Behaviour of the Chinese clone SATA Network Adaptor from Deal Extreme

There's no Ethernet PHY and no Ethernet magnetics. So, no ethernet port at all, just the connector is there to close the gap on the shell.

 

Yes, I think so. I can't see the leds on the board...

 

Does it look like it's connected to anything? I think that it's weird if they just put a connector there, since that would cause each unit to cost more...

 

I can't check this until sunday night but looking at the pics seems there is no pcb wires or components.

 

Costs them more their customers see a gaping hole on the device and complain about that ... (lol)

 

It would make more sense to blank the hole off in the mold. Maybe they hoped that people would buy them thinking there was a way of making the Ethernet port work

 

Don't count with Chinese bootleggers having any sense. There has been some network adapters sold here whose hole was left open, without any connector. Also the very first bootleg adapters had the SONY speed chip in them. It had no ethernet PHY though. And I bet it also had a blanked eeprom.

 

It might be that they got the network adaptor chassis from another wholesaler. I came across one or two that sold the SATA network adaptor chassis in bulk... with no PCB.