Feedback about RockBox compatibility with IPod Accessories

[chrisTomcat]

Hi!

I don't know, if I'm right here, so please, tell the correct place if there's a better one.

I just wanted to give feedback about the IPod interface of my radio in the car that someone can add it to the wiki table http://www.rockbox.org/wiki/IpodAccessories.

All the details are:
Category - Car Audio   
Manufacturer - Becker      
Model - radio: Cascade, interface: REMOTE KIT 2034.646     
Connection Type - dock connector
ADC Reading - whats this?
Charging? - not tested yet, will add the answer this evening     
Audio Out? - no     
Remote? - no
Audio In? - no
Reporter - me :-)
Comments - my IPod photo 60GB is not recognized with rockbox running
Date Tested 17.09.2009
SVN Revision - release 3.3

Is there any way I can help to make that interface working? Like delivering infos, watching the, how the interface works together with the native IPod system or the like...

Greetings,
Christoph

[AlexP]

It would be rather useful if you added this to the wiki.

Cheers.

[chrisTomcat]

Hi!

Could you please give me write-access then? My WikiName is ChrisTomcat.

Greetings....

[GodEater]

Is Tomcat your real surname? That's slightly unsual.

[chrisTomcat]

Hi!

A, sorry, you want real names there? I targeted to have the same WikiName as my nick here....
then use ChristophKloeters please...

What about my second question about supporting development by delivering info?

Christoph

[AlexP]

OK, I added you.

As to helping, then you could either try reverse engineering or sniffing the traffic.  I don't think there is any way to help without getting your hands dirty.

[chrisTomcat]

Hi!

Thank you, I'll add the info to the wiki...

Well, I think it's quite easy to log the incoming requests of the interface in RockBox, write them to a file and provide them here....

Is there any way to read the communication when the IPod runs on apple firmware without using a logic analyzer and going very deep into eletronics?

[Creposucre]

Does the syncing logo shows up when you connect the ipod to your hardware under the apple firmware?

[chrisTomcat]

Hi!

There's a logo (but I do not remember which one right now) and the text "it is safe to disconnect" or the like.

I have some problems with my IPod at the moment (seems to be the harddisk, I think I have to make use of the vendor guarantee). That's why I am happy, if the IPod works at all and I do not make any experiments. RockBox is not installed at the moment.

[Creposucre]

Then your remote kit uses the apple protocol over USB.
It can't work with Rockbox since only the apple protocol over serial is used here...
Your best bet is to look into the rockbox code to understand it, then try to sniff the USB packets with a usb analyzer and write the handling code...

[saratoga]

Theres an Apple USB protocol? 

[Creposucre]

saratoga: some hardwares can control the ipod and play audio through an USB connection, like this one: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/In-Dash/CD-Players/DEH-P3100UB?tab=B

chrisTomcat: I have to moderate what I told: when you connect an ipod and the syncing logo shows up, you are in advanced remote mode (Mode 4). But this can be over a serial or an USB connection.

I said that it's USB because it's "top-quality sound" (USB audio?) and compatible only with USB targets but you can easily verify it.

You may run Rockbox and look in the debug menu to see if the remote kit sends iap packets when you connect your ipod. Then it will be possible to tell if you'll get a chance to make it work with Rockbox.

[saratoga]

saratoga: some hardwares can control the ipod and play audio through an USB connection, like this one: http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Products/CarAudioVideo/In-Dash/CD-Players/DEH-P3100UB?tab=B

Are you sure it doesn't just mount the ipod as a UMS device and then stream  mp3 files from it?

[Creposucre]

http://lists.apple.com/archives/usb/2007/Dec/msg00024.html

[chrisTomcat]

Hi!

Well...... finally my IPod is back from service. Seems, like IPods don't like being loaded from car-interfaces or USB all the time...

I am going to install the latest build now and do the mentioned tests.

Greetings,
Christoph