Question Adding more hardware to a USB Thumb Drive ?

[Oblivion77]

Dear all

Is it possible to add extra hardware to the already existing inside hardware of a thumb drive / usb-stick?

1. Can it only be done by the usb-stick manufacturer / when the usb-stick is manufactured?

2. Would it require soldering/ add the hardware to the circuit board?

3. Is it difficult / would it require exceptional skill?

Thank you

 

[Ralston18]

First reaction = No.

Second reaction = what exactly are you trying to do? What "hardware" do you want to add and why?

Yes - you will need exceptional soldering skills plus schematics for the thumb drive.

They are not made to be repaired or modified. Very small and soldering heat could damage other components.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

 

[CountMike]

Dear all

Is it possible to add extra hardware to the already existing inside hardware of a thumb drive / usb-stick?

1.
Can it only be done by the usb-stick manufacturer / when the usb-stick is manufactured?

2.
It would require to solder/ add the hardware to the circuit board?

3.
Is it difficult / would require exceptional skill?

Thank you

What hardware ? At most there is a control chip and a memory chip or 2, there's is just a minimal PCB and USB connector,

 

[USAFRet]

Please give us somewhat of a description of what this "extra hardware" might be.

 

[hotaru.hino]

1.
Can it only be done by the usb-stick manufacturer / when the usb-stick is manufactured?

Not necessarily.

2.
It would require to solder/ add the hardware to the circuit board?

Yes.

3.
Is it difficult / would require exceptional skill?

Yes. At the very minimum you need to be able to identify the microcontroller used and where the debug pins are to see if you even have an attempt at modifying it.

Then there's the matter of seeing which pins are available for use

After that, it's a matter of being able to write firmware to work with whatever hardware you want to add.

 

[Paperdoc]

Basically you would have to figure out what components are already there and their detailed abilities and limits. Then you have to figure how much can be added if anything. A complete re-design. The makers normally match the parts inside - things like speed of circuits, addressing capacity, etc. They also have some of those limits pre-coded in the memory chip. IF that info is in a UV PROM (that is, a Programmable-only Memory chip that can only be erased and re-written using intense UV light, OR if it is in a permanently-written chip, you cannot change that code. IF it is in a EEPROM (Electrically-erasable PROM) it is possible to re-program that IF you have the specialized equipment. BUT it is NOT normal to have that, since EEPROMS are more expensive and the maker does NOT plan to re-code the unit. (The exception here is units that CAN be "Updated" with a downloadable utility, but that's rare in a USB memeory stick and depends on exactly what the maker's pre-written update code adds to the original unit.)

So, unless you KNOW all these things and how to re-design, you will fail. Simply soldering a chip onto the internal board is VERY unlikely to work.

 

[BFG-9000]

 

[Oblivion77]

First reaction = No.

Second reaction = what exactly are you trying to do? What "hardware" do you want to add and why?

Yes - you will need exceptional soldering skills plus schematics for the thumb drive.

They are not made to be repaired or modified. Very small and soldering heat could damage other components.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

1.
Network adapter / hardware that can connect to the wifi

2.
Cellular adapter / hardware that can connect to cellular / mobile network

3.
Bluetooth adapter / hardware that can connect to bluetooth

Are any of the above possible?

Is there room inside the usb stick for anyone of the above?

I use something similar to this Adata thumb drive:

https://www.edn.com/a-deep-dive-inside-a-usb-flash-drive/

Thank you

 

[Oblivion77]

I use something similar to this Adata thumb drive:

https://www.edn.com/a-deep-dive-inside-a-usb-flash-drive/

Thank you

 

[Crazyy8]

None of the above is possible, just get whatever you want new from a website. Like, really really impossible.

 

[CountMike]

1.
Network adapter / hardware that can connect to the wifi

2.
Cellular adapter / hardware that can connect to cellular / mobile network

3.
Bluetooth adapter / hardware that can connect to bluetooth

Are any of the above possible?

Is there room inside the usb stick for anyone of the above?

I use something similar to this Adata thumb drive:
https://www.edn.com/a-deep-dive-inside-a-usb-flash-drive/

Thank you

For those all you can use is USB connector, nothing else. Everything needs own control chip different from USB memory, Even different memory chips must have different controllers. USB connector can be had for pennies a piece, no use even um-soldering that one as it usually melts when you try..

 

[USAFRet]

There are many many USB WiFi/BT adapters. Some of them very tiny.
$10-$20

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Nano-Bluetooth-Archer-T2UB/dp/B0BJ7XJ27X

But as you seem to be wanting to use something as a storage device AND WiFi at the same time.....that is much more difficult.

 

[JeffreyP55]

Dear all

Is it possible to add extra hardware to the already existing inside hardware of a thumb drive / usb-stick?

1. Can it only be done by the usb-stick manufacturer / when the usb-stick is manufactured?

2. Would it require soldering/ add the hardware to the circuit board?

3. Is it difficult / would it require exceptional skill?

Thank you

Thumb drives are cheap throw away drives. I would never store critical data on them. Buy one, they're cheap.

 

[Oblivion77]

None of the above is possible, just get whatever you want new from a website. Like, really really impossible.

"None of the above"

You mean these?
1.
Network adapter / hardware that can connect to the wifi
2.
Cellular adapter / hardware that can connect to cellular / mobile network
3.
Bluetooth adapter / hardware that can connect to bluetooth

Thank you

 

[Oblivion77]

There are many many USB WiFi/BT adapters. Some of them very tiny.
$10-$20

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Nano-Bluetooth-Archer-T2UB/dp/B0BJ7XJ27X

But as you seem to be wanting to use something as a storage device AND WiFi at the same time.....that is much more difficult.

Because of the inside parts of the USB drive? But also because of firmware?
What else makes it difficult?

Thank you

 

[USAFRet]

Is there room inside the usb stick for anyone of the above?

Each device type needs its own controller and PCB.

The board and controller for a storage device is not the same as the board and controller for a WiFi device.

So you'd need to put both functions on one board. Which, if you're asking "can it be done"...you personally can't do it.

Can it be done? Yes.
A few years ago, there was a device called Eye-Fi.
8-16GB storage an WiFi functionality built into a single SD card for a camera. I had a couple.

 

[USAFRet]

SanDisk used to sell such a device.
16GB + WiFi.

Amazon.com

Discontinued in 2021.

 

[Paperdoc]

What OP says he desires is to create a device connected via a USB connector to do many functions in one device. Obviously this would require a LOT of custom design and construction for the particular functions desired. The fact that OP ASKS whether this can be accomplished by simply soldering new components onto a "thumb drive" board shows clearly OP does NOT have any of the knowledge and skills required for this task.