Hardware Mod..WIFI...microSD to SD jumper

Hardware Mod..WIFI...microSD to SD jumper, Dont get too excited...Idea only.

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Sed8ed

Feb 12 2008, 12:16

Post #1

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Just a quick question. The spectec card (micro SD) for wifi hasnt be released as yet and may never be judging by comments on the web. Apparently it is awaiting approval of sorts.

So because it isnt available I was wondering if there was anyway to mod the current microSD slot with some sort of jumper to SD. The reason I ask is that there is SDIO sd Wifi cards available on ebay for roughly $36.00 plus P+H...do the two slots share pinouts etc...would the microSD slot recognise an sd card on a jumper type slot. If you look at the photo's I took earlier I do believe there to be enough room to place the sd card somewhere on the device and connect it to the microSD by means of neatly attached wires to the connector pins.

Considering there isnt much on the web regarding a Mod like this I take it no one thought of it because it was impossible LOL....

Considering my microSD card has an SD adapter they must share some sort of connectivity....what are the limitations. Does the the Blackjack II in fact support SDIO. I have read it does but there is also conflicting info saying NO it doesnt.

My inspriration came from browsing the asus eeepc users forum and checking out the hardware mods forum. Basically this small notebook can have GPS and bluetooth added via the onboard connections from the varying bus connections it has (i.e USB...PCIE...etc). so if the pinout on the BJII can be adapted to an sd slot (like a pcb board with sd card slot removed...gutted card reader etc) and matched up to the microSD slot is there any possibility of getting this running with some drivers and a suitable card??? Would the device only recognise one card at a time? Or do some SD cards come with memory on board ?(would be a bonus as I dont need much) Dont want to get ahead of myself though LOL

This would be great fun.

revrenhex

Feb 12 2008, 20:31

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Ahh to dream the dream........

Sed8ed

Feb 12 2008, 23:12

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Are you saying it's only a dream? Or are you "like me" in dreaming it will work LOL

revrenhex

Feb 13 2008, 17:13

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I think if the BJII is SDIO compliant, then it would work in theory, but can you imagine having this horrid looking PCB/flash card adapter thingie hanging out of the side of your phone? ::shudder:: You CAN drive a car with your feet, that don't mean it should be done!

Sed8ed

Feb 13 2008, 23:42

Post #5

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QUOTE(revrenhex @ Feb 14 2008, 04:13)

I think if the BJII is SDIO compliant, then it would work in theory, but can you imagine having this horrid looking PCB/flash card adapter thingie hanging out of the side of your phone? ::shudder:: You CAN drive a car with your feet, that don't mean it should be done!

HA HA..I know what you are syaing. I have taken pictures of the inside of the unit...I believe there is room for the MiniSD wireless card..(not to be confused with microsd). The card would be permanently placed inside the phone...with some sort of switch ( I could easily make a switch to disable the card if the two could not co-exist on the one card connection) It would be very neat and professional. There's no need for it to hang outside the phone LOL. That would be ghastly.

The real question is if it's SDIO compatible. If so we have a winner. If not it's never going to happen with or without the release of the spectec microSD. Considering we can purchase Mini SD wireless cards in 802.11b/g format I think the size issue is negligent. Fitting is no big deal. I would also need a Wifi driver of sorts pulled from another device. Apparently the BJII has wifi traces dotted throughout the registry as part of the cut down WM6 image...I dont think they are an issue. Only the SDIO compatibility is. If this is confirmed as being supported by the devices chipset I'll attempt the mod, but I really need to know if it supports it first and foremost.

This post has been edited by Sed8ed: Feb 13 2008, 23:58

Sed8ed

Feb 13 2008, 23:56

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This photo gives you an idea of what i am trying to achieve....It's a bluetooth mod on the serial bus of the Asus eeepc...although more complicated than a straight pin mod extension of the BJII's microsd slot (basically I am piggybacking the microsd to attach a minisd slot) it's an example...The bluetooth pcb is a bit over twice the size of the microsd slot so you can imagine how easily it will fit (or so i think LOL). There would only be a few small wires going from the microSD to the miniSD PCB...and then the miniSD slot would be placed in a suitable space either against the existing housing or on the device circuitry itself...

