Has anybody tried a solution to backup SD cards that doesn’t require a computer? Ideally something with a SD card reader that takes an NVMe M.2 SSD.
depending on what you mean by “requiring a computer” there is GitHub - outdoorbits/little-backup-box: This software turns a single-board computer into a versatile, pocket-sized backup solution. Especially for digital photography, this is the solution for backing up images and media files on mass storage devices when traveling or at events. Media content can be viewed and rated for the subsequent process.
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Does “no computer” rule out the obvious solution: Mobile phone plus sd reader?
There have been such devices like the “NEXTO DI”, but I think they are not produced anymore …
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Oh, I totally forgot about this one. But of course it’s much more sustainable than the commercial solutions. However, I’m still waiting for the pi zero with two USB3 ports …
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Big pocket because you need the card reader, the LBB, and the external drive plus a USB charger? So that’s 4 items…
I try to not be too shutter-happy, but raw+jpeg is about 30MB per shot so given the trip and what’s left in the phone, that could be a bit tight.
I wondered if a USB hub with SSD and card reader would work on a regular android phone, therefore I quickly tested it, with limited success though. I’ve used this UBS “hub” LEVIN USB C Hub 7-in-1 Type C Hub with 100W PD Power Supply, 4K UHD USB C to HDMI, 2 USB 3.0 Ports, SD/MicroSD/TF Card Reader, USB C Adapter Compatible for MacBook, iPad Pro, Laptops: Amazon.de: Computer & Accessories, which has an integrated SD card reader, in combination with a samsung T5 SSD. The good news is that both SD card and SSD are recognized via the hub. However, the typical android file managers seem to get confused once more than 1 USB device is attached. The OS recognizes 2 different devices, but the file managers can only access the one added last. So, that seems not to be the solution, unfortunately …
I know about this, but I haven’t tried it:
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Many cameras has 2 card slots and the possibility to copy between the cards. So my solution has been a larger (slower) SD card where I copy images to at the end of the day. When finish the backup card goes into suitcase/bag/hotel room safe/…
Next day can take that days folder/images the same way
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Hi Chris
Thanks for the tip, I tried the same with USB-C hub, and SD-Card and a USB Key in order to Backup SD-Card to the USB Key. I used CX Explorer file manager on a Pixel 6a phone and I was able to copy both JPG and RAW files. A cheap but efficient solution. I did’nt Try with a large > 1TB USB Drive.
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Could you please check what the google stock file manager shows you? I wonder if it’s only my phone that only shows one drive at a time in the file manager or if it is the file manager app …
Chris
You’re right, with the same setup Goggle Files App provide access to only one USB peripheral. Try to use an alternate File Manger such as “Cx File Explorer” available for free from Google Play AppStore
Hope this helps
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OK, thanks for testing. Here I’m out because I don’t have (and want) a google account. All file managers from F-Droid I checked did not see the 2nd drive. However, I will maybe add a feature request to one of these …
My main camera has indeed two slots so that could be a solution, but the 2nd camera only has one.
Now, given that they have the functionality to copy files between two cards, and there is a USB-C connector on the camera in which someone could plug-in an external drive, why don’t manufacturers combine the two to have an easy backup (my R7 doesn’t react if I plug some mass storage in the USB connector).
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In the meantime, I reported the android file manager issue at my favorite android file manager: File Manager only shows the latest connected USB drive in case several devices were plugged in · Issue #151 · FossifyOrg/File-Manager · GitHub.
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Success.
Eventually found a 8-in-1 USB hub that can hold a M.2 SSD and has a built-in SD card reader (Orico OM28P-G2), to which I added the required SSD (1TB Kingston)
Connected to my phone, with an adequate explorer (Cx File Explorer) I can see both storage devices (HUB is the label on the SSD):
The performance is a rather pedestrian 26MB/s when copying from the SD card to the SSD using the phone (much better perfs when connected to the PC: around 250MB/s) but that should be enough for daily backups.
The setup is a noticeable battery drain on the phone but the hub has a USB-PD input that can power the hub and will also power the phone.
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