USB2.0 to Ultra SCSI Converter Use Ultra Scsi Device As USB2.0

I purchased this item after reading the manufacturer's claims that it would work with all USB-2 ports and almost all SCSI-50 devices. Following the instructions (what few there were) and installing their drivers, the unit was NEVER recognized by my any of my XP-3 boxes. I specifically purchased this to interface a SCSI VXA tape backup unit with my laptop. After trying for over 2 hours to get the device recognized by my system, I called the "Help Desk" number listed in the box. There is NO help from the manufacturer of this product. I got a voice recording indicating the help desk person was busy at the moment and to leave a message and they would call back....never did....didn't really expect them to!Thinking I may have received a faulty unit, I contacted Amazon, and requested an exchange. The folks at Amazon were GREAT! They forwarded me a new unit while the original unit was in transit back to their warehouse. When the new unit arrived, it performed exactly like the first. I again tried in vain to contact the manufacturer's help desk and go the same lame voice recording about the folks being busy and I should leave a message....never have received a call back.I sent the unit back to Amazon with my thanks and a request for a refund which they promptly issued. Had I purchased this product from anywhere except Amazon, I believe I would have been out $115 for a worthless piece of junk. I have been involved with the installation and configuration of computer equipment, hardware, and software for almost 15 years now so I would consider myself almost an expert, rarely needing to seek the assistance of any support personnel. But when I did, we have been able to resolve the issues within about 30 minutes because I have already been through all the testing, configuration changes, checks, etc. that I know will have to be done to narrow down the problem. Had there been someone available to answer the phone at their help desk or had someone returned my call, as promised, things may have turned out differently.As it stands, I cannot recommend this piece of hardware to anyone.

I have no real desire to use an old SCSI device on my PC, I just wanted to transfer some files from an obsolete computer. But since my old computer can't write CD-ROMs or handle USB or Ethernet ports and my new computer can't read floppies, and I had an external SCSI hard drive (back up) the old computer, this appeard to be a possible but expensive solution.Now for the details they never include in the sales info:According to the manual, it can only handle one device at a time. If you daisy chain several together, only the first will be implemented.Power comes from the terminating device and not all devices will work. You might need an external AC adapter (not provided). Fortunately, I did not.SCSI 1 and SCSI 2 devices use different connectors, so you might also need an adapter (I did).After you install the device driver for the converter, you will also need to install drivers for your SCSI device(s) from the internet. This should happen automatically when you reboot and plug in.In my case, I also needed to find and install an emulator to handle the file system (Gemexplore).In retrospect, it would have been easier and much less expensive to open a dial up account and FTP the files through my web site.

As advertised this item turns any old SCSI device into a new USB device. I used this (plus the optional adapter and MacDrive) to connect and use an old SyQuest Ez-Drive to my new Windows 7 laptop. A couple of things to remember, however:1. After installing the driver software, you need to restart to ensure the driver loads properly when you plug you SCSI device into the USB port.2. Ensure the disk is in the drive BEFORE you plug it into the USB port - otherwise, the disk will not be recognized. You can eject and load different disk after that, but you need a disk in the drive to start with.3. Do not use the "Remove Hardware" function unless you are through with the SCSI drive. If you try to plug it back in, the driver will no load - you have to restart.Except for these minor issues, the item is absolutely terrific!

I'm using this converter with Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and an external removable-media SCSI-1 drive (a Fujitsu DynaMO 640 magneto-optical drive). I'm also using a passive adaptor to change the connector. It worked the first time I tried it without installing any extra drivers. It's even better than the SCSI PCI card I used to have, as the Ratoc converter powers up with the external drive. This means I can turn on my external drive after I power on the computer and then have the SCSI disk show up, effectively making it hot-swapable (which standard SCSI is not). Note that your SCSI device must supply termination power for this to work. I haven't found any problems with computer sleep or inserting disks multiple times. In my setup at least, this converter works well.I also considered the  Ratoc Systems FR1SX FireWire to Ultra SCSI Converter (IEEE1394) , but I decided on this one as I have more USB ports than Firewire ports available and the external drive is so slow that the speed of the modern interface (USB vs. Firewire) doesn't matter.

On the 3rd day of operation on power up my computer failed to recognize the U2SCX. I contacted SysKey International Corp. I received a request for information from Shinji Kichise of Ratoc Systems in Santa Clara, California requesting additional information which I promptly supplied. Shinji and his engineering crew determined that the adapter was defective and that it would be replaced. I received the replacement today. The computer recognizes the new U2SCX. My next project is to get the drivers loaded into the computer and recognized by Windows Vista.The promptness of service from Ratoc cannot be faulted.