Author Topic: Adding A Sd/mmc Reader  (Read 8796 times)

guylhem

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« on: June 24, 2005, 07:21:41 pm »
Hello

I am considering adding a sd/mmc reader, to increase the internal storage space. What we need is a free GPIO - 4 exactly, to do what's been done with a linksys wrt54g :
http://against.org/mirror/kiel.kool.dk_27/

Any suggestion ?

niv

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #1 on: July 02, 2005, 08:16:41 am »
very intersting.
I will look for more info.
I know that the SL4 has at least enogth GPIO to be connected to the bluetooth chip, so it  seems it can be done. how ever the driver will need to be compiled to strongARM and you will need the address space for the serial ports.

Niv

Snappy

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #2 on: July 03, 2005, 09:28:55 am »
Quote
Hello

I am considering adding a sd/mmc reader, to increase the internal storage space. What we need is a free GPIO - 4 exactly, to do what's been done with a linksys wrt54g :
http://against.org/mirror/kiel.kool.dk_27/

Any suggestion ?
[div align=\"right\"][a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=85713\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

If you want to add a sd/mmc reader and don't mind using up the pccard slot, you can just get a multi-card pccard adapter. I have one and it allows me to use SD/MMC/MS etc on any system (notebook, hpcs, SL4) with a pccard slot.

EDIT: ok, I guess if adding the sd slot gives access without removing the (one and only) pcmcia slot, then its a bonus!

On that note, anyone know how to add a CF slot? It would be a lot more versatile!
« Last Edit: July 03, 2005, 02:00:08 pm by Snappy »
Snappy!
------------------------
Akita (Daily use)
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>SL-C1000 with Cacko 1.23 full
Accessories: Wifi XI-825 CF  |  16GB (6) SDHC (Transcend) | 1GB 80x CF (RiDATA PRO-2) </span>

Collie (Sandbox)
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>SL-5500 with OZ/GPE 3.5.4.1 alpha3 build 2006-04-27
Accessories: 512MB A-Data SD | 64MB Toshiba SD</span>

misterpib

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #3 on: July 03, 2005, 03:12:47 pm »
I agree that a CF port would be more useful, since you can use that for wireless networking, but you can't with SD (unless it is SDIO..which this wouldn't be, right?)

What would be ideal would be to attach a wireless network device and add a several-gig pcmcia HD to the thing...

EDIT:
Wait, come to think of it, how many GPIO pins would we need to add a USB host chip to it?
« Last Edit: July 03, 2005, 03:13:46 pm by misterpib »

Snappy

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #4 on: July 04, 2005, 12:16:57 am »
Quote
I agree that a CF port would be more useful, since you can use that for wireless networking, but you can't with SD (unless it is SDIO..which this wouldn't be, right?)

What would be ideal would be to attach a wireless network device and add a several-gig pcmcia HD to the thing...

EDIT:
Wait, come to think of it, how many GPIO pins would we need to add a USB host chip to it?
[div align=\"right\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a][/div]

Searched around for a CF modding, and did find some sites doing that but it was done on a iOpener appliance or something. Runs linux!

As for pcmcia hd, I'm gonna receive a Kingston 5GB pcmcia drive this week, so its going to add some space to the SL4!

Conversely, you can also add a pcmcia<->IDE adapter
[a href=\"http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31567&item=6782522626&rd=1]http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...6782522626&rd=1[/url]

Should be good to add a notebook hdd. Though it could strain the batteries a bit!  ... but it does open up the possibility of accessing a CDROM/DVDROM drive etc!

I'm totally with adding a USB host chip! Now that would be really good! And if a wireless card can be hardwired to it, I dun mind rigging up one of the cheap 802.11b pccards to do it! ... ie if someone can point to the How-Tos ... that should free up the pcmcia card for storage.

Back to USB host ... that would be sweet! And in linux, driver support would be so much easier!  ... I'm currently running my SL4 on CE.NET 4.1 for the timebeing ...  ... though I've been flashing it to try out the different builds. ahh ... if only I gotten two from ze Bay recently, then I can use 4.1 while testing out the new opensimpad builds!  
Snappy!
------------------------
Akita (Daily use)
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>SL-C1000 with Cacko 1.23 full
Accessories: Wifi XI-825 CF  |  16GB (6) SDHC (Transcend) | 1GB 80x CF (RiDATA PRO-2) </span>

Collie (Sandbox)
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>SL-5500 with OZ/GPE 3.5.4.1 alpha3 build 2006-04-27
Accessories: 512MB A-Data SD | 64MB Toshiba SD</span>

niv

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2005, 02:35:20 pm »
remark 1:
I planed to use the network via wifi - as much as I can. Plannin to mount a remote storage so I'll have endless space.

remark 2:
How may I help to start this project? I would like to add a SD reader. should I find where certain pins go?

guylhem

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2005, 10:15:01 pm »
hello

please wait a little bit. I am looking at both software and hardware possibilities.
will keep you informed.

the biggest problem atm is frinding "free" gpios for the SPI communication. I need 2 of them + a 100khz clock

guylhem

niv

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #7 on: July 13, 2005, 06:22:51 pm »
here is some general spec for the simpad CPU
in it youll find a description of the GPIO
linky

niv

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2005, 06:25:55 pm »
found this :ZipItMMC

does it helps?

more ppl tring to hack in flash memory?

better still
« Last Edit: July 18, 2005, 06:31:10 pm by niv »

guylhem

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2005, 02:11:39 pm »
Hello

Got a reply from siemens. I will try to do something soon. However don't expect anything working before september the earliest (lot of work as usual, and I have forgotten the hardware at my hospital)

Guylhem

niv

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #10 on: July 27, 2005, 05:37:57 pm »
As far as I can tell this is the best known SD hack.

I am still googling to find more info on the subject of GPIO programing in linux ( new GPIO module out in the open zaurus section) to attach th SD

guylhem

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #11 on: July 28, 2005, 08:55:22 am »
Here is the information I received :

<<
If you remove the SmartCard controller you get GP10.
It is pin40 of the controller TDA8007.
The other Pin that could be used is GP21.
You find it on pin5 of the not used real time clock U35.
Above and left are U16 U8 and U22 each TLC7733 chips.
>>

There are only 2 free GPIO. Serial handshare (unused on my bluetooth hack) will have to be used to provide more free gpio.

I'll try to implement something - I'll take a while however.

Guylhem

niv

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #12 on: July 28, 2005, 09:00:09 am »
Thanks again guylhem,
Thanks to this forum - more ppl may help this project.
what i/o pins are used for the Bluetooth chip? btw what bluetooth chip did you use - they seem really expensive..

are the green and red front leds connected to GPIO? if so - can't we just use them?

Niv
« Last Edit: July 28, 2005, 10:03:03 am by niv »

Snappy

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Adding A Sd/mmc Reader
« Reply #13 on: July 28, 2005, 09:45:51 am »
Will be happy to test this SD-hack thingie out when its out ...  ... btw, niv, what image are you using right now?
Snappy!
------------------------
Akita (Daily use)
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>SL-C1000 with Cacko 1.23 full
Accessories: Wifi XI-825 CF  |  16GB (6) SDHC (Transcend) | 1GB 80x CF (RiDATA PRO-2) </span>

Collie (Sandbox)
<span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>SL-5500 with OZ/GPE 3.5.4.1 alpha3 build 2006-04-27
Accessories: 512MB A-Data SD | 64MB Toshiba SD</span>