Subj : IDE To : BEN RITCHEY From : Roy J. Tellason Date : Sun May 22 2005 09:06 pm BEN RITCHEY wrote in a message to ROY J. TELLASON: BR> * An ongoing debate between Roy J. Tellason and Ben Ritchey rages BR> on ... BR>> I am using one of those IDE to USB I/F cables (works great) | RT> Where'd you get it? I think that this is probably just a bit more | RT> complicated than being a "cable", though. BR> Right you are, but only $15 on eBay . The circuitry to convert BR> the 40-pin IDE data to USB is built into the HD connector itself. BR> Several VLSI chips that I can see. BR>> and would like to add a remote LED "activity" light to the device. | RT> What kind of a device? BR> Well, I will have several Seagate IDE drives (only one now) mounted BR> in a homebrew external case I made and would like to know when BR> it/they are active. BR> The Power LED is simple, but data is another matter Seems to me I recall a lot of Seagate drives having a 2-pin connector right near the front of the drive for just that purpose. Have a close look, you might get lucky there. | RT> purpose you probably would want to give that signal some additional | RT> drive capability with a transistor (or a logic gate buffer or BR> Hmmm...or maybe a high speed op amp? Probably overkill, op amps tend to stress linearity and other characteristics that you really don't need. | RT> I don't have a URL handy, but there has to be a spec for the | RT> interface out there somewhere that should give some useful details. BR> Yes, I'm sure I could Google something, but it's always of interest BR> to know if others have done anything 1st hand, experience wise BR> . Last time I did anything like that it was to "extend" the light built into the front of an old ST225 (20M) drive so that I could put it in the front of the external HD box that hooked up to one of my CP/M boxes. :-) --- * Origin: TANSTAAFL BBS 717-838-8539 (1:270/615) .