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Easiest way to make this only a bedside radio alarm clock

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2019 2:56 am
by skip
Things have advanced alot since I first got this joggler. But I can't bring myself to toss it just yet. I'm sure I can get one more use out of it. So thought I'd try a radio alarm clock.
But having a struggle to do solely that.

Being a medium techie, what would be the easiest way to make this into soley a bedside radio alarm clock?
With alarm selecting a favorite radio station, and ability to dim way down at night.
After a clean install of the openframe software
I have tried sqpos, with it getting stuck on the second screen connecting to mysqueezebox
Tried pnp 3.6 but sooo much there I coldn't tell what dimmed what and how
Tried ubuntu bionic but need wireless

Part of the problem is that if I run it via usb, I have to do it all by command line cause I don't have a usb hub for the keyboard to be attached as well. I know...

Any other suggestions?

Re: Easiest way to make this only a bedside radio alarm clock

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2019 12:35 pm
by pete
I am using older O2 Jogglers with old build / Squeezeplayers using internal memory just fine these days. Openframe 1's / Openpeak devices are using Seabios/EFI bios run Ubuntu or Windows Embedded and work fine there too.

Re: Easiest way to make this only a bedside radio alarm clock

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:05 pm
by skip
Where would I find easy instructions on installing windows embedded? I have alot of old licenses hanging around if needed.

Thanks

Re: Easiest way to make this only a bedside radio alarm clock

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2019 4:31 pm
by pete
Easiest way first is if you have an Openframe1 which looks like an O2 Joggler but is way different.

With an O2 Joggler you would need to solder on a ZIF clip and make sure it works. It is documented right here to work fine.

An Openpeak 2 also has traces for a ZIF clip but it also has a mini PCIE bus card slot which you can tap in to for a SSD drive. Note it is not an MSata slot.
It is a bit tighter but it also has a full sized heat sink on it. It is a PITA to take apart. I have one bare motherboard here from an Openpeak 2 which I can post pictures of and solder points. There is also another USB port on the top of the Openframe 2 but it is a custom thing for a camera. I have added a USB port here so you could use this for a combo WLAN / Bluetooth USB stick and keep the back USB port free.

Note the above involves hardware modifications. If you are not familiar with soldering or hardware modifying the Openpeak / O2 devices than you will have issues. If you want though you can send an Openpeak 1 or 2 to me here near Chicago; purchase the additional hardware and I can do the modifications here. It will cost you some money to ship to and from Chicago from the UK. IE: I just sent a Lenova M93P over to Scotland and it was around $100 in shipping costs.

The Openpeak device has a massive heat sink in it, Zigbee and DECT chips, Microphone and a zif clip on the motherboard.

So steps to get XPe running are:

1 - install Seabios over EFI bios
2 - connect a zif cable to a 16Gb or 8Gb SSD drive. It fits fine over the USB WLAN stick.
3 - optionally write a ROM to the Realtek NIC as it has none and no MAC base
4 - optionally add a small RTC with battery

Then you just write my custom XPe image to your SSD card. It is an open image which you can do anything with (XP wise).

Here is a VNC snapshot of one of the boxes. Runs fine with 512Mb of RAM and using SSD drive.
Windows 8.1 embedded and Windows 10 works but is too slow. Working on W7 embedded...having issues with drivers though. Windows 7 lite works.
openframe1.jpg
I have 15 of these running today XPe and used for automation touchscreens. They all run agents today for remote control by the mothership. I have one booting to Linux using EFI bios with the 16Gb SSD. The O2's here are only used for Squeezeplayers mostly today (have 4 running now for some 3-4 years).

Re: Easiest way to make this only a bedside radio alarm clock

Posted: Thu Dec 12, 2019 4:50 pm
by skip
Thanks for the serious documentation!

I have one of the old original ones. And though I solder for stainglass, joggler won't be on my list.

I have gotten the Android 4.04 installed. Am trying it out tonight.