Add a TTL serial port to your Dash

Hey, peeps. Sorry I kind of dropped this project and didn't respond to most people who sent me questions... Work keeps me pretty busy and I haven't even touched my Dash since shortly after my last post here. In fact, I never even applied the update that renewed its certificate.

Instead of bringing you another software hack, it's time to bust out the soldering iron and get at that delicious serial interface. Disclaimer: I barely know what I'm doing.

Screw locations: Two underneath the serial number on the bottom, two more on the back of the unit, underneath the sticker and near the top. http://imgur.com/9PfrhyV http://imgur.com/SBlx38g

Then bust out your spudger and go to town around the edges. I think I started on the bottom and worked around the outside. A butter knife might do the job as well. The screen housing is pretty tough, so don't feel the need to be overly cautious just yet.

Once you're in, carefully disconnect the ribbon cables to the display. The one on the left flips up and down. The one on the right? Don't what I do, which is prying at it impatiently and breaking the plastic clip in the process. It's pretty fragile. http://imgur.com/QmJgGrn

Then, identify where the serial interface is. Conveniently, they took the guesswork out and clearly labeled it! Thanks, Sony! http://imgur.com/ECucPYs

Next, I soldered some wires to them. It looks absolutely awful and I'm really not proud of it. http://imgur.com/QspxxsU http://imgur.com/BwdTm9D

I'm using standard header size pins because the female ends of the TTL adapter I'm plugging them into are the same pitch (2.54mm).

Next, I connected it to my USB TTL adapter. I started Minicom at 115200 baud, 8n1 and booted it up. Success! http://imgur.com/V1w07Rr

After testing, you would then want to dremel a small access port on the outside so you can close it back up. I can't do that yet, because I've got a ribbon connector I need to fix first...

That's as far as my boot process seems to get. So here's the problem: I should be seeing a lot more there, and I'm seeing nothing related to the boot process. I'm thinking this particular serial header is JUST for something else... Possibly Xenv: http://d1.amobbs.com/bbs_upload782111/files_31/ourdev_570958.pdf -- That's for a different board, but is still somewhat relevant.

The actual serial port? I think it's at the bottom middle, just to the left of the LEDs that illuminate the Sony logo on the front. I seem to have misplaced my header pins, but once I find them I'll stick them on and post an update.

Now, to disappear for another couple of years =) (Just kidding) (I hope)

Full gallery: http://imgur.com/a/dBk8n

Happy hacking!