TiVo Community Forums Archives - Using the Modem Serial Port for BASH

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Using the Modem Serial Port for BASH
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Posted by: jmayes

I would like to keep a serial channel open for BASH AND keep my DSS direct connection to the serial port. I will be taking my updates via PPP so the modem channel will not be needed any further.

In reviewing the datasheets for the modem chip it looks like it is a standard serial interface. I am very hardware savy and can find these signals and convert them to RS232 Levels easily.

Has anyone tried using the modem serial port for anything else? I think there are a bunch of you that would like to regain the direct serial connection to the DSS via this method.

I can do the hardware and Doc it, if someone out there can do the scripting in the software.

Attention 9th Tee, This might be a new product for you!

Posted by: millst

I don't think there would be much to do on the software end of things. If you converted that to a standard port, we can just change the configuration file for PPP to use the new port and leave the standard port to control the DSS.

tm

Posted by: jmayes

I have read some posts that some units would not boot with a bad modem and they had to hack some stuff out in order to continue to use them with tivonet. If some one would detail the software hack, I would detail the hardware part. I think another serial port would be helpful for lots of stuff.

jmayes

Posted by: jmayes

Ok, I'm still on the Kick to get another serial port out of the TiVo. I can't believe no one else seems to want this? In hopes of finding the ttyS2 (debug port) I traced the DSS port to a 16C550 Uart chip. Unfortunately it's just a single channel chip (no extra stuff there).

I does leave open the possibility of wiring another 16c550 to the expansion port to gain access to the debug port. Has anyone else looked at this? Does anyone else know the address's the serial ports are tied to in hardware?

And does anyone know where the Blaster/IR receiver's are hooked to in the hardware (I don't think they are true serial or there would be another Uart on the board)

Overall, does anyone have some circuit board traces they could share with me? If we are to continue to exploit the full advantage of this hardware we need to get some prints together.

If you like email me direct.
Jmayes@jmayes.com

Thankx,
Jmayes

Posted by: BruceA

I have a single working card with TTYS2 that plugs into the debug connector. I designed a combo ethernet/serial card but never finished debugging the ethernet portion.

There is one slight problem with having a TTYS2, though. Tivo sees it as a debug port on boot-up and automatically starts the boot monitor menu on it. It will stay at the boot monitor menu indefinitely unkless it is sent a "b" for boot.

I believe Sorphin and a few others were looking at making a board with Tridge's ethernet and TTYS2. You might check with them.

I don't see any application for the TTYS2 port that could not be done with ethernet though.

[This message has been edited by BruceA (edited 11-30-2001).]