Quicker downloading from camera.

[Saphire]

Can someone tell me why its quicker to download direct from my 30D rather than from my card reader which is USB2. I only tried the camera download yesterday and its a lot faster. 1 min camera (direct) 5min by cardreader.

[Keith Reeder]

That's odd, but not all card readers are created equal, Christine - daft question, but are you sure it's a USB 2 card reader?

If it ain't, it'll only work at USB 1.1 speeds, even if you plug it into a USB 2 port.

I use a (built-in, but that shouldn't matter) USB 2 card reader, and it flies along.

[Saphire]

Keith it says underneath that it is USB 2. I have tried it direct in the plug at the back of the machine as well as a seperate powered usb socket but there is no change. When I did the wedding and tried to load a full card of 120 Raw file onto the machine it took an hour. Fortuntaely I had a spare card to use while I waited.

[Andrew Rowlands]

As Keith indicates Christine, not all USB 2.0 devices are equal.

It depends on the chipset in the device, sharing with other USB devices, software overheads ...

Then there are the sales ploys to consider:- "the phrase "USB 2.0" does not necessarily mean 480Mbps of throughput. USB 2.0 now has three different signaling rates: Low Speed (1.5Mbps), Full Speed (12Mbps), and Hi-Speed (480Mbps). The marketing and advertising departments of product manufacturers like to put the words "USB 2.0" on all of their product packages. This can be really deceptive since most consumers will see USB 2.0 and compare it to an older product with the USB 1.1 moniker and think "USB2 must be better than USB 1.1!" Naturally, the consumer is unaware of the difference between "Full Speed" and "High Speed" (this is something akin to the old naming snafu with floppy disks: does "double density" or "high density" hold more?)." From arstechnica.com (http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/flash.ars/1)

[Saphire]

How can I be certain I get the right one.

[Andrew Rowlands]

How can I be certain I get the right one.
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 is what you need (or a firewire reader) to attain decent transfer rates.

[Saphire]

Thanks Andrew but mine has that sign on it . I have been done. :eek!:

[Andrew Rowlands]

Thanks Andrew but mine has that sign on it . I have been done. :eek!:
Maybe not - it may be having problems with the PC it's connected to - can you test it on another USB 2.0 equipped computer?

[Saphire]

Andrew. I have just tested it on another Computer and its still slow.
I did try it in the port that I used to connect the camera directly because I know that one is working at speed but it was slow. I bought the 7-1 reader about 12 months ago for £15 but never even thought about the speed.

[Andrew Rowlands]

Andrew. I have just tested it on another Computer and its still slow.
I did try it in the port that I used to connect the camera directly because I know that one is working at speed but it was slow. I bought the 7-1 reader about 12 months ago for £15 but never even thought about the speed.
I guess you must have a duff one then Christine. Some of the chipsets inside the readers are better than others.

I've seen some comparisons on the 'net somewhere, I'll have a Google ...

[Saphire]

I have just looked at the instructions it does say it supports HI-speed 480mbps and is downwards compatible.

[Andrew Rowlands]

I have just looked at the instructions it does say it supports HI-speed 480mbps and is downwards compatible.
I checked my slow, cheapo "Hi Speed" logo'ed reader out last night Christine and it's probably using the same chipset as yours :( "Special note: The Alcor Micro AU6368 is most likely the slowest currently used controller" (http://www.hjreggel.net/cardspeed/info-readers.html) - I think that's mine ... yours too?

I used Usbid.exe (http://www.hjreggel.net/cardspeed/usbid.exe) from How to Identify your Card Reader (http://www.hjreggel.net/cardspeed/info-readerid.html) - it's best run from a CMD box, that way you can copy the output - if you paste or attach it as text here, I'll try to work out the chipset for you.

[Saphire]

Here is the picture of the settings

[Saphire]

I have the box in front of me and it doesn't give a makers name but it does give a part No M307G12680 made in Taiwan. I have search the net and see it anywhere.

[Andrew Rowlands]

I can't be device specific on this, Christine as I can't find an exact match.

It looks like our devices are from the same manufacturer (www.alcormicro.com), yours being an earlier chipset and on the original firmware. That suggests that it is almost a prototype ;) for the later models which work, apparently, much faster!

Compare my string:
"USBSTOR 2:
USB\Vid_058f&Pid_6362\058F312D81B Rev_0126"
with yours:
"USBSTOR 2:
USB\Vid_058f&Pid_6360\9203111 Rev_0100"

The "Vid_058f" being the vendor/makers code, "Pid_xxxx" is the device/chipset code and the "Rev_xxxx" is the Firmware revision level.

I think it's time to cut your losses, that device, like mine, is ok for 3Mb cameras using jpegs - you need to find something much faster - firewire may be the way to go? (as USB 2.0 seems to be a minefield to navigate).

Are you using a laptop or desktop? Do you have firewire already?

[Andrew Rowlands]

Hmm, I just found this on their site:(2002?) Dec Announced AU9360, USB 1.1 multi-slots reader controller chips , supports all the flash types cards in the current market, including Compact Flash (CF) card, Micro Drive (MD), Secure Digital (SD) card, Multimedia Card (MMC), Memory Stick (MS), Smart Media Card (SMC), also adds a selectable slot for NAND type flash to widen the application filed for customers.(my bold)

Looks like you've been hoodwinked, probably the fault of the OEM makers or the importers of the device, rather than the chipset makers - this device is USB 1.1

Mine, on the other hand, appears to be the first of the USB 2.0 devices from them:(2003?) Nov Announce AU6362 –USB2.0 9-in-1 Flash Memory Card Reader Control

Alcor Micro Corp History (http://www.alcormicro.com/info_02.htm).

