why none of the PCMCIA cards I bought would work, they said that nearly all of them were designed three years ago by the same small group of companies, regardless of 'brand,' and that miniSD is newer and doesn't work.

LAME

I can't imagine why your PCMCIA reader doesn't work. I don't have a PCMCIA reader, but do have a couple of CF sized SD readers that I stick in a PCMCIA adapter that work fine. (I can stick the CF sized reader in a PPC and sort of get two SD slots too, for copying, between them.

That's nuts. Does it work with standard SD cards? The mini-SD in the adapter shouldn't look any different. The adapter is just a passive device to get the size right AFAIK.