OESF Portables Forum
Everything Else => Model Specific Forums => Distros, Development, and Model Specific Forums => Archived Forums => SIMpad forum => Topic started by: albertr on August 06, 2005, 07:41:23 pm
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Linky (http://www.iral.com/~albertr/linux/simpad/blue/)
-albertr
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An unexpensive Bluetooth USB dongle made by Billionton was used in this project. There seemed to be quite a few changes on Bluetooth dongle front since the days of Psion Bluetooth surgery project. There're much more choices available on the market now featuring different chipsets and specifications. So extra care needs to be taken when selecting a dongle that can be switched into UART mode and then be used as a serial module. At first, I've tried some unexpensive swivel-design dongle from Ebay since I knew beforehand that it had the CSR BC2MOD2C module inside. Well, it didn't work... Unfortunately, I don't have an o'scope to check the signal, so failure of this module remains a mistery.
I am having a hard time finding the recomended dongle on ebay, any other sources?
what chip do they use? does other vendors use it?
Niv
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I wouldn't suggest you to experiment with the dongles unless you are ready to take risks of paying for a dongle which can't be switched into UART mode. The other thing is re-programming the module. There;s PSKeys application available for Linux. I wrote some lazy windoze piece to do that too, and I can put its source code on my website. But other than that, I'm not gonna help with it. If you are thinking of re-programming the CSR module, all necessary documentation is available on CSR support website.
I spoke with someone who said they still can order the old revision of the Billionton's dongle. If you want to contact them directly, here's the email: sales@boteq.com. They have a presense on Ebay too. Make sure to request an old revision of the dongle as showed on the pictures on my page.
-albertr
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thanks mate
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managed to find the dongle.
gona uptade as soon as I get it working.
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Niv,
Can you let me know where did you get your dongle from? I might need to get one more of these too...
-albertr
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albertr: pls chk ur PM
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Could this (http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000AITJV/qid=1126611130/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/028-7062460-4933339) be the working Billington Device?
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It looks awfully like it, but you'll never know until you open up the casing.
-albertr
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I spoke with someone who said they still can order the old revision of the Billionton's dongle. If you want to contact them directly, here's the email: sales@boteq.com. They have a presense on Ebay too. Make sure to request an old revision of the dongle as showed on the pictures on my page.
-albertr
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=92021\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Just FYI... Boteq got a batch of old revision Billionton dongles in its stock.
-albertr
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I saw the project at opensimpad, and I am missing the pin out connection table.
I mean which pin in the simpad goes to what pin in the dongle
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I saw the project at opensimpad, and I am missing the pin out connection table.
I mean which pin in the simpad goes to what pin in the dongle
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=142244\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
Unfortunate Albertr has selled his simpad. I will try to write him a mail.
regards
nice
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[img]http://static.flickr.com/111/298842146_18e67a9e46.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]
did the hardware part.
easy bit: you only need to connect 4 wires: 5Volt,GND,TX,RX
hard: find a flat cable. I used a kenwood car cd-changer cable. solder the for wires to it - harder.
I may still add the reset wire.
still need to do the software bit
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Verry nice,
could you please expand the Wiki entry [1]?
regards
nice
1 http://opensimpad.org/index.php/Albert%27s_Bluetooth_mod (http://opensimpad.org/index.php/Albert%27s_Bluetooth_mod)
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more hacking:
[img]http://static.flickr.com/117/315605013_824689676e.jpg\" border=\"0\" class=\"linked-image\" /]
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Hi Nev,
nice to see your mods ... possible to get more infos on which bluetoth and mmc/sd card module you use?
I will try to make a bt and mmc/sd mod for my SimPad SL4 because I missing some additional FlashROM and a bt module!
What about use a dual wlan / bt module licke a cheap MSI one? MSI Computer WLAN BT USB dongle found on eBay! (http://cgi.ebay.de/MSI-Bluetooth-USB-PC2PC-PC2-PC-Adapter-Dongle-NEU-WLAN_W0QQitemZ9737240786QQihZ008QQcategoryZ79468QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViem)
Thanks
Martin
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Hi Nev,
nice to see your mods ... possible to get more infos on which bluetoth and mmc/sd card module you use?
I will try to make a bt and mmc/sd mod for my SimPad SL4 because I missing some additional FlashROM and a bt module!
What about use a dual wlan / bt module licke a cheap MSI one? MSI Computer WLAN BT USB dongle found on eBay! (http://cgi.ebay.de/MSI-Bluetooth-USB-PC2PC-PC2-PC-Adapter-Dongle-NEU-WLAN_W0QQitemZ9737240786QQihZ008QQcategoryZ79468QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViem)
Thanks
Martin
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div] (http://index.php?act=findpost&pid=149357\")
802.11x is not as simple to hook up, you'd have get a USB host CF card, or wire in a USB host chip(good luck with that). The bluetooth chip in the USB dongle used here is actually compatable with RS-232, which is availible inside the Simpad. It's not connected via USB, it's just a cheap way to get the chip.
