RapidRoad
USB Host Adapter with Two USB Ports
RapidRoad is Individual Computers' answer to the high demand for USB products
for classic Amiga computers. RapidRoad is a dual-port USB2.0 High-speed
(480 MBit) host module. It comes with a licence for the most versatile
and compatible USB stack that exists for the Amiga: Poseidon by Chris Hodges.
With its dual-interface design, it can be used with almost all types of Amiga
computers. Requirements are:
- 68020 or higher processor
- 2.5MByte free fastmem (recommended: 4Mbytes)
- free clockport or X-Surf-100 networking card
- installed MUI (Magic User Interface -
 free download from Aminet)
- Amiga OS 3.0 or higher
- transfer method for large downloaded files to your Amiga (physical media not included)
RapidRoad for X-Surf-100
Installing RapidRoad on the dedicated expansion port of the
X-Surf 100 card
yields the highest possible performance: If the X-Surf-100 is operating in Z3 mode and a high-end accelerator
is being used, real-world transfer rates from USB mass-storage devices that exceed 7 Mbytes per second
can be expected.
The installation of RapidRoad on the X-Surf-100 is as easy as can be: Just plug the module to the
networking card and you are already done: The module will activate the two USB ports of the
X-Surf-100. Additional cables are not required.
Although this version has a physical clockport connector, it cannot be used on a clockport.
This version of RapidRoad will only work on the high-speed port of the X-Surf-100 networking
card.
RapidRoad for Amigas with Clockport
This version of RapidRoad comes with all required cables and transparent insulation,
all pre-assembled for use on a clockport of almost any Amiga or a clockport of a
Zorro card.
RapidRoad does not take power from the clockport. Instead, power is taken from the
floppy power connector of your Amiga, and the floppy drive can be connected to the
pass-through connector of RapidRoad. This will provide enough power for the two
USB ports that the clockport would not be able to provide.
RapidRoad will not perform very fast on the clockport, but it will perform reliably.
Extensive tests on multiple implementations of the clockport were done and numerous
fixes for possible timing glitches that many clockports of ageing Amiga computers
are showing were applied. Furthermore, everything to help you install the clockport
cable the right way was done: Connector and cable have a polarity notch, and there
is a circuit in place that keeps damage to a minimum in case the cable is connected
the wrong way around. A white LED will show proper connection roughly one second
after the computer has been switched on.
Should you decide to upgrade to an X-Surf-100 at a later time, this version will also
work on that card and it will perform just as fast as the X-Surf-100 version. The
transparent insulation can be removed and re-installed without damage, so you are
free to move this card between an X-Surf-100-equipped Amiga and a clockport-Amiga.
For operation of RapidRoad in an A600, we recommend the
A604(n) expansion. Using RapidRoad
with an A602 or A603 (also from Individual Computers) is possible, but it is
significantly slower and requires more space than using the A604 or A604n.
Double USB vs. Two Single USB
Double USB:
The USB ports are mounted on a low-profile metal bracket on a space-saving dual
USB port, which can be separated from the metal bracket for installation in a place
of your choice. The low-profile metal bracket will most likely not be interesting
for any Amiga user, but the choice of this space-saving double USB port will be
interesting for those users who want to install the USB ports in place of one of
the D-Sub connectors of the Amiga.
Two Single USB:
The USB ports are mounted on a standard metal bracket featuring two single USB
ports, which can be separated from the metal bracket for installation in a place
of your choice. This will give you the freedom of arranging the two ports next
to each other, but also above each other, or mounting the metal bracket in a
tower case.
To add an item to your order, please click the shopping cart icon
on the right hand side of the item's price.
The colour underneath the icon indicates the item's delivery status:
= not available, no restocking date confirmed
(Exchange rates are updated at least once every business day)
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