USB switch?

[radargeek]

I had an idea when I was reading about people carrying USB sticks with different configurations/firmware and plugging them in as needed. If there was such a thing as a 1-to-2 (or 3 or 4) USB switch, that lets you flip a switch to select which port is active, you could have USB sticks with different configurations plugged into the switch, and when you want to switch, you just flip the switch.

Does such a thing exist? When I googled "USB switch" I saw many N-to-1 switches (share a single device across multiple computers), but nothing that goes the other way around (select multiple devices one at a time with a single port).

Maybe AL could develop one... or... me? ;)

A 4-pole N-throw selector switch could presumably work, if it can handle the USB signals without attenuation or noise. Even a 3-pole switch could work if you don't switch the ground connections.

[BestRadarDetectors]

I had an idea when I was reading about people carrying USB sticks with different configurations/firmware and plugging them in as needed. If there was such a thing as a 1-to-2 (or 3 or 4) USB switch, that lets you flip a switch to select which port is active, you could have USB sticks with different configurations plugged into the switch, and when you want to switch, you just flip the switch.

Does such a thing exist? When I googled "USB switch" I saw many N-to-1 switches (share a single device across multiple computers), but nothing that goes the other way around (select multiple devices one at a time with a single port).

Maybe AL could develop one... or... me? ;)

A 4-pole N-throw selector switch could presumably work, if it can handle the USB signals without attenuation or noise. Even a 3-pole switch could work if you don't switch the ground connections.

Your thinking to deep into this. I am sure AntiLaser will make it much easier in the future if you use the ALP Connect product to easily switch between modes. There are already several different ways to accomplish the same task. How many different setups could you possibly need besides Defense & Parking Mode? When the Hi-Fi module is released using the control module to switch through the settings will be very simple when its talking to you as you are pressing the buttons.

[awj223]

There is something almost as good (perhaps better) for those of us who carry smartphones (isn't that pretty much everyone nowadays?): http://store.sony.com/32gb-microvault-smartphone-usb-flash-drive-zid27-USM32SA1/B/cat-27-catid-All-Computers-Flash-Memory

It's a USB stick that lets you transfer files to/from your phone (via micro USB) and to/from a computer (via USB 2.0). You could put the parking configuration file on the USB stick, ready to go in case you get pulled over. Then, put the jamming config files on your smartphone. Once the cop leaves, put the USB stick in your smartphone and put the appropriate setup.alp file on it, then reprogram your ALP. This has the advantage that if the car gets searched, the jamming firmware isn't even on the USB stick, it's hidden in an obscure directory on your smartphone. You could even lock the smartphone so no one else can see what's on there.

Not sure if it works on iOS. It looks like Android, for once, has a slight advantage here. So iOS users get the ALP Connect module, Android users get the ability to reprogram the ALP using a smartphone.

The other cool think you could obviously do is update the ALP if a new firmware comes out, even when you're on a long road trip without a laptop :encouragement: