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Home / MISC Areas / Mattel JuiceBox
Connecting juicebox to linksys
I'll start a new use for juicebox, a little behind all i have seen here

New MessageConnecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
Hi everyone!
I just bought a Juicebox from ebay to start a new project.
I'll try to connect it directly to a linksys wrt45gl router.
I'll also try to write how i did it and post it here to anyone interested.

But, i need some help first:
1 - the serial interface on linksys is:

The pinout of JP1 on the Linksys PCB is as follows:

Pin 1: 3.3V Pin 2: 3.3V
Pin 3: Tx (ttyS1) Pin 4: Tx (ttyS0)
Pin 5: Rx (ttyS1) Pin 6: Rx (ttyS0)
Pin 7: NC Pin 8: NC
Pin 9: GND Pin 10: GND

So, i'll be able to wire the serial Juicboxe's interface and the router directly, without max3232, am i right?

2 - has anyone already booted cLinux with success? Can you post a complete walkthrough on putting it to work? Or is there any other way to make it a serial terminal?

3 - I think it's not the scoop of this forum, but perhaps someone might know how... is there any way of creating a samba share or something on Juicebox's SD/MMC/SM/xD card through serial port? Or using the Juicebox to wget or something alike?

To you all, thanks in advance!

08-08-2006 06:34:29

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) prpplague
Profile
1) i took a quick look at one of the wrt54g hack pages and it does appear that the uarts for the wrt54g are ttl, so you can connect them directly to the juicebox without the need of a level shifter.

2) the instructions for booting a custom application(program or os) is on the wiki( http://www.elinux.org/wiki/JuiceBox ). if you simply want to boot up an application to do a serial display, my suggestion would be to add a small flash chip to boot your custom application or uClinux.

3) if you set up the serial port to do PPP , you could set an ip address and use all the standard networking utilities.

08-08-2006 10:06:46

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
so, this is a project with boots too walk!
I hadn't already understood quite well how to instal, but as soon as my Juici arrives, i'll start working on it, and i'll post my doubts as far as i'm going, and i'll also post the evolution of it!

btw, do you know where can i find the sd/mmc card slot at a nice price with shipping for portugal? i found it at $1,25 but shipping was $32!!
I can't even find it here at stores because they nobody uses them, (i can say that electronic courses in portugal are very pre-historical) and i don't find any broken multi card reader (wich would be fine for a smartmedia connector i'm thinking about to be able to replace both nand and sd/mmc cards on the go) for spare parts!

Thanks for the information and for the support!

08-08-2006 15:48:05

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 1 times) Tom61
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The pin spacing of MMC/SD is the same as that of an older style floppy cable. Someone on here used a trimmed down floppy cable with their JuiceBox for SD.

Definately post how your mod goes, and pictures would be great too.

08-11-2006 16:09:18

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
Yes Tom61, i think i'd already come to that when browsing this forum, but thanks for reminding me, since i still have those cables lying around.
My problem is just finding the sd slot or a borken multi card reader so i can take the slots. i also have seen the use of Smartcard insted the xD ones, and using the same technics for the dual xD/SD mod, i think i'll manage a cheaper vertion of that mod, since xD are too expensive.
The problem is that living in portugal, no one resels a broken card reader or electronics shops don't have the slots for the cards.
If i try the internet, i find ridiculos shipping fees.
But i'll come to a solution as soon as i get my juicy!
08-12-2006 03:43:08

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
hey, sorry but reading things sleeppy get's me nowere... ;)
i've reread your post again and understood what you said. i whent down to experiment with a brokne SD i had lying around and it really fits. now it's a mechanical question! i just have to check were the pins are connecting an for that, i'll compare with an old 5 1/2" floppy drive i have here!
Thanks for the great tip!
08-12-2006 06:48:31

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
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Just received my juicy!
I still hadn't time to pop it open, but i have some questions... can i use SmartMedia instead of xD?
What's the wiring?
How where can i get firmwares to it?

Thanks ppl!

08-21-2006 07:43:09

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) jbfan
Profile

... can i use SmartMedia instead of xD?
Yes it has been done before.

