[WIP] USB Host support (working)

Renate · Feb 25, 2012

I did get the USB GPS puck to work on /dev/ttyUSB0 after I set it to 9600 baud first on my Windows system. I can cat valid NMEA data out of it. Unfortunately, Google Maps comes up with a suggestion to set "My Location" in Settings. I haven't discovered yet what do to about that. Am I missing some provider or something?

I'm surprised that there has not been more interest/response from my app and the "Magic" button. There is a technical problem with the Nook that it addresses and it should have helped people who couldn't get USB to work. I was waiting to hear some feedback before I let the cat out of the bag.

ApokrifX · Feb 25, 2012

Renate NST said:
I'm surprised that there has not been more interest/response from my app and the "Magic" button. There is a technical problem with the Nook that it addresses and it should have helped people who couldn't get USB to work. I was waiting to hear some feedback before I let the cat out of the bag.

Renate,
I’d love to give it a try, but I have neither [OTG] USB cable nor USB "gender-changer" nor USB "modified powered" hub.
If there is a "low budget" solution under $10, it’ll be great "for the rest of us".
That’s why I was looking at micro USB Y cables, but I have a feeling, they supply +5 and GND only and no any data wires…

Although, shouldn’t be a problem to DIY.

Renate · Feb 25, 2012

I made my own OTG cable. I probably should put in a switch so that I can test with and without the ID pin being grounded. I should drop by a Radio Shack.

If you have a spare micro USB cable, you can make your own.
Just take a razor blade and start carefully scraping off the plastic.
You'll see that there are probably three solder pads on one side and two on the other.
The pad you want is the pad that is not connected already, of course, the empty one on the two side.
As you look at your Nook, this pad will be on the bottom left side of your connector.
As you twist it around, it will be on your right side if the connector is pointing away from you.
Just get a tiny wire and solder it between the pad and the shell.
Wrap it up with tape and you are done.

(I'd take a photo, but my camera can't really do macro.)

To make a powered hub, open up a cheap hub, look for the big diode, trace it back to make sure it goes to the input USB jack. Replace this diode with a jumper. Put a big warning sticker on the top of the hub that it back-powers. See the schematic:

If any of this sounds above your level, don't do it!

Back to the GPS thing, I've got the data coming in, but apparently I've got no LocationProvider's installed.

cceerrtt · Feb 25, 2012

Renate NST said:
Back to the GPS thing, I've got the data coming in, but apparently I've got no LocationProvider's installed.

What do you see in logcat? I have the backup of my 2.1 android phone so I can get some apps from this backup but can't find any LocationProvider, just:

/system/app:
HtcLocationPicker.apk
HtcLocationService.apk
/system/lib/libgps.so

mali100 · Feb 25, 2012

Renate NST said:
I did get the USB GPS puck to work on /dev/ttyUSB0 after I set it to 9600 baud first on my Windows system. I can cat valid NMEA data out of it.

I use this https://market.android.com/details?id=android_serialport_api.sample app to access serial devices from android.

Renate · Feb 25, 2012

@mali100: Thanks, but the serial port and the puck work fine.

Code:

$GPGSV,3,1,12,14,49,286,45,27,17,45,27,9,38,48,28,22,75,290,0*77

Yes, it's getting my lat/long, I just didn't paste it!

The LocationManager is working fine because I can do this:

Code:

      LocationManager lm = (LocationManager) getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
      List<String> list = lm.getAllProviders();

The providers aren't there because the list is empty.

I've gone far enough into this to know that I don't have any installed.
They would be in /data/misc/location/gps/
There was a suggestion to copy the files off the emulator! But they weren't there.

Renate · Feb 27, 2012

This is the preview screenshot of the next version of software.
I still haven't heard anybody having any success with the old version.
Don't people want to have keyboards on their Nooks?

Dagon.Alex · Feb 27, 2012

Renate NST said:
Don't people want to have keyboards on their Nooks?

What for? As a proof of concept it is cool, but I can not see any reason I would need a hardware keyboard for my device. Readers(tablets) main feature is its compactness, so why would I want to connect it to keyboard which is bigger then device itself?

Another thing is flash drives support. It`s cool to be able to view any work/study documents on flash just when I need it (Assuming that I take my nook almost everywhere and reading on all the occasions).

Googie2149 · Feb 27, 2012

Renate NST said:
I still haven't heard anybody having any success with the old version.
Don't people want to have keyboards on their Nooks?

