I-Appliance BBS The Official Source for Internet Appliance Upgrades and Mods BBS Main List | Sign In | Sign Up | Search | Help | Linux-Hacker.net Reply to Thread | Printer |

Home / MISC Areas / Mattel JuiceBox SD Memory Socket Success

SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) St0nkingByte Profile Hi! I picked up a six pack of JuiceBoxes from Overstock. I have a fair bit of experience with ucLinux on ARM systems from a project I did at work. I've got thousands ucLinux/ARM boxes in users hands but my devices have LCD screens or audio out, they're just networking devices with wifi, so JuiceBoxes are interesting to me. Unfortunately most of my skills are software/config oriented and not hardware hacking so I killed my first JB. Good thing I got the six pack! I was a bit too aggressive desoldering the JB cartridge socket off the board and ended up with a device that won't boot anymore. Oh well. ;) On my second attempt I have a device working with a SD memory socket. I used an ALPS socket, I think it's the same one another person on this board mentioned, I can highly recommend it and at $1.70 per unit its hard to beat. The specific one I used can be had from Mouser.com, which doesn't have a minimum order but does have realistic shipping prices. The model I used is SCDA1A1301 http://www.mouser.com/search/ProductDetail.aspx?R=SCDA1A1301virtualkey68800000 You can see a diagram of this socket and similar models in this PDF: http://www.mouser.com/catalog/627/1042.pdf ALPS part # SCJB2B0101, fig A on that PDF also looks promising at only 2.4mm thick. I've got some pictures of my installation here: http://st0nkingbyte.whizy.com/juicebox.htm This installation is pretty clean but the card does still stick out a little bit due to the length of the card mainly, the socket doesn't add too much. It is very nice to use a real SD memory socket that functions just like one you'd find in a digital camera or PDA. At ~$4 for a JB plus $1.70 for the socket, add some memory and you've got a nice little MP3 player for the kids, in fact when I got this first one working I immediately had two of my kids asking me when I'd have theirs ready! Next I'd like to take a shot at getting Linux going, I don't have any JB carts but I did pickup an ALPS xD/SD combo socket as well. I don't think I have anything I can use to program xD in the raw so I'm probably going to have to figure out the JTAG @ 3.3 volt thing. 09-17-2006 22:29:15

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) WestfW Profile Very pretty; much more so than doing an SD-adaptor that plugs into the slot! So were you able to completely omit teh assorted pull-up and pull-down resistors? 09-17-2006 22:56:32

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) St0nkingByte Profile Yes, I didn't use any resistors, just wired directly to what remained of the pins of the stock socket once removed. 09-18-2006 10:33:42

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) emeb Profile Aha! That's exactly what I wanted to do when I ordered the sockets a few weeks back. I'd really like a look inside at how you attached the SD socket to the innards. Any suggestions? Anything you'd do differently? BTW - what's the capacity on your SD card? I've got a 512MB card that the JB refuses to recognise. Formatted FAT16 etc but no dice. A 128MB card OTOH works just fine. 09-18-2006 15:53:58

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) Tom61 Profile | Email emeb: Your SD card troubles are likeyly caused by your 512MB card being one of the few SD cards that doesn't support MMC/SPI interface. I've used the following capacities in my Juicebox just fine: 2x 32MB cards (both from MP3 kits, so no surprise there) 256MB 1GB 09-18-2006 16:16:32

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) prpplague Profile So were you able to completely omit teh assorted pull-up and pull-down resistors? the resistors are just used as the primary method of identification of the card. if those lines are left floating the software assumes it to be a sd/mmc cartridge. I'd really like a look inside at how you attached the SD socket to the innards. Any suggestions? Anything you'd do differently? hookup is really easy and is documented at: http://www.elinux.org/wiki/JuiceBoxMMCHack 09-18-2006 16:41:29

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) emeb Profile tom61: Your SD card troubles are likeyly caused by your 512MB card being one of the few SD cards that doesn't support MMC/SPI interface. Yup - I was starting to suspect something like that. I've got 5 SD cards handy: 32MB Kingmax (came with MP3 kit) - works 128MB Sandisk - works 512MB Patriot - works 512MB Patriot - doesn't work 1GB Patriot - doesn't work Note that the ones that don't work in the JB do work fine in other MP3 players, PDAs and cameras. I wonder why they're phasing out the MMC mode? prpplague: hookup is really easy and is documented at: Thanks - that's a great wiki you've been maintaining there and I've been reading through it a lot over the last few weeks. I knew about the wiring but I'm interested in how the SD socket is secured the to the inside of the JB. Glue? Soldered to the copper RF shield? Etc? 09-18-2006 17:34:53