What's the wiring?
You will need to match up the Juicebox connector with the SmartMedia pinout. Chip Enable on the SM card should either be connected to GND or pin 2 of the JuiceBox connector, Write Protect should be pulled up to 3.3v so you can write to the SM card.

How where can i get firmwares to it?
For small images you can use the JuiceBox JTAG interface - slow but a good starting point. The JuiceBoxUMDCart has some suggestions at the bottom of the page for programming the device.

-J

08-21-2006 12:03:51

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) prpplague
Profile
http://www.elinux.org/wiki/JuiceBoxDevCart


has been updated with a sm pinout and connections

08-22-2006 08:04:12

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
How boy...
Now i have a problem...
I was preparing to start my work in my JB, and found a adhesive cooper layer as i show in the next photo...
http://homepage.oniduo.pt/rui.maldonado/HPIM1470.JPG
Do i have to connect those same points? perhaps with a wire, no?
BTW, can i use a simple Unbuffered Cable, Xilinx DLC5 Cable III for JTAG as described in http://wiki.openwrt.org/OpenWrtDocs/Customizing/Hardware/JTAG_Cable ?

I think i found that i can't connect my JB to my router, since the later has no serial port in the laste revision... that's a main drawnback, if that's right... :'(

09-12-2006 06:36:54

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) WestfW
Profile

found a adhesive cooper layer as i show in the next photo...
http://homepage.oniduo.pt/rui.maldonado/HPIM1470.JPG
Do i have to connect those same points? perhaps with a wire, no?

That's PROBABLY just RF shielding added to make sure the units pass
FCC/etc emissions standards, and you can just leave it off in a "lab"
context (which covers any end-user HW modifications as well.) The PCB
is probably complete without it.

can i use a simple Unbuffered Cable, Xilinx DLC5 Cable III for JTAG

No, that will violate the 3.3V requirement of the Juicebox. (there's a chance that
some laptops have 3.3V parallel ports, but it's a pretty slim chance...)
09-12-2006 07:49:40

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
"No, that will violate the 3.3V requirement of the Juicebox. (there's a chance that
some laptops have 3.3V parallel ports, but it's a pretty slim chance...)"
That means "Buffered Cable, Wiggler"?
Oh boy... it's gonna be hard. Do i need this to have a simple dumb screen terminal?
09-12-2006 08:11:21

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) bkgoodman
Profile

That means "Buffered Cable, Wiggler"?


Yes - or make your own with a 244 (few connections - the schematics are all over the place).


Do i need this to have a simple dumb screen terminal?

For the "screen" itself, no. To program the JB (which you will probibly need to do to get a console), yes.

This whole project (to Linksys) gave me a good idea - run PPP on the JB serial port - connect to Linksys or Linux running PPP - and you have 'net connectivity on you JB witout adding Ethernet hardware!

09-13-2006 06:45:15

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
That's right!
That's the hole idea of this project!
To have a terminal window on the router!
I found that my router has serial port after all. ti's not a v1.1 but a v4, since a v1.1 GL is the same as a v4 G.
http://www.linuxelectrons.com/article.php/20060115223211729/print

As for the jtag, is this one i'm gonna need?
http://jtag-arm9.sourceforge.net/circuit.txt

Further more, i'll need some help on jtaging and boot loading... Let's start making some sd connectors, and leaving loose cables to connect to xD. It won't be very pretty for a start, but if it works, who cares? ;)

09-13-2006 16:47:33

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
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Hey! just assembled it!
The soldering job
The SD slot side by side
A closeup of the SD slot
The routing because of the space left...
The final aspect

To do next:
- Serial connector
- Jtag connector
- 16mb xD card.

09-17-2006 09:50:46

New MessageRE:What are you doing with linux and the Juicebox? (modified 0 times) jbfan
Profile
From the "What are you doing with linux and the Juicebox?" thread;
j_palito wrote:

for the serial port, where is vcc? i found tx and rx, but i'm missing vcc. could ground be the fat black cable near a resistor in the back of PCB, on the white connectors side?
If you are connecting the RX/TX between the WRT54G and the JB directly (no RS232 level shift) you don't need the 3.3V connection. In fact, unless you are trying to power one unit from the other, it is not a good idea to tie the 3.3V rails together - each system has it's own supply. You only need to connect the grounds together.

