Kindle DX + bluetooth hack link

darron · 01-26-2010, 11:32 PM

I just put up a blog entry here detailing my hardware hack of the Kindle DX... Bluetooth!

I added a SparkFun Bluetooth Mate TTL-serial to Bluetooth (SPP) module under the gray bezel, added pppd, and ended up with a wireless ssh to my Kindle with no outward signs of modification.

Nice, eh?

This is my little hack. I've basically just nicely packaged the great work of others. I'm getting my good hack ready to post soon.

whitepaper · 01-30-2010, 05:42 AM

Nice! And do you have any practice in WIFI enabling, that might be more powerful.

darron · 01-30-2010, 01:10 PM

Well, I've considered replacing the Whispernet with Wifi, and removing the amazon proxy stuff to allow it to work. It's not quite worth it for me. That's the 'easy' way.

Otherwise, you'd need a small microcontroller to manage some minimal WiFi chipset and talk PPP to the serial console. (or some custom daemon on the Kindle to talk to it, which would allow you to do things like turn WiFi on/off) There's probably plenty of room in the DX for this, but it's a good bit of work and I'm happy with it as is for now.

kawaisoonano · 01-30-2010, 07:36 PM

so far, hav any menthod to extend the internal memory?

darron · 01-31-2010, 12:32 AM

RAM or storage?

On the DX at least there are pads for a SD/MMC card connector internally. I tried playing with that a little. However, it appears that they shorted all the I/O lines to something... probably to keep CMOS inputs from floating unconnected. I was hoping it was just a set of resistors, but I couldn't locate them. I never took the lid off the can over the micro, they could easily be in there.

There's no guarantee the SD card is even wired right. They could have attempted something, it failed, and they left it alone. Probably not though... probably they just decided not to have removable memory for whatever reason.

Eventually, my fear of destroying it overcame my curiosity.

The RAM is under the can shield. All that stuff is in BGA packages... virtually impossible to replace.

The only decent interface available (that I know of) is that mini PCI slot.

01-26-2010, 11:32 PM	#1
darron Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 2600 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle DX	Kindle DX + bluetooth hack link I just put up a blog entry here detailing my hardware hack of the Kindle DX... Bluetooth! I added a SparkFun Bluetooth Mate TTL-serial to Bluetooth (SPP) module under the gray bezel, added pppd, and ended up with a wireless ssh to my Kindle with no outward signs of modification. Nice, eh? This is my little hack. I've basically just nicely packaged the great work of others. I'm getting my good hack ready to post soon.

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01-30-2010, 05:42 AM	#2
whitepaper Member Posts: 18 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle DX	Nice! And do you have any practice in WIFI enabling, that might be more powerful.

01-30-2010, 01:10 PM	#3
darron Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 2600 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle DX	Well, I've considered replacing the Whispernet with Wifi, and removing the amazon proxy stuff to allow it to work. It's not quite worth it for me. That's the 'easy' way. Otherwise, you'd need a small microcontroller to manage some minimal WiFi chipset and talk PPP to the serial console. (or some custom daemon on the Kindle to talk to it, which would allow you to do things like turn WiFi on/off) There's probably plenty of room in the DX for this, but it's a good bit of work and I'm happy with it as is for now.

01-30-2010, 07:36 PM	#4
kawaisoonano Member Posts: 11 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: kindledx	so far, hav any menthod to extend the internal memory?

01-31-2010, 12:32 AM	#5
darron Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 2600 Join Date: Dec 2009 Device: Kindle DX	RAM or storage? On the DX at least there are pads for a SD/MMC card connector internally. I tried playing with that a little. However, it appears that they shorted all the I/O lines to something... probably to keep CMOS inputs from floating unconnected. I was hoping it was just a set of resistors, but I couldn't locate them. I never took the lid off the can over the micro, they could easily be in there. There's no guarantee the SD card is even wired right. They could have attempted something, it failed, and they left it alone. Probably not though... probably they just decided not to have removable memory for whatever reason. Eventually, my fear of destroying it overcame my curiosity. The RAM is under the can shield. All that stuff is in BGA packages... virtually impossible to replace. The only decent interface available (that I know of) is that mini PCI slot.

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