Gigabeat Dock.

[Avid]

So there would be little or no modifacation to the actual gigabeat?

I assume No work can be started on this until we have metioned connectors?

I would see no reason to modify the gigabeat.  

If we want to create a standardized product then we should establish exactly which connections we want this docking station to present.

Although, if we really want to discuss this issue I would suggest starting a new topic as this one claims to be about Mpegplayer.

So the "line out" jack would serve as a port for the AV cables, if indeed it is possible.  Now im not a programer, so how would the USB host function work?

[gnu]

The USB host function would work like this:

Gigabeat -> connector (2x Data, +5VCC, Ground) -> usb plug -> usb device (e.g. memory stick).

But since there are no USB drivers for Rockbox, it wouldn't make much sense.

[Avid]

Is there anyone currently working/thinking for working on this project?

[Chronon]

What connections seem worthwhile for such a dock?  We have no access to line in -- which, according to my understanding, is what prevents recording on the Gigabeats.  We can connect to line-out and provide a connection to the USB port for the Gigabeat to act as a device (not host).  Power, obviously. . .  But this just starts to sound like the stock cradle that came with the device.  What other functionality can we gain?

[toffe]

look here for the project on the dock
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/GigabeatCustomdock

Come on the irc channel #gigabeat on freenode to speak about it.

And help us to find the connector so we can build our own

[Mad Cow]

What connections seem worthwhile for such a dock?  We have no access to line in -- which, according to my understanding, is what prevents recording on the Gigabeats.  We can connect to line-out and provide a connection to the USB port for the Gigabeat to act as a device (not host).  Power, obviously. . .  But this just starts to sound like the stock cradle that came with the device.  What other functionality can we gain?

I'm pretty sure that we have almost fully digital connections to the CPU and DAC, so we can pretty much do anything we want with the right hardware in the dock.

[toffe]

Mad

I'm pretty sure that we have almost fully digital connections to the CPU and DAC, so we can pretty much do anything we want with the right hardware in the dock.

You are right, we just need the good hardware to do it
Once again check the pinout of the connector there
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/GigabeatPortPins
and the custom dock project there :
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/GigabeatCustomdock

and welcome if you want help us

[Mad Cow]

Mad

I'm pretty sure that we have almost fully digital connections to the CPU and DAC, so we can pretty much do anything we want with the right hardware in the dock.

You are right, we just need the good hardware to do it
Once again check the pinout of the connector there
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/GigabeatPortPins
and the custom dock project there :
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/GigabeatCustomdock

and welcome if you want help us

I wish I could help, but I can't really do anything useful for this project apart from soldering stuff and testing.

[Chronon]

I can stuff a circuit board, but I'm missing some key pieces in understanding how to get all of the info that we want into separate lines from the pins presented to us in the dock.  How do we get access to the other "Ports" listed on that PortPins page?  Do we have to demux signals that come out of the dock?

[Mad Cow]

I can stuff a circuit board, but I'm missing some key pieces in understanding how to get all of the info that we want into separate lines from the pins presented to us in the dock.  How do we get access to the other "Ports" listed on that PortPins page?  Do we have to demux signals that come out of the dock?

I'm guessing you'll need a processor to convert between signal types.

[elborak]

Unless you need to reclock or something, you shouldn't need a processor. A gate array should be able to do the trick more cheaply and simply.

[Mad Cow]

Unless you need to reclock or something, you shouldn't need a processor. A gate array should be able to do the trick more cheaply and simply.

And that's why is should shut up about stuff I know nothing about.

You learn something new every day.

[toffe]

I can stuff a circuit board, but I'm missing some key pieces in understanding how to get all of the info that we want into separate lines from the pins presented to us in the dock.  How do we get access to the other "Ports" listed on that PortPins page?  Do we have to demux signals that come out of the dock?

You can access only the signals available on the dock connector (40 pins connector) , all the other information on this page are for software use.
The name of the signals are easy to understand I2S, I2c ....
Connection to this signals are direct, example : you have to feed an interface with the 2 signals of the I2C to make work an I2C interface
There is also a software part to enable these signals

[Chronon]

Okay, so from the software side we need to tell the processor to send data to the I2c pins (for instance).  Are these all digital I/O ports?  (Pardon my ignorance.)  Then it seems like we still need some sort of logic to tell us how to route the data presented at the I2c pins to the correct connector in the docking station.  Is this approximately correct?

I appreciate your expertise, toffe!  I have a passing familiarity with analog/digital electronics, but mainly low-level stuff.  I'm not too experienced with instrumentation (as you can tell).  

[toffe]

The signal on the connector are direct from the cpu or goes though a switch (they are all digital except the audio out and the the 2 analog input), look the block diagram there :
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/viewfile/Main/GigabeatInfo?rev=1;filename=gigabeat_f40_block_diagrams_rotated.pdf

So, to use the signals you have to have a component which accept directly these signals, like an digital to analog audio converter which will accept I2S or you have to build some logic or going through a fpga.

And in the firmware, you have to validate the data and command to these pins