[Hardware] PSP SIO-to-RS232 boards

[apv]

[QJ: apologies for posting this to the "Development" forum, however I found no dedicated hardware forum...].

In this article, I am giving two printed circuit board designs for a PSP-to-RS232 converter using MAX 3232, along the lines of the PSP Remote article found here.

The motivation behind my design is that I found really ugly the fact that people wanting to experiment with the PSP SIO port had to rip off their remote control cable.

Besides, there are all kinds of devices that may need to interface with the PSP SIO port, including for example this design of a PSP SIO to USB, using the popular FT232. So, I thought of creating a CADSOFT Eagle library with the necessary PCB pseudo "parts" to make a SIO plug and then construct the MAX 3232-based RS-232 converter using these pseudo-parts. Other designs, including e.g. interfacing a GPS to the PSP, like the one found here may also use these pseudo-parts.

Here is what a ready-made PCB looks like:

If people build or otherwise find useful these circuits, I 'd like to get back comments and ideas from them. You might wish to check the full article for details.

Have fun,

-apv.

[Art]

It's very neat, but how are you ever going to house that in any enclosure?
I would rather rip apart a remote to have a neat plug, and house that
circuit in a seperate box somewhere.

Maybe there would be a way to make it fit in a DIY desktop stand.

[elad_thc]

looks pretty darn good much better than the spliced cable version i made

[apv]

Originally Posted by Art

It's very neat, but how are you ever going to house that in any enclosure?
I would rather rip apart a remote to have a neat plug, and house that
circuit in a seperate box somewhere.

Maybe there would be a way to make it fit in a DIY desktop stand.

That's precisely why I made design #2, which should fit inside a DB9 RS232 plug plastic case. I 'll post pictures as soon as I get that version done. A DIY desktop stand is not a bad idea though, I 'll have to give it some further thought.

-apv.

[jgtc_lover]

WOW! Thats amazing! I can't wait to see what this can do for the homebrew community.

[Access_Denied]

What exactly can you do with this? I've heard people say all you can do is send simple commands, like volume up/down or turn off the PSP.

[The_Kills]

1st of all...I have no idea what exactly your trying to say

2nd of all...I have no idea what that thing does

3rd of all...I have no idea how this helps homebrew community

4th of all...I have to say im sorry if i offended you in anyway

5th of all... I have to say you are very smart

6th of all...I have to say thank you and goodbye

[GmDude66]

Knowing me, I would ef my PSP up in the process >_<

[SG57]

The_Kills - Than why post?

On Topic: Im alwys facinated by hardware mods...

[Art]

That's precisely why I made design #2, which should fit inside a DB9 RS232 plug plastic case.

There's a good idea.

[jacksmyhro]

My robot has an end like that on it. It looks like it is a snug fit, as the headphone slot on the psp is somewhat indented from the rest of the units base, anyway...Good job

[Matt123]

So, what does this do, allow communication to a GPS or PC serial port?

[apv]

Originally Posted by ARza

What exactly can you do with this? I've heard people say all you can do is send simple commands, like volume up/down or turn off the PSP.

This is indeed all you can do with the PSP's own XMB shell. However, each homebrew can use a serial connection in its own way. To give a few examples (real and fictitious):
[real] you can use Tyranid's PSPLink, a sophisticated shell for managing the PSP's memory and modules, loading and running modules, etc. (but then again, PSPLink can also use the wireless and the USB port).
[real] you can program your own homebrew to write e.g. debugging output to the serial port.
[potential] if you have any other type of device that uses RS232, you may connect it to your PSP and write software for it.
[wannasee] maybe one day someone can substitute the awkward PSP's input routine (used when setting up your wireless connection, when initializing your PSP's name, and when using the web browser on 2.x) for a real serial keyboard input function. I 'd love to see that happening.

I believe that the development of such apps is lagging behind exactly because ripping a functional remote control to enable some homebrew with dubious functionality is not appealing to most users. If you read the full article, I give out two printed circuit board (PCB) parts - that I have used in my own boards - which can be used in any other PCB board as well. So, anyone whishing to do any of the above, can use these parts. To name one real example, deniska's GPS connection (please do a search, I feel too lazy to include URLs right now) can be done by simply producing the two small pseudo-part PCB boards (baseboard and plugboard) and fitting them together as a "plug" (see the cut-fit-solder-and-glue instructions in the full article).

Cheers,

-apv.

[A Fn NOOB]

Has anyone seen those Logitech (And other brand) 802.11 battery powered webcams? A PSP ad-hoc'd to one of these would make a fun little toy.

(I know not serial port related)

At some point Im going to look into hooking a transducer from a fishfinder to my PSP to at least get depth display while Im on my boat. (When I get my boat done anyway)

It'd be nice to have it relay other data from sensors like engine temp, water temp, water pressure, rpm, and so on....

Hey! I could steer my trolling motor wirelessly with my PSP like the guy who made the PSP controlled car! If I get a transducer working, I could have it find fish AND drive to them. (Already have GPS working with MapThis of course) PSP sidescan sonar?