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) WestfW Profile BTW, it looks to me as though all the signals needed for MMC connection are available through vias on the PCB as well as at the connector, if you're looking to attach an MMC card without bothering the existing connector. (although, it also looks like there's a lot of room on the back side of the connector to attach wires as well.) 09-18-2006 17:42:52

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) St0nkingByte Profile I knew about the wiring but I'm interested in how the SD socket is secured the to the inside of the JB. Glue? Soldered to the copper RF shield? Etc? Electrical tape! It's crazy but I just taped the wires and socket down and assembled the JB. My intent was to verify the fit and position then take it apart again and plan for a more permanent attachment. Fortunately the socket fits semi-squarely in the notch where the card socket was previously and is very solid as its. The space within the JB is realy tight so this socket is a tight fit, in this case that's a good thing. For my next one I might carve up the socket cover to close up the space around socket. 09-18-2006 20:45:35

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) emeb Profile Electrical tape! I love it! Truly lo-tek. The space within the JB is realy tight so this socket is a tight fit That particular model of SD socket has a lot of clearance under it (presumably so you could mount other SMDs in that space). Mouser sells other SD sockets that have lower profiles - maybe a smaller one would be a better fit? 09-19-2006 11:10:35

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) mags Profile speaking of low-tech: I've been considering taking the plastic adapter that comes with mini-sd cards, glue it to the pcb and wire directly. aside from being more flimsy than a proper metal socket, is there anything else wrong with this idea? thanks 09-19-2006 12:43:37

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) WestfW Profile I've been considering taking the plastic adapter that comes with mini-sd cards, glue it to the pcb and wire directly. I think it's brilliant! If it works, it works for micro-SD (transflash) too. My adaptor seems to hold the mini-SD pretty securely; there's probably even a bit of room to cut the top off for easier insertion/removal... The main worry I'd have is whether the plastic can stand the heat of soldering to the SD contacts... 09-20-2006 00:30:46

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) mags Profile yes I was definitely worried about heat. although my friend has one of those "cold heat" soldering pens which work through RF instead of heat, that might be better. the other thing I am worrying is the mmc/spi issue. from what I understand sd, mini-sd and micro-sd are all required to support spi; but it sounds like that is not always true? I just now tested a 512mb TwinMOS mini-sd + sd/mini-sd adapter, using the mattel mp3 adapter and it worked fine. but I want to get a bunch of 256mb toshiba ones 'cos they will be much cheaper and their included adapter look like they are made partly of metal so a little stronger. guess I will just order it and see. 09-20-2006 07:52:54

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) mags Profile ordered the toshiba ones, will get them in about a week and see how it goes. ooh, MMC Mobile / RS-MMC could be promising -- the adapter for those are all-metal. altho the spec says SPI support is optional not required? hm. 09-20-2006 09:12:10

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) Tom61 Profile | Email although my friend has one of those "cold heat" soldering pens which work through RF instead of heat, that might be better. No, they still use heat, take a look at the manual or website, as those explain better than I can. Basically, the 'Cold Heat' pen's tip is formed by two elements that are made of a substance that heats up really fast when current is applied, and cool very rapidly when current is removed. I've never heard of anything that leads to solder liquifying that would not result in heat. There are conductive inks, however. 09-21-2006 15:45:38

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) mags Profile heh guess I should not be so quick to believe my co-worker knows what he is talkin' 'bout >_< but his explanation sounded good, when he demonstrated the thing to me it did look like some sort of high frequency spark gap. and he seemed to think you had to use special solder, which now makes no sense either ha ha. then again just this week I had to beg him not to plug in and fire up an imac while holding it in his lap with all the metal shield plating removed. ok yeah read their website. that makes more sense, I did wonder that the tip seemed made of some special material (and somewhat fragile as well... ahem) guess I will just have to be extra careless soldering on the plastic adapter... thanks for letting me know ^_^ 09-21-2006 17:24:18

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) Curious Profile Do you mean, you can swap out the current socket with a SD memory socket and play videos from the SD without any other changes? 09-27-2006 14:40:25

