X51V to desktop/carputer & USB Host video demonstration (I)

[afarre]

Here you have a video I recorded to demonstrate how to build a limited desktop computer from an X51V and some extra stuff. Sorry for my english and also because I am still newbye in PDA.

VIDEO PDA2desktop256 Mid-Low res (16.3Mb)
(zip file)

ADDED USB TOUCHSCREEN VIDEO AT POST #42 OF THIS THREAD.


I built it with two major objectives in mind. First one is to have a more comfortable layout when main computer is not close. The second one, and the most important, is to build a carputer (car-computer) as an evolution of desktop setup.

The main reason I am using USB interface rather than Bluetooth is because all in-dash car TFT 7" comes with USB touchscreen. Also, once having the USB host, it opens the door to a broad range of standard and cheaper devices compared to bluetooth.

ABOUT USB HOST:
I am using a Ratoc CF USB host card. I bought it at Ebay for $100, I know it costs +$140, here you have a cheaper option, but I have no idea how it works, here you have an aximsite thread about it. Both CFs are only USB 1.1. Ratoc CF comes with three drivers: usb host driver, human interface driver (HID) and mass storage driver. I found some limitations, all acceptable and compatible with my objectives (see notes below).

I have no idea about supplied HID driver is going to work with USB touchscreen output, I still have not tried, all I can say is I put to work all USB mice I tested. I only found some problems with mouse pointer (see notes below), but it is not used with touchscreen. I suppose a touchscreen behaves like a mouse. Next week may be I will have a chance to test a borrowed one.

Current thread could give some answer to some posts in following threads:
Connecting USB touchscreen
X50/X51V VGAout + USBhosting = carputer | desktopPC

Once having an in-dash 7” touchscreen TFT I will publish another video as the second part of current thread, showing a car setup including TFT/TC + X51V + USB Hub + USB HD, to be used as carputer + general purpose multimedia device + Navigator. If this aximsite bluetooth stack thread success it will also add a cell phone hands free system. If possible and I found proper software I will also add some experience with car diagnostics using a VAG-COM USB cable.


IMPORTANT NOTES:

1. To see mouse pointer I am using Deje driver. Occasionally pointer does not appear when connecting mouse. I think it could be some WM5 incompatibility with the driver. If someone knows a better driver please let me know.
2. HD partition must be FAT32. WM 2003 / 2005 does not deal with NTFS. HD can have several mixed partitions FAT32, NTFS, EXT3, etc. All FAT32 partitions are recognized and showed as different disks.
3. It is important to use a self-powered USB hub because the limitation of 100mA RATOC CF card. Typically those hubs can be used with / without self-power.
4. I tested several USB mice. All wireless mice I tested did not show Deje mouse pointer. Same result when using wireless keyboard + mouse set, keyboard also worked fine.
5. Movie playback show in video is a full CD size movie (700Mb). I wanted to know how USB 1.1 behaves with it. The test was OK, the movie plays back smooth without interruptions.
6. Ratoc Mass Storage Driver can only hold one device. If you connect more than one only last one will be functional (see video).
7. For me, one of the reasons to built a car 7" TFT setup is to see TomTom on larger screen. WM5 requires TomTom 5.21 update witch still have several problems with WM5:
   • PDA vertical, TomTom vertical: OK
   • PDA vertical, TomTom horizontal: Runs slower. No landscape arrangement in VGAout.
   • PDA horizontal: TomTom does not start
   It means currently TomTom can only be vertically displayed on 7" external TFT, witch is almost the same PDA size.:realmad:

[SadiaV]

awesome. It was my dream to have such a system;) As I see it is possible.

[darkdestroyer]

This was also my dream until I realized that it was easier just to have a small PC (mac mini or vaio tx) hooked up to the various devices in a carputer.

[ericem]

wow it was a good video just finished watching it, Thanks. Now we really know how capable these devices are!

[mad0865]

Nice Job! That was awesome.

very well done. yea, it was a bit slow, but you showed everything pretty well, and it's nice to just show off the capabilities of the x51v

[new2axim]

Hot! I didn't know that the Ratoc would allow multiple devices simultaneously.

Also, my understanding was that the Ratoc was flakey and that people, generally, had problems with it. Did you have any trouble setting it up?

[cakos]

too bad the x50x doesnt have usb host!

[darkdestroyer]

Neither does the X51v...

None of the dell PDA"s have USB host.

He's using the Ratoc CF USB Host card which allows many PDA's with CF slots to have USB host.

[runnr548]

Great stuff! It makes me proud to be associated with this site. Geekdom is alive and well.

[afarre]

Thank you for watching the video and for your answers.
I know the show is too slow, sorry about that, but I was alone and I have to spend much time leaving and taking the camera.

I forgot to say a couple of additional small problems:
- Keyboard only deal with English layout (I use Spanish WM5).
- Occasionally appear some keyboard key sticky or repeat problem, but it only happens when mouse pointer Deje driver is working.

Also is good to know there is a new set of Ratoc drivers from date 03.15.06 and tagged for WM5. Is good to see the product is alive and well maintained. Not seen the keyboard problem with latest drivers but I just used it little time.

Here you can find some answers about what Ratoc USB Host CF can / cannot do.

I was not sure about connecting several devices to same USB port was going to work, what I did know it was ok with USB 1.1 spec. It works.

I am to post a link to this thread to Deje Driver web, just in case it could be possible to release a driver for Windows Mobile 2005. I am a programmer and I know in most of cases it just require to compile & link existing code using Visual Studio 2005 (8.0) + PocketPC 2005 SDK.

[hablorhm]

Excellent job. I enjoyed the demonstration on the capabilities of the axim X51V. :approve:

[Diego]

Nice demonstration !! Thank you for your effort making that movie. Now I know the power that I have on my hand... :approve:

[Oscar Ubaldo]

Good job. The possibilities of this system are amazing but I am more impressed with your imagination and "esprit d'entreprise".

very impressive! i agree with the posts above me, this shows off the Axim's potential very well!