would it cause a problem for some traces to be longer than others in an ATA/IDE cable/connection?

[Michael]

Hi - I'm working on attaching a laptop CD-ROM to an Internet appliance (a
Virgin Webplayer). Anyways - to do this I have to make an adapter that
converts between the 50 pin CD-ROM connector to the 44 pin notebook hard
drive style connector. I'm making a dual sided circuit board to do this -
with one plug on each side of the board - directly across from each other.
Can you see this causing any interference problems? Also - most of the
traces will be the exact same length by design (including DD0-DD15, and
most everything else except for DMARQ, /DIOR, Spindle sync: cable select,
and IORDY) So hopefully you can picture what I'm saying - you can probably
see that this will be a very small little board (which is very important -
I don't have much space to work with) So - will this work? Thanks so much
for your help!!

Mike

 

[Ken Taylor]

Hi - I'm working on attaching a laptop CD-ROM to an Internet appliance (a
Virgin Webplayer). Anyways - to do this I have to make an adapter that
converts between the 50 pin CD-ROM connector to the 44 pin notebook hard
drive style connector. I'm making a dual sided circuit board to do this -
with one plug on each side of the board - directly across from each other.
Can you see this causing any interference problems? Also - most of the
traces will be the exact same length by design (including DD0-DD15, and
most everything else except for DMARQ, /DIOR, Spindle sync: cable select,
and IORDY) So hopefully you can picture what I'm saying - you can probably
see that this will be a very small little board (which is very important -
I don't have much space to work with) So - will this work? Thanks so much
for your help!!

Mike

You can buy a cable that'll do this for you. So, on that basis, if you're
careful it should be fine.

Ken

 

[Michael]

You can buy a cable that'll do this for you. So, on that basis, if
you're careful it should be fine.

Ken

Are you referring to something like this:
http://www.baber.com/baber/products/slimline_cd_adapter.htm - because
that's essentially what I'm making - except that mine will have a 44 pin
2mm pitch connector instead of a 40 pin 2.5mm pitch connector. Also my PCB
will be less than half the size of that one. If I were to use a product
like that - I'd then have to get/make a 40pin to 44 pin adapter - which
would result in an entirely too big assembly.

 

[Ken Taylor]

Are you referring to something like this:
http://www.baber.com/baber/products/slimline_cd_adapter.htm - because
that's essentially what I'm making - except that mine will have a 44 pin
2mm pitch connector instead of a 40 pin 2.5mm pitch connector. Also my PCB
will be less than half the size of that one. If I were to use a product
like that - I'd then have to get/make a 40pin to 44 pin adapter - which
would result in an entirely too big assembly.

Crikey! That's overpriced! I bought similar ones here in New Zealand for
about NZ$5 !! But they were a bit smaller, with the connectors on opposite
sides of the PCB to minimise space. They were just in the local hobbyist
shop.

Ken

 

[Michael]

Crikey! That's overpriced! I bought similar ones here in New Zealand
for about NZ$5 !! But they were a bit smaller, with the connectors on
opposite sides of the PCB to minimise space. They were just in the
local hobbyist shop.

Ken

I've seen them for less - but that was the first to pop up on google. But
I'm still unclear on one thing: should I be worried about this not working?
Or will some traces being say 2cm longer than other lines not cause a
problem? Thanks,

Mike

 

[Ken Taylor]

I've seen them for less - but that was the first to pop up on google. But
I'm still unclear on one thing: should I be worried about this not working?
Or will some traces being say 2cm longer than other lines not cause a
problem? Thanks,

Mike

If the line-swapping is contained within that small PCB it won't get
anywhere near 2cm - I personally wouldn't worry. I've used them and not had
problems.

Ken

 

[Jeff]

Crikey! That's overpriced! I bought similar ones here in New Zealand for
about NZ$5 !! But they were a bit smaller, with the connectors on opposite
sides of the PCB to minimise space. They were just in the local hobbyist
shop.

I built some - I couldn't wait for some to be shipped to me / find some at a
local store for a reasonable price. I made them from double sided FR4, a
power connector, a 44 pin connector salvaged from old laptops, and a 40 pin
connector. Took about an hour to lay out the PCB, and another 1/2 hour to
build each one (I made two, so I could copy laptop disks).