Looks like the DualAdapter is going back. With no fix reported for the near future, I’m getting this product back to the vendor while I can. Too bad, it was much less expensive to buy this adapter than a laptop with a PCMCIA slot. Oh well, another laptop dedicated to testing is not so bad either.
This DuelAdapter PCMCIA to ExpressCard adapter is not working with my HP notebook and 32-bit PCMCIA cards. The Windows XP SP2 system event log entry is “The device “Generic CardBus Controller” has detected a CardBus card in its slot, but the firmware on this system is not configured to allow the CardBus controller to be run in CardBus mode. The operating system will currently accept only 16-bit (R2) pc-cards on this controller.”
Per duel-systemsadapters.com support: “This is a known firmware issue with HP/Compaq notebooks. We are in the process of getting this issue resolved as soon as we can. When a solution is available you will be able to get information on it from the http://duel-systemsadapters.com/ web site.”
I have successfully tested older 16-bit PCMCIA cards: Dell TrueMobile 1150, Orinoco Gold, Cisco 340, Linksys Ethernet. But my 32-bit cards are not recognized by the system. Time to call HP and see whats up. Stay tuned.
My DuelAdapter PCMCIA to ExpressCard adapter arrived today. I’m hoping that this will allow me to use most of my old PCMCIA cards with my new laptop, which doesn’t have a PCMCIA card slot. I was going to buy an older laptop that still had a serial port and PCMCIA card slot for testing, but then discovered this not-so-small adapter. My initial testing of a Dell TrueMobile 1150 series card is working (hacked with the Orinoco Gold firmware), but not my Ubiquiti 300mW a/b/g card. You can get the TrueMobile 1150 cards on ebay cheap. I also have a few PCMCIA LAN cards and some other PCMCIA WiFi cards to test yet. I need to see if my software tools work with this device too. Stay tuned.
Here’s a recipe for bourbon baked beans that works for me. Basically, I just spice up some of my favorite unseasoned baked beans to keep is simple, but you could make your own baked beans. Be warned that it may be pretty spicy for some people.
- one medium onion that is minced or cut to a size of chunks of your liking
- two large cloves of garlic that is minced (or more if you’re a garlic fiend)
- bourbon, about 1/4 cup
- strong coffee, black, about 1/4 cup (set aside some from the morning brew)
- jalapeño mustard, about 1/4 cup
- chipotle Worcestershire sauce, about two tablespoons
- ground pepper, season to taste, about 1/2 teaspoon
- kosher salt, about one teaspoon
- hot Hungarian paprika, about one tablespoon
- diced ham, about one cup (I use left over ham from my ham shanks)
- baked beans, plain, five 14.5 oz cans (use your favorite unseasoned baked beans or make your own)
- bacon, six strips
- bacon, cooked crispy and crushed, about 1/4 cup (crispy bacon has a good flavor)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray some oil in a 9 x 13 inch ceramic baking dish (or equivalent size dish).
Mix all the ingredients in a big bowl, except the ham, beans, and bacon strips until blended. Then mix in the ham and beans; dump this into the baking dish. Arrange the bacon strips across the top.
Bake it for about one hour, or until the beans are thick and the bacon on top is crisp. (you can also place the dish beneath the broiler to crisp the bacon if an hour passes and the beans are done.)
I like to serve this with some grilled meat and corn on the cob.