[Saphire]

Hmm, I just found this on their site:(my bold)

Looks like you've been hoodwinked, probably the fault of the OEM makers or the importers of the device, rather than the chipset makers - this device is USB 1.1

Mine, on the other hand, appears to be the first of the USB 2.0 devices from them:

Alcor Micro Corp History (http://www.alcormicro.com/info_02.htm).
This is the box that it came in on the front it has the proper usb2 Logo

[Andrew Rowlands]

I didn't print the box. Christine ;), I'm just interpreting the details we've uncovered - I think it's a USB 1.1 device; all the evidence I've seen points to it.

Maybe your local Trading Standards people would be interested in taking this up?

[Saphire]

I think I will pass on taking it to trading standards. It was sometime last year when I got it and I can't remember from where. I have a feeling it was Asda.

[gmax]

I think I will pass on taking it to trading standards. It was sometime last year when I got it and I can't remember from where. I have a feeling it was Asda.

I saw new card readers All-in-One USB 2.0 (!) are on sale for as low as ca. 4£ (5.90€) ... perhaps that could be a way to save your time ... after having it returned to your dealer ;)

[Saphire]

Thanks Gmax. I think I would be doing a lot of checking before I part with any more money, I may go for firewire instead I have two sockets not used.

[Andrew Rowlands]

I saw new card readers All-in-One USB 2.0 (!) are on sale for as low as ca. 4£ (5.90€) ... perhaps that could be a way to save your time ... after having it returned to your dealer ;)
Maybe a way to waste more money too, Max - especially if they turn out to contain the same early chipsets that are so very slow.



Christine, T.S. won't get your money back but if you pass the details on to them (along with this page), they'll at least have some knowledge of what's happening and they may go out and test some of the cheaper devices - if they aren't USB 2.0, I'm sure they'll get them pulled from the shelves or remarked as USB 1.1 - it'll save other people a lot of stress in the future.

Alternatively, get a letter off to your local ASDA (if it was there) manager and head office, they may just give you a refund and pull any remaining stock.

[Andrew Rowlands]

The Host Interfaces table (http://www.hjreggel.net/cardspeed/index.html#speed-by-reader-x251.html) (2nd diagram below the main table) will give you an idea of the relative speeds attained by differing connection methods - note that the real USB 2.0 speed is slightly slower than the real Firewire/1394a speed, 37Mbs cf. 41Mbs.

This is tempered by chipset differences, as well as the performance of the flash memory card and throughput within the PC - if you must have the fastest combination, you need to do your homework ;)

[Saphire]

Andrew I will check when I go in to see if they have any. I have just tried reloading the CD that came with it but it won't load. It is an Alcor but not sure on version.

[Saphire]

I just found this at the end of the Fixustor file. The case is a frosted blue so I can't make out the number of the chip but I can just make out Alcor
[USBNTMAP.CopyList]
USBNTMAP.SYS

[Strings]
MSFT="Genesys"
MfgName="Genesys"
USB\VID_05E3&PID_0760.DeviceDesc = "Genesys USB Mass Storage Device"
USB\VID_04BF&PID_0135.DeviceDesc = "TDK MediaReader Dual"
USB\VID_05E3&PID_0927.DeviceDesc = "Genesys USB Mass Storage Device"
USB\VID_0781&PID_8888.DeviceDesc = "USB Mass Storage Device"
USBSTOR.SvcDesc = "USB Mass Storage Driver"

[Andrew Rowlands]

Mines a green case!

Good job you didn't load those Genesys drivers, Christine - lots of reports about them not working after a visit to Windows Update!

The USB/VID devices are the 'drive bays', if you like. The USBSTOR.svcDesc is how they are loaded by Windows - in your case, using the standard driver, not the supplied one.

Forget that one - write it off and start Googling for a fast replacement ;)

[Saphire]

Thanks Andrew I think you are right about ditching it. I Have been searching for something newer I may go for firewire I have two unused ports. If I do go for USB the Kingston 15-1 looks good and good price £15.99

[Saphire]

I have bought a new usb 2 Advent ADE-RDR-All reader. It seems to be fast but I don't how it compares to other makes it wasn't the cheapest, it was £20 it is supposed to read all current memory sticks on the market today. So hopefully it has the latest firmware installed.

[Andrew Rowlands]

As Datafab is the maker of the chipset in your new reader and they make a range of their own devices, it's likely to be based on one of these, Christine:- http://www.datafab.com/product/card_reader_writer_milti.htm

[Saphire]

Thanks Andrew, I couldn't find much info at all for advent apart from them being sold by PCworld. All I know is its fast, it only took 5min to download a full card instead of 40 min.

[Andrew Rowlands]

Thanks Andrew, I couldn't find much info at all for advent apart from them being sold by PCworld. All I know is its fast, it only took 5min to download a full card instead of 40 min.
So it's real Hi-speed USB now then? ;)

Pleased?