iDXG: let's modify the big boy

[thatworkshop]

Given Kindle DX[G] weighs almost half a kg and has a very small battery!!! has anyone tried to make it lighter as it is?

Has anyone tried to put a larger battery (somehow)? This is not difficult by any means, in fact I've done it on some other electronic devices like phones etc., but what is important here is to do it in a aesthetically pleasing way...

And lastly, hack it to make a powered hinges (for lighted cover)... ?

[Jan Steinman]

Originally Posted by idoit

hack it to make a powered hinges (for lighted cover)... ?

The KDX does have two electrical contacts on its left side. I have not stuck a voltmeter on them, though.

[thatworkshop]

Originally Posted by Jan Steinman

The KDX does have two electrical contacts on its left side. I have not stuck a voltmeter on them, though.

I have not opened the Kindle DXG but from the teardown pictures and videos, I have the following to say:

How much does the metal back-plate and the mid-frame weight? Can someone tell me? I don't know why Amazon used metal and (from the looks of it) the mid-frame is so hefty and bulky! So many screeewwws!!! I know it might be to make DXG (given this device is quite big) more solid and secure but still... One might be able to make DX lighter by having a unified mid-frame and back-plate (plastic not metal) together in one piece using 3D printers. Thoughts?

[JSWolf]

The metal back plate is to protect the glass substrate of the screen. If the glass substrate breaks, the DX is useless. So replacing the metal with plastic is a rather bad idea.

[thatworkshop]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

The metal back plate is to protect the glass substrate of the screen. If the glass substrate breaks, the DX is useless. So replacing the metal with plastic is a rather bad idea.

Why don't K3 or other succeeding models use metal?

[cvkemp]

It seems as technology moves forward that the e-ink screens have gone to more flexible technology. The early e-ink screens were made with glass and were heavier.

[Jan Steinman]

The back and frame are metalized plastic, not solid metal.

Have you actually hefted one? They don't seem very heavy to me.

I have replaced screens on these things. I am happy they are not more whimpy!

[thatworkshop]

Originally Posted by Jan Steinman

The back and frame are metalized plastic, not solid metal.

Have you actually hefted one? They don't seem very heavy to me.

I have replaced screens on these things. I am happy they are not more whimpy!

No, I haven't taken it apart. In fact, I'd like to know how much is the weight of backplate and the mid-frame in gram. ?

If I open it up, I'd certainly make some modifications, as well as removing unnecessary screws.

[thatworkshop]

If someone has taken their DX(G) apart, I'd be appreciating if they can weigh the backplate and mid-frame. You'd be contributing to a great cause on humanity.

[thatworkshop]

So please welcome my iDXG... The lighter DXG which will see different hardware/software modifications as we go.

I removed the mid-frame now and my DXG is extremely light to my hand now. I don't have a scale to weigh it, but when I have both my K3 and DXG in hands they weigh quite similarly.

This is at the cost of not having speakers in my DXG (for now) though. Very happy.

Update:

- The internals is a beauty. Simple and very spacious. Oh my Goodness, there are so many things one can do I believe.

- Given the battery is only 1530mAh, fairly small, If/when the battery dies, one can even put a modified yet bigger battery (somehow with some hardware magic). But boy oh boy, that mid-frame is so thick and unnecessarily heavy!!!

- If anyone can think of any reason (security etc.) why removing the mid-frame is bad for the health of the device, please let me know.

[thatworkshop]

- There is an unused port (circled in red, middle left of the image attached), I'm wondering what is that?
- There are seven prongs (labeled as J15 - J21) on the motherboard, what are they?!!!

I also bought a Broadcom BCM94312HMG WiFi module. I'd like to have WiFi on this thing.

[knc1]

Originally Posted by idoit

- There is an unused port (circled in red, middle left of the image attached), I'm wondering what is that?
- There are seven prongs (labeled as J15 - J21) on the motherboard, what are they?!!!

I also bought a Broadcom BCM94312HMG WiFi module. I'd like to have WiFi on this thing.

On the small screen model (K2) that is suspected to be a factory test connection.
The serial port connections are those four pads next to it.
See the DXG prefix, wiki index (under "serial port").
Click saver: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...55&postcount=1
Not exactly well documented, but that is what we have on-hand here.

Ground connections to whatever was on top of this motherboard.

Meaning your going to replace your 3G modem with the Wifi module?
What part of the connector does that Broadcom module use?
Only the USB leads?
(Because those are the only ones wired to anything on the motherboard - I.E: the other PCIe pins are not used.)

Q: Does that Broadcom module have a built-in Wifi antenna?
(You can't just re-use the 3G antenna.)

[thatworkshop]

Thanks M.

N̶o̶,̶ ̶t̶h̶e̶r̶e̶ ̶i̶s̶ ̶n̶o̶ ̶b̶u̶i̶l̶t̶-̶i̶n̶ ̶a̶n̶t̶e̶n̶n̶a̶ ̶i̶n̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶s̶ ̶m̶o̶d̶u̶l̶e̶.̶
Edit: Well, there are 2 female plugs for antennas, and luckily I do have the proper antennas. Look at picture in next post.

Well, I don't have a solid idea how I'm going to do it, but I'd like to. As I have mentioned somewhere earlier, there is a guy who did for Bluetooth here.

So those 7 prongs are for grounding connected to the backplate? Oh, I put a piece of paper behind the backplate, as a precautionary measure not to touch the internals and motherboard's juicy electronic stuff (including those J15-J21 )

But, TBH, I highly recommend removing the mid-frame for every DX owner, it makes lots of difference in terms of weight. I don't know why Amazon (Lab126) jammed this thick mid-frame in there (picture attached). I can now effortlessly pick up and hold just with 1 hand.

Damn, some pedant people even would be happy even with 18 screws less meat (well, metal in this case) on this baby!

[thatworkshop]

But man, there is so much unutilized space in there. With that tiny battery, no wonder 1-2 week battery life. We can put a huge battery if we want or heck a solar panel etc...

[knc1]

Originally Posted by idoit

But man, there is so much unutilized space in there. With that tiny battery, no wonder 1-2 week battery life. We can put a huge battery if we want.

Five years of technology has slimmed down those Li-Ion batteries a lot.
So you may be surprised at what capacity you can get into the free space.

- - - - -

Tether Helium filled balloons to it.
Unless you can find an anti-gravity unit on a PCIe module.

- - - - -

Sometimes Broadcom literature is hard to find, but start by web-searching the full part number.
You may be able to find the data sheet (including connector pin out used) for that module.

Same with the 3G modem/radio.

If they are both USB, then cobble in a usb hub chip in the existing lines to the 3G module.
That will give you another USB (host) port or two inside the case.

- - - - -

If you think the serial port connection pads are tiny on the newer Kindles, just wait until you try to "tap into" those PCIe connector pins.