Yes, the black wire that connects the copper foil to the case is ground.

Hope this helps.

-J

09-24-2006 19:42:37

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
oohhh yess it does, JBFan!
Thanks!!!
I Can't wait to get home and start my soldering iron... i'm thinking on using RJ11/12 or RJ45, perhaps... ;) it would let me use the same interface using RS232 level shifting later!
I'll post photos soon!
09-25-2006 07:20:51

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
well...
just connected my green TX on JB with router's ttyS0 RX (pin 6) and my orange RX on JB with router's ttyS0 TX (pin 4).
Then, got a brown cable and connected grounds...
Powered on the router... Inserted a SD Card, Powered on JB... and... well... a blank screen? all black...
Ok, might be the port defenitions... hum... the port is already wel configured, although i can't see data bits, flow control or parity settings... but it seems it already has the same of JB...
Tryed echo "teste" > /dev/tts/0 but nothing happend...
Removed SD Card, powered on JB, same thing...
...
It could be worse, but it's bad as is...
Am i missing anything?
Next time, i'll be less lazy and solder the RJ11 connector to Linksys so i don't have to desolder the wires...
09-26-2006 13:59:45

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) jbfan
Profile
Do the JB and WRT54 still work if you disconnect them from each other?
09-27-2006 09:37:49

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
The router works connected or not, JB works when disconnected.
09-27-2006 10:02:53

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) jbfan
Profile
All I can think of is maybe a power sequencing issue - try turning on the JB before the WRT54 or better yet power both up at exactly the same time.

-J

09-27-2006 12:03:05

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) emeb
Profile
So let me get this straight:

You're hooking the JB to the router and the JB doesn't boot normally. The only connections you've made between them are the Rx, Tx and GND lines. When you disconnect these three lines, the JB boots.

Try connecting _only_ the ground line. Does the JB still boot OK? If not then it may be some sort of ground loop/ground noise (how are you powering the JB? Batteries or AC adaptor? Where's the AC adaptor plugged in relative to the router supply?)

Is it possible that the JB is sensing the state of the Rx/Tx lines and failing to boot because when they don't float it changes the boot process to do something else? Maybe if you hold off connecting the serial lines until after the JB has turned on normally?

Have you got a serial terminal app ready to load via JTAG? Is JTAG connected when you run these experiments? Is there a possible ground loop from the router to the computer that's driving your JTAG?

I know it's shotgun debugging...

09-27-2006 14:11:56

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
Hi emeb! well, i don't like shotguns, but let's start the rampage!!!

"You're hooking the JB to the router and the JB doesn't boot normally."
- Right.

"The only connections you've made between them are the Rx, Tx and GND lines. When you disconnect these three lines, the JB boots."
- Double right

"Try connecting _only_ the ground line. Does the JB still boot OK? If not then it may be some sort of ground loop/ground noise"
- I'll try this ASAP, but before using the RJ11, i'll have some "temporary pluging system" to test.

"how are you powering the JB? Batteries or AC adaptor? Where's the AC adaptor plugged in relative to the router supply?)"
- Batteries. No suitable AC Adptor yet. The one i bought in the Chinese store must be mesured before, since i think the selector isn't outputing the right voltage...

"Is it possible that the JB is sensing the state of the Rx/Tx lines and failing to boot because when they don't float it changes the boot process to do something else? Maybe if you hold off connecting the serial lines until after the JB has turned on normally?"
- Other thing to try, the temporary connection is extremelly usefull here.

"Have you got a serial terminal app ready to load via JTAG? Is JTAG connected when you run these experiments? Is there a possible ground loop from the router to the computer that's driving your JTAG?"
- No JTAG. It is not connected to the computer serial port, it's the router serial port as described in this topic earlier.

