Additional USB port on the mainboard

People with the 150 model and the SATA HD won't be able to use a right connector I don't think, the clearance between the HD and the solder points is pretty small and under a large plastic shield.

I heard the second port doesn't have power on it, but I wonder if the data connections are live? I'm using the first port to run a bluetooth dongle hidden in the 3G location.

My solution was to goto monoprice and get some very cheap (under $1) USB extension cables, cut them to length and just solder them directly to the MB. The plastic housing at the end of the cable was pretty thick too so I cut off half of the housing (very easy with a razor blade down the middle) and left the other half on to protect the motherboard and give it some tension to keep it from sliding back.

Works perfectly and gives me a usb port that I can upgrade the bluetooth dongle or replace it easily if needed. Was thinking of running one more cable and using the same power headers if the data headers are alive, the bluetooth dongle should have a low enough draw I could use a USB flash drive from the same power source. One thing that I wonder about is if that other port actually goes over to the left hand side USB port seeing as there's only one port there. If it did, then the data connection might be the same as the port on the left and I wouldn't want to mess with it then.

 

I used this method to install a mini-usb Bluetooth adapter. I had to put it to the side, because the harddrive covers up the contacts when its attached. Result, works great .

 

How easy is it to remove the hard drive on a150 to gain access to this port

 

just a matter of removing 2 screws and sliding out.

 

Thanks for the quick reply.i thought it may be more difficult as most of the guides i've seen show them lift the motherboard out still attached to the drive. will i have to remove to access the unused port

Thanks for the help

 

Well something strange has happened here.I,ve done the mod and connected my bluetooth to that usb port and its working fine.
Thing is the wireless lan switch is not working on the wireless lan anymore. When i flick the switch it does not turn off the wireless but on the screen i get a message 3G enabled flick the switch again 3G dissabled anyone got any ideas whats happened here .

 

There is not direct link between this extra USB port and wireless. Try to reinsert WiFi card...

 

wifi card is working just not turning off when i flick switch

 

That's why I suggest to reinsert card. I had this problem with one of AA1s I had. Also check the cable between motherboard and "sound card" with switch...

 

found the problem the switch is normally in the middle and you flick the switch to the left to enable it. When i put it back together after mod outside switch was stuck to the left of inner switch so i was switching it to the right and it was coming on screen 3g enabled. This must be a feature already built in for the 3g models flick switch to the right for control of 3g and to the left for control of wireless

 

Yes it is. Someone confirmed this couple of days ago in 3G modem related topic - this switch is also activating/deactivating WWAN card - if you have one installed...

 

i was wondering if there is a picture to picture guide of adding this hub. i know there is one for a 2 usb hub, but i havnt seen any one of the octopus mod with the HDD version..

anyone?? :roll:

 

Not much to do, simple project.

. Solder 4 wires to the pads of mobo and on hub pads
. Use double sided tape to secure the hub
. Solder 4 wires to whatever usb device you have

 

guys, im trying to install the touchscreen..you can fit it on the CN11 right???

 

Yes.

 

ok so i connected it to cn11 and when i test the controller it lights up when the pc starts but after the acer screen it turns off..xp wont see a new device...anyone know what to do???? do you have to manually activate it somehow?

 

ok so i connected it to cn11 and when i test the controller it lights up when the pc starts but after the acer screen it turns off..xp wont see a new device...anyone know what to do???? do you have to manually activate it somehow?[/quote:3hpemk0x]

Try moving to one of the side USB ports for testing.

 

hi
im interested in doing this mod, but for some reason none of the pics that are up are displaying for me lol
Can anyone provide me with pics please
regards

 

All you need is picture from one of the posts:

viewtopic.php?f=43&t=4236&start=20

This one is showing the location of this extra USB port.

 

you mean soldering it to one of my side usb ports? do you know the order of the soldering on them?

also if it works, does that mean that the usb port i will be using will be useless? also which way do i do the soldering on the existing usb port? upside down so i only see the dots of it or face up so i see the wires go into the daugherboard?