Apple iPod Remote

[DumpsterDiver]

I have RockBox on my iPod 30Gb 5.5G and only the volume buttons work. Was wondering if anyone else here has the same problem, or is it just me? If someone else has the exact same thing, which firmware did you use?

[Flid]

As far as I am aware, there shouldn't be any support with Rockbox for iPod remotes / accessories. Is this a volume control on a wired remote, or is it a wireless remote controlling a docked iPod? If it's the latter, then the dock itself has the hardware ability to adjust volume output. If it's the former (ie. a wired remote)... I am going to be very suprised and equally intrigued that someone might actually be working on remote support for the iPod.

Play, Pause, Ffwd, Rwd etc definitely don't work at the moment.

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/IpodAccessories

[DumpsterDiver]

It is the Apple Radio Remote for all iPod's with a Dock Connector. It has play/pause, next, back, hold, volume up and down. This Thing

[Flid]

Dumpster (or anyone else with an apple remote),

Can you confirm that you can visibly see a "real" change in volume with Rockbox (ie. Volume icon movement, and not just an audible variation)?

[DumpsterDiver]

I have removed Rockbox, but plan on reinstalling it soon. However, I don't think I saw the icon change at all. I know with the standard apple software it is just like a dock, doesn't change the iPod volume, just transmits louder.

[vkeios]

I just tried, no icon change . But there is an audible change in volume. (magic?)

[Llorean]

Basically, docks should have their own volume control. Rockbox, and the iPod firmware too I think, output from the dock connector at line level. Which means that no matter what the iPod's volume is set at, what comes out the dock is at one specific level, and so the dock itself has to increase or decrease that for your speakers.

Which is why the icon on the iPod shouldn't change.

[woyciesjes]

Any updates to this? Is it working now?

[rastaman01]

I just bought the Apple Radio Remote and it works with my 80GB 5G iPod Video.  Two kinks:
- FM radio doesn't work, unless you restart the unit to the Apple firmware... which is what I do if I want to listen to radio.  It would be nice if Rockbox let you use it as an FM radio, and allow you to record that way.
- In order for Rockbox to recognize the unit (and allow you to plug in your headphones to the radio) you must first press a volume + or - once.  Then all the controls work.  The delay on the controls is something to improve though...
- The hold slider works, but it doesn't put the player controls on hold (just the remote's controls).

Is any work being done specifically to get this working?

[Llorean]

Work has to be done by someone who owns one, basically. So, hopefully you're volunteering.

[rastaman01]

I also checked and the volume controls seem to be "external" so they don't modify the volume level of the unit itself (it's like connecting the unit to your car stereo).  This piece works well enough though. The other thing I couldn't get to is the Accessory Debug menu to see what it is returning for the values.

I don't really have much programming experience with this kind of stuff.  Although I would love to volunteer I wouldn't know where to start.  Since FM radio functionality has been implemented in other ports, would it help to 'enable' it in the iPod Video 5.5G port to see if it works? Or is there anything extra that would have to be done?

[Llorean]

It's not an issue of simply "enabling" something. Putting a lightswitch in the wall doesn't instantly let it control your lights. Someone has to put in all the wiring and such behind it. The same basically applies here - someone needs to figure out how the FM radio works, what communication needs to be in place with it, and code all of that.

[rastaman01]

I'd be glad to send any testing / debugging results... but I'm not experienced enough to code anything for it to work properly.
So far it works if:
Car Adaapter Mode is set to Yes
Accessory Power Supply is set to Yes

I have to power Rockbox on first, then insert the remote.  The volume buttons change the variation in volume, but don't alter the iPod's volume itself.  The next, and previous buttons work fine, and he play/pause button works as intended but if I enable fading when stopping/pausing there is no fading and it is slow to respond to the play/pause command...

If anyone is willing to check into implementing this let me know.

[Chronon]

I don't know any particulars about this accessory but it sounds like it takes sound from the line out in the dock.  If so, then this explains why changing volume on the unit doesn't affect the Rockbox volume.  It also explains why fade on pause/stop doesn't cause apparent fading to audio through this device.  Line out is at a fixed level and isn't affected by the iPod's (i.e. Rockbox's) volume controls.  Rockbox is probably fading its own internal volume but line out remains at its fixed level until it actually pauses or stops. 

[Creposucre]

Hi,

task 10494 adds ipod FM support, have a look at it

Indeed, the ipod fm remote is connected to the ipod line-in.

By the way, there is a wolfson codec in it, same as the 5G.

I don't think it's possible to control it for sounds ajustements, though. It is connected to what it seems to be a custom chip that integrates the accessory protocol.