If it's SDIO compatible I think we are in with a good chance...as long as the microSD and MiniSD are backwards compatible....

This post has been edited by Sed8ed: Feb 13 2008, 23:57

Attached File(s)

eeepc_bluetooth_mod.JPG ( 97.01K ) Number of downloads: 92

Sed8ed

Feb 14 2008, 01:32

Post #7

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This is basically the pinout for the Micro SD..."SMALL" you might say...

This post has been edited by Sed8ed: Feb 14 2008, 02:48

Attached File(s)

BJII_Jumper.JPG ( 751.13K ) Number of downloads: 79

Sed8ed

Feb 14 2008, 02:52

Post #8

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Here's an Idea of the pinout....from Micro SD to Mini SD...note 8 pins versus 11 for Mini SD....Pin assignment table below. Pin assignment for SPI mode would be required for an SDIO device I think...(I'm really not sure) but this is basically my idea in a nutshell:

Attached File(s)

Micro_Mini_SD_Pinout.JPG ( 39.77K ) Number of downloads: 70

MiniSD_Pinout.JPG ( 55.89K ) Number of downloads: 62

Sed8ed

Feb 14 2008, 03:47

Post #9

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According to this hard to read diagram (see link) the MSM6150 chipset inside the BJII (I can only assume it's the MSM6150 as in my thread with internal pictures it's covered by a dirty big yellow sticker) supports SDIO/SD but I am still not sure...This diagram also shows a different RFR module than the BJII (which has a RFR6275 radio chip as opposed to the listed RFR6100)..I think the diagram refers to whats supported by the chip but it may not be available on the device..It could possibly be an MSM7200 but that remains to be seen....(you can google these chips to find out more)

http://doc.chipfind.ru/html/qualcomm/msm6150.html

Also it's listed with SDIO compatibility here:

http://www.pdadb.net/index.php?m=specs&id=978&view=1

This post has been edited by Sed8ed: Feb 14 2008, 04:11

MicahM

Jul 11 2008, 09:24

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QUOTE(Sed8ed @ Feb 12 2008, 08:16)

Just a quick question. The spectec card (micro SD) for wifi hasnt be released as yet and may never be judging by comments on the web. Apparently it is awaiting approval of sorts.

So because it isnt available I was wondering if there was anyway to mod the current microSD slot with some sort of jumper to SD. The reason I ask is that there is SDIO sd Wifi cards available on ebay for roughly $36.00 plus P+H...do the two slots share pinouts etc...would the microSD slot recognise an sd card on a jumper type slot. If you look at the photo's I took earlier I do believe there to be enough room to place the sd card somewhere on the device and connect it to the microSD by means of neatly attached wires to the connector pins.

Considering there isnt much on the web regarding a Mod like this I take it no one thought of it because it was impossible LOL....

Considering my microSD card has an SD adapter they must share some sort of connectivity....what are the limitations. Does the the Blackjack II in fact support SDIO. I have read it does but there is also conflicting info saying NO it doesnt.

My inspriration came from browsing the asus eeepc users forum and checking out the hardware mods forum. Basically this small notebook can have GPS and bluetooth added via the onboard connections from the varying bus connections it has (i.e USB...PCIE...etc). so if the pinout on the BJII can be adapted to an sd slot (like a pcb board with sd card slot removed...gutted card reader etc) and matched up to the microSD slot is there any possibility of getting this running with some drivers and a suitable card??? Would the device only recognise one card at a time? Or do some SD cards come with memory on board ?(would be a bonus as I dont need much) Dont want to get ahead of myself though LOL

This would be great fun.