Hi JBFan! Well, that's also a step to try, since i never remembered to power on both ate same time... ok, shame on me... 16 years playing hardware and forgot such a basic thing...

To you all, thanks for the support. If any of this work's, i'll post the steps on the finished one, not this testing version with testing connections...
Thanks anyway!

09-27-2006 15:18:49

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) Tom61
Profile | Email

- No JTAG. It is not connected to the computer serial port, it's the router serial port as described in this topic earlier.

While you don't need a level shifter, the JB with it's default ROM is not configured to display anything recieved. The only serial interaction you get is when it boots to the MP3 mode, in which case you get the boot up text output.

Have you tried the key combo that causes diagnostic mode on power up? If the presence of serial is causing it to go into some other boot mode, it could be fairly useful.

09-27-2006 18:35:55

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
Hi Tom!
Last night, after my last post, i tryed some of the steps.
Both JB and router work normaly now in the folowing manners:
- JB and Router connected. power up at the same time.
- JB and Router connected. power up router first, jb after.
- JB and Router connected. power up jb first, router after.
- JB and Router disconnected. power up router and jb, connect both.
- JB and Router disconnected. power up router, connect, power up jb.

It seems i can't reproduce the problem... :(

I haven't tryed to capture the serial port output from jb, but that's something to try then, in mp3 mode.
BTW, i have taken a multimeter and checked out the voltages and i got a curious thing:
JB side:
- tx+ground=0.0192V
- rx+ground=-0.0192V
- as expected rx+tx=0
Router side:
- tx+ground=3.3V
- rx+ground=3.3V
- as expected rx+tx= something diferent than 0 that i can't remember right now...)

I would like to be sure before thinking in level shifting, but i can't figure if i have done it with the right tools and if i mesured the right connections, but at 1am i haven't figured out any other way...

Thanks!

09-28-2006 01:48:03

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 1 times) j_palito
Profile
Hey! I got news!!!

Check this out!!!!

<blockquote>

<font size="1" face="Verdana">code:</font><hr><font face="Courier New" size="2">
Now DD-WRT VeryBusyBox v1.01 (2006.05.16-18:12+0000) Built-in shell (ash)
Enter 'help' for a list of built-in commands.

~ # cat /dev/tts/0
[14]dispatch_nxsock:

[14]app_reset_screensaver: timed out flag reset

[14]do_keydn_event: screen already timeout out, skip event

[14]dispatch_nxsock:

[14]player_keyup_handler: status=1 skip_tid=-1

[14]player_keyup_handler: FUNC status=1 focus=0

[14]dispatch_nxsock:

[14]player_keyup_handler: status=1 skip_tid=-1

[14]player_keyup_handler: STOP status=1 focus=0

[14]player_audio_stopplay: call stopplay

[14]player_keyup_handler: esc timer & counter set

b4 decode thread join

Leaving audio thrd

dec thrd: before last while

dec thrd: closing a stream

dropped 0 frames

af decode thread join

[14]emplayer_status_cb: stopped status detected

Pipe being destroyed

[14]idle_emplayer_stopped: call progressbar_show to redraw

[14]idle_emplayer_stopped: Stopped

[14]idle_emplayer_stopped: set emplayer_state

[14]player_status_cb: status=0

[14]player_status_cb: request abort

[14]restore_mp3player_status

[14]restore_mp3player_status: total=1 top=0 song_per_page=5 focus=0

[14]restore_mp3player_status: set last page position

[14]getfilelist: from=0 num=5

[14]getfilelist: top=0 from=0 num=5

[14]load_file_buffer: loading from=0 num=5

[14]load_mp3_file: no_in_page=1

[14]show_song_info: no_in_page=1

[14]draw_song_info: row=0 y=64 s="MAN IN THE BOX"

[14]do_select_song: focus on row=0

[14]draw_song_info: row=0 y=64 s="MAN IN THE BOX"

[14]dispatch_nxsock:

