CF-U1 SDHC slot

I'm looking at picking up a used Panasonic CF-U1 base model (1.33/16GB) to use as a field computer for comm work. The base model should work fine for what I do, which amounts to programming radios with various software programs via USB, and also using internet-based applications.

I do use a large number of radio software packages that are becoming increasingly bloated as newer models are introduced though, and I also keep a large amount of documentation and other files on my service computer as well. I am using a CF-29 now, but I would like something smaller since I am using less serial and more USB connections now.

I have seen conflicting information about whether or not an SDXC card will work in a SDHC card slot or not. I am aware that the CF-U1 base model has a SDHC card slot, which according to the SD standards should support SDXC since they have the same physical connections. I am also seeing that Windows XP supports SDXC as of Service Pack 2. What I am confused about is that I am seeing that SDXC cards can only be used in SDXC host devices, and that formatting an SDXC with FAT32 will render the card useless in other devices.

My question is whether or not I can utilize a 128GB SDXC card in the CF-U1 SDHC slot to expand the storage capacity. I won't be swapping the card between devices, it will be put in and left there.

Anyone have experience with this?

Thanks!

Jake

 

From what I read, and it is not from personal experience, formatting it as FAT32 is ok. Formatting it as exFAT32 will make it less compatible. With the of those cards might it be cheaper to increase the internal storage on the hard disk?

 

I wish it were that easy.... I believe the max I can upgrade to on the base model is a 32GB SSD, which is a a special Panasonic SSD that is designed specifically for that computer. I see the SSD kits pop up occasionally, but the SDXC card is a fraction of the cost and has about 4 times the storage space.

 

Try a good search in this forum, I believe it isn't a proprietary disk that is used, but a less common form that is made by toshiba.
On the sdcards, what I experienced is that the larger formats are less likely to be compatible. So a 32gb sdxc card might work fine but a 64 or 128 card didn't work. This was in a photo camera btw. I had the luck I could try it in a brick and mortar store. But my own limited experience and what I read online it's a hit/miss thing.

Edit: RuggedSollutions has a lot of experience with these drives irc.

 

Correct, I am doing alot with the U1's lately. The SSD can be upgrade to 64gb rather cheaply.
The MK1 goes to max 32gb SD-Card, the MK2 can handle the larger cards XC SD. PM me if you
have questions.

 

Thanks for the replies everyone.

RuggedSolutions, I will shoot you a PM as soon as I am able to. Apparently I need to make 2 more posts before I can do that. At any rate, that is good news that I can cheaply upgrade to a 64GB SSD, that is better than trying to combine a high-capacity SD card with the 16GB drive.

 

Well, for the sake of getting to 5 posts so that I can PM you....

 

Am I correct in assuming then that formatting a larger capacity SDXC (64GB or 128GB) as FAT32 and using it only with the U1 (Mark I) will not work?

 

I would think formatting it as FAT32 would make it acceptable. From what I've read is they might have a default formatting as something else and you might lose some features of the SDXC by using FAT32 but it should work if you format it that way. This is 100% theoretical.