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+  Rockbox Technical Forums
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| | |-+  Playing Rockbox and charging iPod at the same time
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Author Topic: Playing Rockbox and charging iPod at the same time  (Read 3303 times)

Offline scott41677

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Playing Rockbox and charging iPod at the same time
« on: April 24, 2007, 03:12:37 PM »
I read in the Wiki that if you connect the USB cable and hold the "Menu" button on the iPod at the same time, you can listen to Rockbox and charge simultaniously.  HOwever I can't seem to get this to work.  The battery icon on the main page will flash as if it's charging, but when I'm in the WPS screen, the battery level decreases over time and eventually the iPod will shutoff due to no battery.  

When I hold the "Menu" button down and connect the USB cable, Windows XP will popup an window saying "unrecognized device".  The device manager will show the iPod as unrecognized and I am not able to find any drivers in order for XP to recognize it.

I have a 5G 30GB iPod, if that helps.

Thanks in advance for any help.
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Offline scott41677

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Re: Playing Rockbox and charging iPod at the same time
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2007, 08:48:01 AM »
I tried turning off the Car Adapter mode, but the issue is still present.   Any one have any ideas?
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Offline xlarge

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Re: Playing Rockbox and charging iPod at the same time
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2007, 08:50:51 AM »
Your ipod is using more current than it get's while charging.
Search the forums...
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Offline scott41677

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Re: Playing Rockbox and charging iPod at the same time
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2007, 09:48:42 AM »
I've searched both the RB forums and Apple forums with no luck.  Any ideas?
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Offline Krellion

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Re: Playing Rockbox and charging iPod at the same time
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2007, 10:25:53 AM »
The problem you're having is exactly what xlarge said:  Your iPod is using more power while running Rockbox than what it is getting via the USB connection.

Main reason for this:  Rockbox has very little USB support on the iPod, mostly to detect a connection and reboot it into the built-in Disk Mode.  Due to this, Rockbox is unable to notify the USB host that it needs more power (by default, USB will automatically supply 100mA of power, and can max out at 500mA on a connection; see here for more information).

You may want to look into using an plug-in charger as that should provide enough power to keep the iPod running, plus then you're not stuck with having to be near your computer to use it.
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Offline scott41677

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Re: Playing Rockbox and charging iPod at the same time
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2007, 11:55:33 AM »
Figured it out.  If I shut down the back light, it's enough to charge the battery.  Who would have thought that the backlight sucked that much power.
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Offline scorche

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Re: Playing Rockbox and charging iPod at the same time
« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2007, 06:52:03 PM »
On most portable devices, the backlight is usually a very large drainer of the batteries.
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