Orange USB for Windows


Last updated: May 17, 2002

Index of Questions:

OrangeUSB Related

General Information about USB 2.0 Technology

Q: When I insert the OrangeUSB CardBus PC Card into my PC laptop nothing happens.

When you insert the OrangeUSB CardBus card into your PC Card slot, Windows should detect the card and attempt to install the proper software drivers. If this does not happen, check the following items:
1) Verify with your PC laptop manufacturer that your laptop’s PC Card slot is 32-bit CardBus compliant. If the PC Card slots are not 32-bit CardBus compliant, your laptop is not compatible with the OrangeUSB CardBus card.
2) Make sure the OrangeUSB CardBus power supply is plugged in and working.
3) If your laptop has two slots, make sure you have tried both.
4) Try it in a different computer. All else fails, contact Orange Micro for support@orangemicro.com .
Note: Type III, II or I refer to the PC Card's thickness. It does not confirm 32-bit CardBus Compliance.

Q: After installing an OrangeLink+, or OrangeUSB card into my computer, I receive an error message or Windows locks up on boot.

If you have tried all suggestions below and still have no success, the card may not be compatible with your system. Contact Orange Micro technical support for additional assistance at support@orangemicro.com .
1) Try moving the card to a different PCI slot.
2) Make sure you have all of the Windows updates and drivers from Microsoft and your computer manufacturer.
3) Make sure you have the latest BIOS revision installed for your system.
4) Try the card in a different computer to verify the card is functional

Q: In the Windows Device Manager the "NEC PCI to USB Open Host Controller" shows up with a yellow exclamation mark. Under the Device status section, the message "This device cannot start. (Code 10)" appears. How can I correct this?

Use the System BIOS configuration Utility to change the "Assign IRQ for USB" from Disabled to Enabled. This usually occurs if the system does not have built-in USB.

Q: Is USB 2.0 supported under Linux?

Orange Micro has no plans to develop and support Linux drivers for the OrangeUSB products. However, we will publish links to known Linux web sites that have drivers that support the OrangeUSB products under Linux. The Linux USB Project web site has members that are working on USB 2.0 (EHCI) support for Linux.

Q: What is USB 2.0?

USB 2.0 is an evolution of the USB standard. USB 2.0 handles up to 480 Mbps that creates opportunities for a new class of high performance outside-the-box peripherals. USB 2.0 provides a straightforward performance enhancement to USB 1.1 and offers forward and backward compatibility with USB 1.1 devices. USB 2.0 preserves USB 1.1 in the plug and play model, driver auto installation, and power management features. With use of the same cables and connectors, USB 2.0 is fully backward compatible with USB 1.1. For developer’s, no changes are required for applications and device drivers. USB 2.0 offers a compelling opportunity to migrate their USB peripherals to higher performance into the huge installed base of USB-capable PCs.

Q: What are the advantages of USB 2.0 over USB 1.1?

USB 2.0 offers 480Mbps of bandwidth, which are 40 times more bandwidth over USB 1.1 of 12Mbps for Full Speed devices or 1.5Mbps for Low Speed devices. High performance devices such as mass storage, broadband network connection, color printer and scanner can now be practically implemented in USB 2.0 for required bandwidth. Especially for printer and scanner type of application can take advantage of delivering data right on the time of demand which reduces the need of memory buffer inside the specific applications. Unlike in USB 1.1 and other buses, low and full speed devices will run at high speed rate of USB 2.0. This allows other devices on the bus to share the bus.

Q: What is meant by the slogan "USB 2.0 Ready"

The OrangeUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed board will operate out of the box as a fully compliant USB 1.1 host controller under Windows 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows 2000 and Windows Me. Once OrangeUSB 2.0 drivers are installed, users can connect USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 Hi-Speed peripherals to a USB 2.0 Hi-Speed port and get a data transfer rate of up to 480 Mbits/s (Hi-Speed). Current USB 1.1 peripherals will continue to have a data transfer rate of 12Mb/s (Full-Speed) and 1.5Mb/s (Low-Speed).

Q: Where are the USB 2.0 Hi-Speed Drivers?

Upon the initial shipment of the "USB 2.0 Ready" OrangeUSB product, the final version of the OrangeUSB host controller drivers were not complete. OrangeUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed Drivers are now available on our software updates page. Check back periodically for updates to these drivers. The OrangeUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed Drivers support Windows 98 SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Q: Will the OrangeUSB work with my Windows based system?

Windows 98SE, Windows Me, Windows 2000 and Windows XP is supported by OrangeUSB 2.0 drivers. Windows NT, Windows 95 do not have native support USB. Therefore will not be supported under USB 2.0.

Q: Can I use the USB 1.1 devices with others in USB 2.0 devices?

Yes. USB 2.0 is forward and backward compatible with USB 1.1. All USB 1.1 devices can be used interchangeably with USB 2.0 devices without affecting performance of either.

Q: Can I use the USB 2.0 devices with USB 1.1 host controller?

Yes. USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.1. You can use the USB 1.1 host controller with USB 2.0 devices. But you will not enjoy the 480Mbps benefit of the USB 2.0.

Q: Can I use the USB 1.1 cables in USB 2.0 environment?

Yes. USB 2.0 is backward compatible with USB 1.1 even down to cable and connectors. All cables and connectors in USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 are created equal. You can use the existing certified USB 1.1 cables to enjoy the full benefit of USB 2.0.

Q: Will USB 1.1 devices run faster in USB 2.0 environment?

No. USB 1.1 devices will not run at 480Mbps in USB 2.0 environment. But USB 1.1 devices will maintain better performance running through the OrangeUSB. This is due to brilliant architecture of multiple host controllers inside the OrangeUSB host controller chip. Users will be more productive with multiple USB 1.1 devices running together thru the OrangeUSB board.

Q: What are the advantages of the OrangeUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed board?

TThe OrangeUSB 2.0 Hi-Speed PCI board uses an NEC chipset that has 3 USB host controller engines on board. Two of the host controller engines handle USB 1.1 transactions. One of the host controller engines handle, USB 2.0 transactions.

With 5 USB connectors available on the board, data traffic is automatically routed to the proper host controller engine depending on the speed of the device that is plugged into it. This essentially creates 3 concurrent USB buses. These USB buses allow devices to run in a less congested traffic environment. This helps devices such as color printers, scanners, video cameras and mass storage devices, which require a high bandwidth, to work well together.

Q: What are the advantages of OrangeUSB 2.0 hub?

This OrangeUSB hub has 4 downstream ports allowing multiple USB devices to be connected upstream into an USB PC host. When USB 1.1 devices are plugged into the hub, the transaction translator inside the hub controller board translates all transactions from 12Mbps in Full Speed or 1.5Mbps in Low Speed into 480Mbps Hi-Speed domain. Essentially all traffic between hub and PC host will only be communicated in 480Mbps. This translation allows 480Mbps of USB 2.0 to be fully utilized.
 

 

 

 
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