USB switch

[Joel Hammer]

I need to get a usb switch which performs an electrical disconnect,
similar to unplugging the USB device. 

I have a camera with a USB port. When the USB cable is plugged into the
camera, the camera works as a camera. But, when the cable is plugged
into the USB port on the computer, then the camera becomes simply a
storage device. I can't take any pictures until the USB cable is
unplugged from the computer. 

I bought a Belkin USB switch but as I feared, the switch is
intelligent. If I deselect the camera with the switch, the camera still
behaves just as a storage device.

I have tried to remove the USB drivers with rmod, but even with the
drivers for the USB port removed, the camera still remains simply a USB
storage device.

I have tried talking directly to several on line stores and manufacturers,
but their sales reps don't know anything technical.  And, they don't
get back to you with the information they promise.

So, I am getting desperate. Does anyone know of a device, aside from
something I might custom build, that would do what I need? 

Now that I think about it, how hard would it be to build something like
this? Building your own serial or parallel switch box is hard because
there are so many wires and they have to be carefully switched in a
certain sequence. Something to do with ground, whatever that is. But a
hot pluggable device might be easier. Does anybody know if building such
a switch box is easy?

Thanks,

Joel


Joel

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