[14]player_keyup_handler: status=0 skip_tid=-1

[14]player_keyup_handler: PLAY status=0 focus=0

[14]player_keyup_handler: focus=0

[14]getfilelist: from=0 num=4

[14]getfilelist: top=0 from=0 num=4

[14]load_file_buffer: loading from=0 num=4

[14]load_mp3_file: no_in_page=1

[14]show_song_info: no_in_page=1

[14]draw_song_info: row=0 y=64 s="MAN IN THE BOX"

[14]do_select_song: focus on row=0

[14]draw_song_info: row=0 y=64 s="MAN IN THE BOX"

[14]emplayer_play_audio: file /mnt/Alice In Chains - Man In The Box.mp3 access OK

emplayer_open_audio_device

open /dev/audio

open audio device success

emplayer_play_media_file: play /mnt/Alice In Chains - Man In The Box.mp3

decode thread pid: 22

WARNING: avpkt_cirbuf not empty, occupied==1

[14]emplayer_play_audio: SUCCESS

OK Estimate from BIT RATE .................n

audio thread pid: 23

[14]dispatch_nxsock:

Linux version 2.4.24-uc0 (msiu@martin) (gcc version 2.95.3 20010315 (release)(ColdFire patches - 20010318 from http://fiddes.net/coldfire/)(uClinux XIP and shared lib patches from http://www.snapgear.com/)) #118 Mon Aug 23 10:29:57 HKT 2004

Processor: Samsung S3C44B0X revision 0

Architecture: S3C44B0X

On node 0 totalpages: 497

zone(0): 0 pages.

zone(1): 497 pages.

zone(2): 0 pages.

Kernel command line: root=/dev/rom0

Calibrating delay loop... 29.90 BogoMIPS

Memory: 1MB = 1MB total

Memory: 1108KB available (523K code, 285K data, 36K init)

Dentry cache hash table entries: 512 (order: 0, 4096 bytes)

Inode cache hash table entries: 512 (order: 0, 4096 bytes)

Mount cache hash table entries: 512 (order: 0, 4096 bytes)

Buffer cache hash table entries: 1024 (order: 0, 4096 bytes)

Page-cache hash table entries: 1024 (order: 0, 4096 bytes)

POSIX conformance testing by UNIFIX

Linux NET4.0 for Linux 2.4

Based upon Swansea University Computer Society NET3.039

Initializing RT netlink socket

Starting kswapd

Samsung S3C44B0X UART driver version 0.1 <thomas.eschenbacher@sympat.de>

ttyS0 (irq = 3) is a builtin Samsung S3C44B0X UART

UART Rx disabled for production release

Samsung s3c44b0x 4096 color STN driver frame buffer: 0x0C1F1F00

Cirrus Logic CS43L43 Stereo DAC with Headphone Amp

Function keys for Toymaker video player

Power Management for Toymaker video player

Blkmem copyright 1998,1999 D. Jeff Dionne

Blkmem copyright 1998 Kenneth Albanowski

Blkmem 1 disk images:

0: 6A1000-8A0FFF [VIRTUAL 6A1000-8A0FFF] (RO)

SD/MMC SPI driver for s3c44b0x

NET4: Unix domain sockets 1.0/SMP for Linux NET4.0.

FAT: bogus logical sector size 14432

VFS: Mounted root (romfs filesystem) readonly.

Freeing init memory: 28K

Welcome to

____ _ _

/ __| ||_|

_

</font><hr>

</blockquote>

Seems familiar?
I got it with a "cat /dev/tts/0" on the router side after turnning jb on and off several times with and without sd card!! it's awsome!

Although it's still not the end, i think it's a great breakthrough! (to me, of course...)
Thank you all for the provided information till now and for the support!
It would never be possible to get this far without you guys! (and girls, if there's any!)
Now it's only a question of inveerting the situation: the output from the router to the JB!

09-28-2006 15:21:40

New MessageRE:Connecting juicebox to linksys (modified 0 times) j_palito
Profile
Ok. now that i got code out, it's time to start thinking the other way round.

So the question is simple:

Do i need to load a new boot with xD in order to have a terminal window?

Thanks everybody!

10-06-2006 15:04:10

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