Magma™  docking stations provide a way to use PCI boards, even full length, with a Notebook PC. This allows greater portability for operation out in the field, within vehicles, or simply as a way to move between different test rigs without having to carry around a heavy desktop PC. Furthermore this solution helps utilise the investment you may have already made in a Notebook / Laptop PC. Another use of the docking station is in expanding the number of PCI slotsin a standard PC, making access to the PCI cards in the expansion system easy. By insertion of different PCI boards it is possible to build a system with almost limit less functionality. So for example with an additional Spectrum PCI board component you could have a signal capture system, waveform generator or bus analyser. There is an additional driver provided with the Magma™  PCI docking station, however this is only required for Windows XP and to the installed card the docking station is essentially transparent, so works just like a card installation into a standard PC. Whatever PCI card type you have, regardless of manufacturer, we are well placed to provide an effective solution.

All docking stations have an integral cooling fan and models are available that take DC or AC supply. It is recommended that the DC power comes from a supply separate to the computer. A sealed recharge able lead-acid may be used and a cable is available as an option which terminates in a XLR-4 or vehicle cigarette type connector. Many automotive and electrical suppliers can provide a mating connector/cable for these, or we can provide this too. We can also supply without the card box enclosure for easier incorporation into your own designs.

Single slot Docking Station datasheet

This unit is for two PCI cards and has been specially designed to give extra room for two 3.5 inch or 2.5 inch hard drives (if so required). Benefit can be obtained using the special SATA hard drive controller slot, increasing data storage separate to the PC. The main two PCI slots can be used in the normal way for a variety of board types increasing the application possibilities, a stimulus and response system using being one of many examples.

Two slot Docking Station datasheet

For applications requiring three PCI cards we offer this unit, which still allows easy portability if used with a Notebook PC, or equally well gives plenty of extra expansion space for the desktop PC. Extra room is also provided for hard disk drives and the 2U high DOCK3PCI can be rack mounted if required. AC powered and efficiently cooled this versatile boasts a 550 watt power supply to allow high powered ½, ¾ and full-length PCI boards to be fitted.

Three slot Docking Station datasheet

Specifications overview

Interfaces to Notebook PC's	Interface to desktop and compact PC's
ExpressCard 34 or 54 mm widths. Interface card for the Expresscard slot of notebook PC's. Width 34mm will fit both 34 and 54mm wide slots however if your notebook PC has the wider 54mm slot the matching card will be physically better supported. Order codes: EC34 & EC54	Low profile single lane 250MByte/sec PCI-Express interface card option to slot inside a desktop or compact industrial PC. The external docking station allows easy access and exchange of cards, without the need to open your PC again. Ideal for development, test work or where the PC cannot take ¾ or full-length cards. Order code: DOCK-PCIe
PC-Card/Cardbus (pcmcia) with PCI Busmaster Support. Still available for older notebook PC's. Less common now than the ExpressCard interface above and slightly lower transfer bandwith but works well enough transferring data with many types of PCI cards Order code: CBH1F	PCI interface card (32 bit/33MHz) option for a desktop. Slots inside a desktop or compact industrial PC. The external docking station allows easy access and exchange of cards, without the need to open your PC again. Ideal for development, test work or where the PC cannot take ¾ or full-length cards. N.B. This is a full height card. Order code: PCIE1F68

OS compatibility:-Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7, Mac OS X (versions 10.4 +),
Also Windows Server 2003, 2008 and Redhat Linux 2.6+, Solaris (PCI and PCIe host cards only).

Answers to frequently asked questions about Docking Stations.