Hey guys, i just contacted them and this is their reply about the MicroSD Wifi SDIO Card. :

"Dear Mr. Micah Mathai,

Thank you for the mail, informing your interest in our microSDIO WiFi card 802.11n #SDW-823.

The microSDIO WiFi card is still undergo. It's schedule has been postponed a little bit longer than expected because we have more intense and urgent cases to run currently. Please don't worry, it won't be late than Q3 this year, per our existing schedule. I appreciate your further patience waiting for the world only microSDIO WiFi card #SDW-823.

Meanwhile, I have checked the spec of Blackjack II (I617) smartphone. It is running compatible OS WM6.0, but its expansion microSD slot not support SDIO. It is not able to work with our microSDIO WiFi card. I am not sure if Blackberry will release upgrade software for such expansion slot in future. If they will, you will have chance to use our microSDIO WiFi card then. Thanks for notice.

B. Regards,
Thelma Wang
Sales Manager

SPECTEC COMPUTER CO. LTD.
6F, No. 92, Nanking E. Rd. Sec. 5, Taipei, 105, Taiwan R.O.C.
Tel: +886-2-2753 2953 ext. 30
Fax: +886-2-27532949
e-mail: thelma@spectec.com.tw
SKYPE: thelmawang
MSN: thelmawang@hotmail.com
http://www.spectec.com.tw"

SO OUR BLACKJACK II's DONT SUPPORT SDIO?

clockwork58

Jul 11 2008, 18:57

Post #11

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[quote name='MicahM' date='Jul 11 2008, 05:24' post='901720']
Meanwhile, I have checked the spec of Blackjack II (I617) smartphone. It is running compatible OS WM6.0, but its expansion microSD slot not support SDIO. It is not able to work with our microSDIO WiFi card. I am not sure if Blackberry will release upgrade software for such expansion slot in future. If they will, you will have chance to use our microSDIO WiFi card then. Thanks for notice.
---------

Q: I always thought BJ2 only supports SDHC not SDIO slot. But it is only a software upgrade that can make it SDIO compatible??? I thought it was a HW thing?

This post has been edited by clockwork58: Jul 11 2008, 19:01

MicahM

Jul 11 2008, 21:03

Post #12

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actually i think the lady at the Spectec place got it wrong, becuase i think it is SDIO compatible actually.

Expansion Slots: microSD, microSDHC, TransFlash, SDIO
Supports memory cards with capacity of up to 32GB
So wouldn't that mean it would work with your MicroSD Wifi Card since it is SDIO?

Source: http://www.stylishpc.com/main/product_info...roducts_id=2133

^^ thats for the BLACKJACK II

and i emailed her again stating that and this is her reply:
"
Dear Micah,

Thank you for getting back.
If this is the official spec of BlackBerry II (i617), then, it is compatible with our coming microSDIO WiFi card 802.11n #SDW-823.
I know there are a few of BlackBerry devices able to work with our WiFi cards. But, most of time, when I checked internet for the spec, non of them highlight SDIO support. Anyway, this is good news for you!

B. Regards,
Thelma

SPECTEC COMPUTER CO. LTD.
6F, No. 92, Nanking E. Rd. Sec. 5, Taipei, 105, Taiwan R.O.C.
Tel: +886-2-2753 2953 ext. 30
Fax: +886-2-27532949
e-mail: thelma@spectec.com.tw
SKYPE: thelmawang
MSN: thelmawang@hotmail.com
http://www.spectec.com.tw
"
so il guessing she just got it wrong and thoiught i was talkign about the BLACKBERRY and not the BLACKJACK.

=)

So yea i think it is SDIO Compatible.

clockwork58

Jul 14 2008, 13:32

Post #13

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This is the first time I've seen SDIO listed for BJ2 specs.
I'm still wary at this time, but I guess we will still do the classic
wait and see. *sigh*

But if it DOES work, you know what we would want next right???

MicroSD Wifi card with 4GB+ of memory... he he.

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