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Prop as USB Host ? — Parallax Forums

Prop as USB Host ?

CounterRotatingPropsCounterRotatingProps Posts: 1,132
edited 2009-07-10 23:37 in Propeller 1
Saw a prop board a while back that had TWO usb connectors - dang if I can find it again :-(·

OK who's got it ?! cool.gif

If I wasn't imagining this, it would be logical to assume·the board's config allows for the Prop to be a USB host. I just can't believe no one's tried that yet - so I must be looking in all the wrong places.

Any suggestions??

thanks

- H

BTW, I read through the USB 3.0 specs last night --- yes, aside from the wow-factor of 'superspeed', reading them was like eating rocks for desert burger.gif

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Comments

  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-07-10 20:15
    USB host mode is impossible on a Propeller, it hasn't got anything like the performance needed.

    Leon

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    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
    Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
  • CounterRotatingPropsCounterRotatingProps Posts: 1,132
    edited 2009-07-10 21:03
    Oh, how disappointing - it's not even up to the original USB spec?

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  • PainlessPainless Posts: 69
    edited 2009-07-10 21:44
    Even if one was to use a chip of some sort to provide the USB communications?
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2009-07-10 21:49
    BradC has some USB stuff here (no host code though) http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=675656

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    --Steve


    Propalyzer: Propeller PC Logic Analyzer
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=788230
  • CounterRotatingPropsCounterRotatingProps Posts: 1,132
    edited 2009-07-10 21:56
    Painless said...
    Even if one was to use a chip of some sort to provide the USB communications?
    Oops sorry all - that's·what I was really asking.

    If the prop had say the Vinculum·VNC1L-1A·USB Host controller (Parallax Item# 604-00051), which, according to info blurb here:

    "not only handles the USB Host Interface and data transfer functions but owing to the inbuilt 8/32-bit MCU and embedded Flash memory the VNC1L-1A encapsulates the USB device classes as well"

    Then the prop could Host, right?

    Thanks for the link Steve, Brad's always doing somethin' cool...

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  • LeonLeon Posts: 7,620
    edited 2009-07-10 22:01
    It should be able to do it with the Vinculum chip, of course.

    Leon

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    Amateur radio callsign: G1HSM
    Suzuki SV1000S motorcycle
  • jazzedjazzed Posts: 11,803
    edited 2009-07-10 22:09
    One of the big problems with host mode for the Propeller even with an external chip is the amount of code required to support some devices. The USB WiFi devices example would make a very attractive addition to "Propeller Power" (not a reference to the son of Scooby Do [noparse]:)[/noparse]. Problem is a lot of what needs to be done with those devices is run on the Host (the Linux version of some Wifi). There is enough C source for the one library I looked at to choke Propeller memory several times.

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    --Steve


    Propalyzer: Propeller PC Logic Analyzer
    http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?p=788230
  • CounterRotatingPropsCounterRotatingProps Posts: 1,132
    edited 2009-07-10 22:09
    Thanks Leon - sorry for the confusion ... ahh another day, another missing specification [noparse]:)[/noparse]

    Has anyone attempted this yet?

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  • CounterRotatingPropsCounterRotatingProps Posts: 1,132
    edited 2009-07-10 22:45
    Steve, our posts crossed in the pipes...

    > There is enough C source for the one library I looked at to choke Propeller memory several times.

    I was wondering about that. Perhaps if it only supported a select few devices? I'm thinking about this generally as the 3.0 spec supports a host-to-host mode, using a cross-over cable. The lesser specs don't have that. Makes for some interesting possibilities. Oh well, maybe it'll take one of the Prop's bigger brothers to host - or maybe this is just wishful thinking ...

    cheers
    - Howard

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  • Mike GreenMike Green Posts: 23,101
    edited 2009-07-10 23:37
    There was someone who posted a HID USB host driver using the Propeller. It cheated a little so it would fit in the Prop's memory and it was not "by the book" by any means.
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