I believe there is a thread with more info on what USB dongles have RS232 serial compatable chips inside, try [a href=\"https://www.oesf.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=15516]this one.[/url]
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Thanks Tom61,
yes I know about it and connection on rs232 port inside simpad ... yes but all usb host adapters I know are only 1.1 and very expensive for that project!
Hi Niv,
I saw this photo and recognized a sd/mmc slot inside ... which sort auf adapter / socket do you use? I saw a little board at the mmc/sd slot.
is it possible to switch the bt module on / off per software (using an unused bit of the port)? What about using a hardware switch?
Thanks
Martin
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I saw this photo and recognized a sd/mmc slot inside ... which sort auf adapter / socket do you use? I saw a little board at the mmc/sd slot.
I used this reader: Bonzai (http://www.simpletech.com/commercial/usbflashdrives/Bonzai.php) you need to I removed the one chip it has and the usb metal connector. then used the on-board 5V->3.3 converter
I also noticed that some readers had a lengthier board (usb connector to the card socket , wise). this one has one that fits fine.
is it possible to switch the bt module on / off per software (using an unused bit of the port)? What about using a hardware switch?
no. using the adapter ,albertr suggested, one may only reset the unit. but one may hold the reset line , thus effectively turning the unit off.
I have yet to see any of this work as there is no current open embedded version , that can fit the simpad. why? because OE migrated to 2.6. there is currently no driver for the simpad screen driver that works under 2.6. and so , I am unable to add the code provided in the site and test bluetooth , or/and mmc.
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I have yet to see any of this work as there is no current open embedded version , that can fit the simpad. why? because OE migrated to 2.6. there is currently no driver for the simpad screen driver that works under 2.6. and so , I am unable to add the code provided in the site and test bluetooth , or/and mmc.
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=149596\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]
??????
OE didn't 'migrate to 2.6' and certainly not for simpad.
it even has a big fat MACHINE_KERNEL_VERSION ?= "2.4" line in the machine description
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thanks koen for this quickly
The info I gave was according to the advice I got at the #OE irc channel. btw, they also claimed this forum is not up to date..
pls tell me then what to put in local.conf to build a proper simpad image.
1) which of these lines to comment?
PREFERRED_PROVIDERS = "virtual/qte:qte virtual/libqpe:libqpe-opie"
PREFERRED_PROVIDERS += " virtual/libsdl:libsdl-x11"
PREFERRED_PROVIDERS += " virtual/${TARGET_PREFIX}gcc-initial:gcc-cross-initial"
PREFERRED_PROVIDERS += " virtual/${TARGET_PREFIX}gcc:gcc-cross"
PREFERRED_PROVIDERS += " virtual/${TARGET_PREFIX}g++:gcc-cross"
2) should TARGET_MACHINE = be simpad?
assuming its not defined:
3) TARGET_ARCH="arm" and DISTRO = "generic" right?
(to all other ppl that may get here and read my post, please look in oe getting started to understand what I am seeking)
Niv
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My knowlege of the openembedded.org tree is a bit to old to answer your question correctly.
But you can follow this description to get a Familiar SIMpad Image (Nodedog has written it):
http://opensimpad.org/index.php/HowTo_Make_your_own_image (http://opensimpad.org/index.php/HowTo_Make_your_own_image)
AFAIK the Familiar distribution has forked from the openembedded.org tree.
And AFAIK Frederik is working on the Familiar Distribution. Frederik is doing a lot for SIMpad users there.
regards
nice
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found the usb dongle albertr suggested on the web :
23$ (http://www.thetechgeek.com/content/product.php?pid=6021&cid=318)
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The SIMpad kernel in Familiar should have bluetooth and MMC support, although I never could test it, since I don't have a modded SIMpad.
The Familiar installation guide for SIMpad is available at:
http://opensimpad.org/index.php/Linux (http://opensimpad.org/index.php/Linux)
and
http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/SimPad (http://handhelds.org/moin/moin.cgi/SimPad)
Please pick images at:
http://familiar.handhelds.org/releases/v0....ll/files/simpad (http://familiar.handhelds.org/releases/v0.8.4/install/files/simpad)
(use gpe-image-v0.8.4-simpad-rootfs.jffs2)
(if you select "download" from the familiar homepage, you won't be able to ge these, use the above direct link instead)
I hope you'll manage to get the whole thing working!
cheers,
Fred