The Allegro CX comes with 128 MB of SDRAM and either 256 MB, 512 MB, or 1 GB of "Internal Solid State Storage". Did I read on this board or somewhere else that it is relatively easy to increase the internal storage memory on the CX? I seem to recall someone writing that the internal memory is of the Compact Flash type and it was no big deal to swap one for another.
I am pretty sure it has to go back to Juniper for this but not positive.
Best check with them at http://www.junipersys.com/, or better yet call them.
Big Al,
If you remove the back cover (backside and topside) you will see a slot that is made for the old PMCCIA memory card. You can buy an adapter that looks like the old PMCCIA card that can host a CF card. Just insert the CF card into the PMCCIA adapter and then put that in the card slot.
I do not know what size CF card would be the maximum. You would have to contact Juniper Systems to find that out from them. I did this in the past but I recall I used only a 32 Mb CF card. I think that is the largest size card I had at the time.
You are referring to external storage not internal storage. I am familiar with the PCMCIA slot, and I have the adapter you describe. Trouble is I want to use that slot for an Aircard data modem so I can connect to the Internet in the field. That would leave me only with internal memory, so I'd like to increase the internal memory as much as possible. Hope that makes sense.
Hi J.T. Thanks, yes I suspect that would be the official response. But I thought I had read somewhere about someone doing it on their own.
I found the thread!
Here it is:
[msg]171594[/msg]
I decided to take apart my Allegro CX for a first direct look at the situation.
There are eight large and two small phillips screws that hold the two halves of the Allegro CX together. After removing them, which by the way voids any manufacturers warranty that may exist (mine has long since expired), the two halves will separate, but are still connected, so to speak, by three ribbon cables that need to be carefully removed from the sockets into which they sit. Once that is done, you can separate the two halves completely. Keep in mind there is a gasket between the two halves and also the rings at the bottom of the device which will come loose. Be careful not to lose any parts!
Anyway, here is what I found. The back half of the device, viewed from the front. The internal memory is at the top center, the silvery rectangle, about where the center of the touchscreen is located.
Here is a close up view of the memory. You'll notice that there is a metal post at the bottom of the memory card, which is soldered to the board.
Here is a close up of the memory from the side, showing a pretty good view of the metal post.
Here is a view of the back side of the board to which the memory is connected. The metal post previously referred to goes through the circuit board and terminates in a short stub at the gold/yellow circle, near the bottom of the window opening, slightly to the left of center.
On the underside of the memory card, not visible in any of the photos above, is the code THNCF512MDG FTO L__B JAPAN 065TKK. The first part of this code, THNCF512MDG provides identification that this memory card was made by Toshiba. A data sheet for the THNCFxxxxDG series can be read at:
But, for convenience, here is an excerpt from that datasheet with a general description:
"The THNCFxxxxDG series CompactFlash™ card is a flash technology based on ATA interface flash memory card.
It is constructed with flash disk controller chip and NAND-type flash memory device. The CompactFlash™ card
operates in both 5-Volt and 3.3-Volt power supplies. It comes in capacity of 128, 256, 512MB and 1GB unformatted
for type-I card. Emulating IDE hard disk drives and being certified in accordance with the CompactFlash™
Certification Plan it is a perfect choice of solid-state mass-storage cards for battery backup handheld devices such as
Digital Camera, Audio Player, PDA, or industrial application, or the applications that require high environment
tolerance with high performance sustained write speed."
I will have to look into whether these cards are still available. I do not know whether they are the same as consumer grade CF cards. They appear to have been made for OEM purposes.
In any case, replacement of this card seems to be a relatively straightforward process. I believe that a pair of plier would be used to hold the metal post at the bottom of the card, while a solder pen is used to heat the solder which holds it in place. Upon melting, the metal post can be removed, and I believe the card would slide out of the socket toward the bottom. I believe the function of the metal post is solely to hold the card in place. Installation would be the reverse.
I might just give this a try.....but before doing so, I'm going to see what Juniper charges for this upgrade.
