Adding a USB header

[littlebit]

Hi,

This question goes to all the modder experts in this forum. I was wondering if it is possible to add some USB headerpins onto the board so that I can prototype some usb devices that I can add without using the USB ports.

I don't know if it is possible but maybe it could be possible to divert the usb traffic onto GPIO?
If that is not possible, where can post my suggestion / feature request for the next generation of the rasberrypi?

Thank you in advance..

[Davespice]

I don't know of a way to do this, although I'm not sure why you don't want to use the USB ports?
Couldn't you make a break out board that has a USB A male on one end?
Anyway, if you want to post a suggestion then go here;
http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=24

[MrEngman]

You could try something like this. USB A plug to USB A socket. Just extend it a little and you could add a 4 pin header between the plug and socket. Will plug into the Pi's USB and devices can then be plugged into the socket if necessary and you will have access to a 4 pin header.

20130703_141120.png

20130703_141042.png

MrEngman

[littlebit]

This is a nice and clean solution. But since there is a discussion about a version C of the RasberryPi it would be good to throw that idea in.
Btw, where did you get these parts? From Farnell? can you post me the link??

[RaTTuS]

forget about any model C
extra USB headers are not as easy as you immagine
the SOC only has 1 USB
that is used as the USB port [model A]
or as a link to the
Ethernet | USB hub on the Model B

[littlebit]

y forget? There are tons of boards being developed and that recently came out on kickstarter like this one http://www.udoo.org/, and none have a usb header. Sure this one is 4 times more expensive than the Pi but, adding 1 or 2 more usb Channels, or even solder a usb hub onto the board would give at least me more flexibility.
It would be really neat if that would be implemented IF a model C is coming out.

[Joe Schmoe]

My opinion is that there won't ever be a "Model C" or "Rev 3" Raspberry Pi.

But, somewhere down the road, the entity currently known as the RPF will produce a new model of computer - called something entirely different than the current line. Because, if it was required that every product ever produced by a company have the same name (just different model #), then the original Mac would have been the Apple IV. And current Macs would be called "The Apple XV" or some such...

[rpdom]

My opinion is that there won't ever be a "Model C" or "Rev 3" Raspberry Pi.

But, somewhere down the road, the entity currently known as the RPF will produce a new model of computer - called something entirely different than the current line. Because, if it was required that every product ever produced by a company have the same name (just different model #), then the original Mac would have been the Apple IV. And current Macs would be called "The Apple XV" or some such...

There have been so many versions... it could be the "Apple MC"

[MrEngman]

This is a nice and clean solution. But since there is a discussion about a version C of the RasberryPi it would be good to throw that idea in.
Btw, where did you get these parts? From Farnell? can you post me the link??

Got the bits from Maplin.

USB 2.0 (A) Line Plug - Order Code: N97FK http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-2.0-plugs-219686
USB 2.0 (A) PCB Skt - Order Code: L51AZ http://www.maplin.co.uk/usb-2.0-sockets-43990
Stripboard - Order code: FL17T http://www.maplin.co.uk/stripboard-1918


MrEngman

[RaTTuS]

What I'd like is someone to
take one of
http://uk.farnell.com/microchip/lan9514 ... dp/2292587
and provide a way of attaching it to a RPi [A or B]

[MrEngman]

What I'd like is someone to
take one of
http://uk.farnell.com/microchip/lan9514 ... dp/2292587
and provide a way of attaching it to a RPi [A or B]

Well. all you need is here http://www.smsc.com/index.php?tid=328&pid=97&tab=3, except for the cable to connect it to the Pi. Looks as though it's a 4 USB port version of the LAN9512 chip on the Pi..


MrEngman

[RaTTuS]

http://uk.farnell.com/microchip/evb9514 ... tt=EVB9514
makes it a bit expensive ....

[MrEngman]

http://uk.farnell.com/microchip/evb9514 ... tt=EVB9514
makes it a bit expensive ....

Well there is the pcb schematic and layout program DesignSpark which is free from RS Components and all the info for producing a board is in the docs from SMSC so you could make your own board layout including only the parts you want. Or just duplicate the circuitry used by the 9512 on the Pi with an additional two USB ports on the 9514. This will reduce component cost. Then make your own PCB. Maplin have all you need to make PCB's and the components although they can be pricy as well, but presumably Farnell will have as well.

Make the PCB with a connector that would plug onto the GPIO header to get power and a short length of usb cable with a plug to plug into one of the Pi's USB ports. Or just a couple of wires from the 9514 USB input soldered to R36, R37, the USB connections from the BCM2835. But this would mean the BCM2835 would then be driving two hubs and god knows what that might do, or not.

Alternatively as they are pin compatible you could always unsolder the 9512 and replace it with the 9514 and then add the additional wires to connect the extra USB ports. but then you'd loose the extra lan port you'd have if you made a completely seperate hub. Definitely not something I'd like to try.

Mind you if you've got a model A you wouldn't need to unsolder a chip, just a couple of resistors, and then add the extra bits as needed but it would probably be cheaper to buy a model B

Seriously, I have seen a USB hub something like this mentioned in a couple of posts. Unfortunately I don't remember exactly where. Would probably be cheaper to get one of those.


MrEngman

[Lob0426]

@littlebit: The holes in the PCB are not quite at 1/10" spacing but you may, with a little bit of bending, get some strip pins into the holes and then be able to use a 1/10" connector to them.

I am working on those photos. They are in a separate file that came from a php website I had earlier. I have to delete those then repost them through the WordPress upload tool. Also they are all at 65k or less so I have to re-edit them from the originals to about 200k for larger pictures.

Wordpress will not let me access the folder through FTP (fireftp). I am going to try stopping Apache and see if I can access them then. If not I will have to do it directly on the RasPi. I could not get into X, but stopped Apache and was then able enter X.

So overall I am working on it between working and the wife's holiday demands .

About adding a hub:
I hardwired a 4 port hub to a B model RasPi ver. 1.0 (very modified) it is back-powered by the hub. The Ethernet is still there and I have 5 useable USB ports. The fifth port is a dongle wire. Hubs PSU 2A. I had considered using header pins but did not have any at the time. Now I have pins and connectors, so it may be time to remake the first hub powered model!

The second model just uses a shortened USB A to USB mini cable (4") to rev. 2.0 board that is unmodified. The fifth port is the upper USB port.

Both have been completely stable. The hardwired version has slightly better TP1/TP2 readings than the cabled version. That is why you have to keep the cable short. Hot plugging is not an issue at all. I charge my 1SQ quadcopter batteries, in either hub or the fifth port, all of the time with no resets. I can hot plug my WiFi dongle with no problems.

Edited post as was not answering OP's question

[Lob0426]

I was able to place the 1/10" pins on to a Model B board today. They do splay out to the sides a bit. But are easily bent back to shape after soldering.

You only need a 15 watt iron to do this whole project.

You have to remove the USB connectors by clipping it apart with a set of wire cutters. You do this until you get down to the wires and soldered posts. The you remove the posts and then each of the wires. Then I used a de-solder bulb to clear the USB hole out. Then you wiggle the 4 pin header strip in. It takes a bit of work but they will go in. Then solder them.

Now you have to build some 4 pin connectors for them. The red wires are closest to the Ethernet connector. Red, White, Green, Black is the color code for your USB wires.

Now my back-powered RasPi has connectors instead of being hardwired!

[Lob0426]

I forgot about this thread back when they first were being shipped.

http://www.raspberrypi.org/phpBB3/viewt ... =29&t=8686