Add PCMCIA USB to Notebook?

My brother recently gave me an "ancient" Toshiba Portege 3110CT (Pent II, 300MHz, 192 Meg RAM, Win XP) which is perfect for my application - I use it when I fly to a remote airstrip (no phones!) to connect to the net over the Verizon Express Netwok. I have a Gomadic USB cable that connects the (only) USB port on the Toshiba to my Motorola T720 cell phone - works great! I'm able to get current weather, file flight plans, etc.

Here's the problem: As mentioned, the Toshiba has only one USB port. I got a StarTech "mini-hub" that gives me 2 ports so I can also plug a laptop mouse in. I much prefer to use the mouse rather than the pointing device on the Toshiba's keyboard. Problem is, when the mini-hub is in-line between the notebook and the Gomadic cable/cell phone, Windows XP recognizes the cell phone modem as "New Hardware" and tries to re-install it all over again! (Doesn't happen if the Gomadic cable is plugged directly into the notebook's USB port). If I try to cancel the installation, the Verizon connection is then somehow switched to the notebook's internal V.90 modem - no good!

Would a different type of "mini-hub" solve the problem? I know Belkin and others make rather compact ones for notebooks. Or, would perhaps a totally different USB port - say use a PCMCIA adapter/USB - might not cause the XP to "recognize" the phone as "New Hardware"?

Any suggestions appreciated!

Have you tried a serial or ps2 mouse rather than the usb style?

Most Pcmcia USB cards are usb 2.0. In fact I have not seen a usb 1.1 card for years now. THe 2.0 cards are under 20 bucks on ebay new.

I like adding functionality to notebooks over say buying a serial mouse.

But the serial mouse is a excellent way to go and will be cheaper and of course XP has built in drivers for pretty much all serial mice. So I would say either way would accomplish what you want to do. One is cheaper and the other is more functionality. Hmmm always a trade off on decisions!

Now mind you that usb 2.0 is backward compatible to USB 1.1 devices and if you plug a USB 1.1 device into a USB 2.0 card all the ports will revert to USB 1.1 untill you remove the USB 1.1 device, Unless your card has multiple seperate controllers. Never seen one of those in Pcmcia cards! Not that they don't exist... I just never seen one.

The Toshiba Portege 3110CT is a very minimalist computer! It doesn't have an on-board PS2 or serial connector. You have to add a docking adaptor to gain those connectors - I'm trying to avoid additional wires/cables/adaptors etc. It does, however, have a PCMCIA slot that I don't normally use except when at home and I stick a WiFi card in for cable modem access.

That got me to thinking, however ... the docking adaptor DOES have another USB port in it - think I'll try and see whether attaching the phone to the second USB causes it to reinstall the modem or not!