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Does the PCI-Docking
Station need special drivers? Connection to Notebook PC's will require driver installation for Windows XP, available via our technical support page. No special drivers required for desktop link up via a spare PCI slot (interface card supplied), No changes will be required to your PCI card drivers. |
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Which operating systems are supported?
a) Windows 2000, Server 2003, XP, Vista and 7 b) Mac OS X (use version 10.4+ for the cardbus (pcmcia) interface) c) Red Hat Linux 2.6+ d) OS/2 is not supported. |
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Which type of Notebooks run with
the PCI-Docking Station? Most Notebooks manufactured after middle of 1999, though for the ExpressCard interface something much more recent, but it also depends on what processing power you need for your PCI-Card driver and operating/analysis software. | |
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Which type of PCI cards work in the Docking Stations?
It is impossible to test every PCI board, however if it works in a standard PC it should operate fine in a Docking Station this being just an extension of the same interface. It is however a good idea heck if the PCI card is designed for 5 volt or 3.3V I/O communication. If it can handle both then its no problem. Alternatively just let us know which voltage you need and we will configure the Docking Station power to suit. In terms of card compatibility it has been found that frame grabber (imaging) cards, can have memory allocation can conflict with the Notebook PC using the card-bus (pcmcia) interface option. Most Notebook PC's now have an the ExpressCard interface. | |
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How long is the interface cable between
PCI-Docking Station and Notebook? 1,0 metre as standard. A cable of 1,5 m is available on request and can be substituted for the standard one at time of order (at reduced cost) or ordered separately later. A greater length than 1,5m is not possible. |
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What about data transfer rate.
How fast is it? Data transfers very much dependant on the bandwidth of the interface to the PC, for the docking stations a number of interface cards options are available. Typically transfer speeds are in the region 25 to 100MBytes per second, with the PCI Express card interface being fastest. In this latter case the transfer limit is more due to the PCI bandwidth limits internal to the docking station, that is 132MByte/sec for 32bit/33MHz (single slot docking station), 255MByte/sec for 64bit/33MHz (two and three slot docking stations). These are theoretical maximums, any reduction in transfer will be from the installed PCI-e card, PC, its drivers and the application software. |
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It it possible to charge the notebook's
battery from the PCI-Docking Station? Sorry No. |
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Can I use the notebooks battery
to power the PCI-Docking Station? Sorry No. |
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Can the PCI-Docking Station be driven from
the power supply of a car? The PCI-Docking Station DOCK1PC-1H, 1F can be powered from vehicle +12V power lines. Use cable option DOCK1PCI-CAR |
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In which way is the driver installed?
Drivers are by download from here: http://magma.nfpondemand.com/swdrivers.html ,not platforms required the driver install. No CD is supplied but the manual does supply the installation instructions and Web address link too. |
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Are there restrictions concerning the
PCI bus to take care about? The PCI-Docking Station is designed according to "PCI-to-PCI Bridge Architecture Specification Revision 1.2" of "PCI Special Interest Group". The built-in PCI boards must share one IRQ and be plug and play for MS Windows. This should be no problem, because it is part of the PCI-specifications. |
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Are are restrictions concerning
notebooks to take care about? a) Only the new generation notebooks have the ExpressCard interface slot. We can cater 34 or 54mm widths. b) When using the pcmcia interface many notebooks are only able to use slot 0 with the PCI-Docking Station. If you have trouble try both slots. Not every notebooks has its slot 0 on the bottom of the case. c) Many notebooks only work correctly if the PCI-Docking Station is connected and powered up first. d) Many 'old' notebooks do not have an ACPI BIOS, these notebooks will not work with the PCI-Docking Station. Try to get a BIOS update from the notebook manufacturer. |
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How long can PCI boards (to built into
the PCI-Docking Station) be? The PCI-Docking Station series supports boards to up to full length (314mm). Some full-length boards come with a plastic support bracket which adds to their length and normally held with two screws, this will require removing. The Docking Station has its own support system. |
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I would like to
be sure it will work with my board, can I try out a unit?
Yes, you can return the unit within 14 days for any reason it proves unsuitable for a refund or exchange. Beyond this the standard warranty applies. We just ask that the unit is returned with original packing and is not damaged in any way. |
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