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) WestfW Profile Do you mean, you can swap out the current socket with a SD memory socket and play videos from the SD without any other changes? No. You can mount an SD socket where the current socket is, with some amount of care and wire-routing, and play MP3s and still pictures from the SD with no other changes. The JB doesn't play video from the SD. 09-27-2006 15:41:38

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) madc0w Profile Can someone explain the SD incompatabilities mentioned here: tom61: Your SD card troubles are likeyly caused by your 512MB card being one of the few SD cards that doesn't support MMC/SPI interface. Yup - I was starting to suspect something like that. I've got 5 SD cards handy: 32MB Kingmax (came with MP3 kit) - works 128MB Sandisk - works 512MB Patriot - works 512MB Patriot - doesn't work 1GB Patriot - doesn't work Note that the ones that don't work in the JB do work fine in other MP3 players, PDAs and cameras. I wonder why they're phasing out the MMC mode? prpplague: hookup is really easy and is documented at: Thanks - that's a great wiki you've been maintaining there and I've been reading through it a lot over the last few weeks. I knew about the wiring but I'm interested in how the SD socket is secured the to the inside of the JB. Glue? Soldered to the copper RF shield? Etc? Are there speicific SD cards which will not work with the juice box? Are they specific brands or types? 09-30-2006 21:53:47

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) WestfW Profile <blockquote><hr>I've been considering taking the plastic adapter that comes with mini-sd cards, glue it to the pcb and wire directly. I think it's brilliant! If it works, it works for micro-SD (transflash) too. RS-MMC could be promising -- the adapter for those are all-metal. <hr></blockquote> Sigh. I just bought some RS-MMC with this in mind. Turns out that the "adaptors" for RS-MMC are more physical extensions or handles, and contain no wiring at all. That makes sense; the "business end" of RS-MMC is indentical to MMC; they're just shorter. But it does mean that the "adaptor as socket" hack doesn't work for RS-MMC. 11-08-2006 22:12:53

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) Ittindi Profile I'm a n00b, but I'm interested in modding these juiceboxes, there is a way to play your own videos on a juicebox correct? From what I know the carttridge contains the video player software and the video data, I would think if you can pop linux onto it, you should be able to make a compatible video player to play videos from a SD card? Probably not as easy as I think tho. 11-15-2006 04:52:26

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) Ittindi Profile Opps, nevermind, just looked on the forum, if someone could just please point me in the direction of the forum for these video player clues, I would greatly appreciate it. 11-15-2006 05:05:47

RE:SD Memory Socket Success (modified 0 times) dizzie Profile Hey, is there anyone who would install this socket in their new Juicebox and then sell it to me? How much with shipping to VA? Thanks! Dizzie 11-16-2006 07:30:27

Reply to Thread | Printer | All times are PST Powered by UltraBoard v1.62

I-Appliance BBS General - NEWS, Breaking NEWS - linux-hacker.net BBS on CD Questions - User Groups in Your Town - E-Bay, Yahoo Auction LINKS ONLY (MODERATED) - Jokes & Humor - usdtv box I-Opener Areas - I-Opener General Posts - I-Opener Technical Stuff - I-Opener Technical Info Reference (MODERATED) WebSurfer Areas - WebSurfer General Posts - WebSurfer Technical Stuff - WebSurfer Technical Info Reference (MODERATED) Other I-Appliances - Virgin Webplayer - WebPal - MailStation - 3Com Audrey - ThinkNIC / Oracle NIC - Gateway/AOL Connected Touch Pad - Philips/AOL-TV - ACER NT-150 STB - MSN Companion - Compaq IA - Emachines IA - IBM NetVista IA - Intel dot.station - MSNTV2 Network Computers - Fujitsu-Siemens Scovery Linux Net Computers - GallantWeb Server Consoles - Dreamcast - xbox hacking Web Pads - Epods One General Post - Panasonic CF-01 - Fujitsu Stylistic 1200 - Cybiko Thin Clients - Thin Clients DigitalVideoRecorders - DTV Recorders, Replay, TiVo, Etc... - Tivo Hacks Linux - Midori Linux General Board - ITX MotherBoards Single Board Computers - Earth Computers mARMalade Elite Member Area MISC Areas - The Swap Meet WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY TRANSACTION HERE AND NO COMMERCIAL POST PERIOD !!! - Wireless Net - Cameras - Robotics - Routers/Gateways - Mattel JuiceBox