I do want to use it, but still need to order a cable / keyboard to connect to it. I'm not sure if I need an OTG cable or if I can just get a gender changer.

Renate · Feb 27, 2012

I guess that the eye-opener thing around here is that everybody has specific desires to personalize their Nook.

@Dagon.Alex: With about 4 GB of spare space on my Nook SD card I never thought of using a USB flash drive on it. I just tried it. It works fine.

Code:

mount -o rw,remount rootfs /
mkdir /usb
mount -t vfat /dev/block/uba1 /usb

Right now I have my Nook connected to a hub with the keyboard, a GPS puck and a flash drive. The GPS data is there, I'm just working on getting a NMEA LocationProvider working. It's also charging. That makes a nice docking station. I can connect a mouse, but it only generates DPAD commands.

@Googie2149: You can try without it being an OTG cable, but as long as you are going to bother to get one it might as well be OTG. It's not clear now if the interrupt from grounding it or the status is used. In any case, it could be.

To all: See, the thing is, getting this to work without so-called "Magic" is a statistical thing based on the Nook, the cabling and the phase of the moon. For some they may have never gotten it to connect, for others they have never had a problem. I'm just interested in how many of each type. This probably has relevancy to other devices also.

mali100 · Feb 27, 2012

Renate NST said:
Don't people want to have keyboards on their Nooks?

Maybe you should post your tool in this forum http://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159007 , they surely are interested in this.

For me your actual tool isn't needed, I never had problems connecting devices. But I would love to get the new version. From the screenshot I assume that it is possible to deactivate charging when connected as usb-device? That would be awesome, it would allow me to connect the nook to my tablet, which supports usb-host only for low-power devices and disables the nook because it tries to charge.

Renate · Feb 27, 2012

Now, I'm getting all confused.
I went back to what I believe is the Nook 1.1 uImage.
Is this the original?

Linux version 2.6.29-omap1 (build@dhabuildimage16) (gcc version 4.3.2 (Sourcery G++ Lite 2008q3-72)) #1 PREEMPT Sat Oct 29 00:45:49 PDT 2011

I can get the original kernel to handle keyboard without using any root access or application?

Renate · Feb 28, 2012

Ok, here's the new version.

If you are using unpowered devices or an unmodified hub:

Hit the "Off" button.
Plug in.
Hit the "Host" button.

If you are using a modified hub:

Plug in.
Play with the charging settings if you feel like it.

When you are done:

Unplug.
Hit the "Peripheral" button.
Hit the "Off" button.
Hit the "Auto" button.

durn_it · Feb 28, 2012

What to do with init binary

I just realised that there were 3 files in the zip file provided by verygreen. I know what to do with the other two, but what should I do with the init binary?

Renate · Feb 28, 2012

durn_it said:
...but what should I do with the init binary?

I dunno. I didn't use it.

mali100 · Feb 28, 2012

Renate NST said:
Ok, here's the new version.

Thanks works fine for me.

durn_it said:
I know what to do with the other two, but what should I do with the init binary?

The init binary is already included in the uRamdisk, you need it only if you want to build your own uRamdisk.

Renate · Feb 29, 2012

For those who did get a USB keyboard working there are two map files which could be updated to something sane.

/system/usr/keylayout/qwerty.kl maps scan codes to key codes.
/system/usr/keychars/qwerty.kcm.bin maps key codes to Unicode.

qwerty.kl is commented text and you can add your own F1-12 keys, etc.
qwerty.kcm.bin is binary and you probably don't need to edit it.

Hint:
Shift-Alt A-I-N-Q-U are composing accents.
Alt E-L-Y are Euro, Pound, Yen
Alt C-S are c cedilla, eszet

darkguy2008 · Mar 1, 2012

Damn, this is AWESOME. It's mainly the fact why I just ordered one: price & usb-host support =) (WIP but it seems it's working

).

I've got a small question though - would it be possible to install a 3G modem on it? or plug my android device to it and enable 3G tethering? if not - but it seems possible - I'm up to helping all with this feature

brendan10211 · Mar 1, 2012

Renate NST said:
qwerty.kl is commented text and you can add your own F1-12 keys, etc.

Can you make it so F1 is back, F2 is menu, etc?

Renate · Mar 1, 2012

qwerty.kl as posted has Escape=Back, and Application key=Menu.
(App key= key between Windows and Ctrl on the right.)

Yes, you can assign the F keys or the multimedia keys any way you like.

Warning: If you edit it, a syntax error in qwerty.kl will cause it to ignore the rest.

[WIP] USB Host support (working)

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