GP2X USB Host Mode

gp2x USB host mode

Amongst PDAs, cellphones, portable game consoles, and digital audio players USB host mode isn’t that common. The lack of host mode is why you can’t plug your iPod into your PSP. The iPod camera connector is a partial work-around for this problem. The Linux based GP2X gets more interesting with this new development. Using the GP2X’s USB host requires building a special cable for its expansion port. The port features JTAG, serial, audio, and video pins as well. USB host mode opens the doors for any number of USB peripherals to be used with the GP2X: larger storage from a hard drive/iPod, full sized keyboard for use with a command line, WiFi provided by USB adapter. There is the potential to do anything that you could do with a standard PC. If I had known this I would have bought a GP2X without a second thought… so, after two thoughts I bought one and it showed up last Friday evening. I’ll let you know how it works out.

25 thoughts on “GP2X USB Host Mode

  1. cool. if i had known about this when i was considering buying one, i would have jumped on it. i’ll have to see if the psx has Castlevania symphony of the night working, and if it does, i might just pick a gp2x up.

  2. dos’ing a psp would be hilarious.

    I MUST BUY A GP2X…

    The very idea of playing full-speed MAME, SNES, NES, Neo Geo, and olden PC games on a handheld makes me wet myself with delight.

    The idea of then having a wifi connection to work with makes my head explode.

  3. I was following the product for quite some time before it hit the market, and was greatly disappointed when they dropped USB host support. Glad someone was able to get it working. I wouldn’t mind getting one so much now if I could use my iPod for storage instead of having to buy a bunch of SD cards.

  4. omg thats so sweet. if only I didn’t have like 400 bucks in best buy credit I’d consider buying one of these instead of the psp. if more kool stuff comes out of this thing I might have to pick one up

  5. if you’re looking for a usb host, the archos gmini line has it. ipod killer there, all the features ipod wont include. support for any music format, even flac, almost any video format, internal cameras, external cameras, screens from 2-7 inches, hdd’s from 20-100gig, and usb host capabilities. just google archos. as far as emulation, psp has all of it and plays it very well, ive played all of the emulators and they all work mostly flawlessly.

  6. Raytard: You do realize if you try to play the newest games and emulators on the PSP as of right now, you’ll only get hosed. And that Archos may have the features, but it doesn’t have the style. iPod killer? For those who must stroke their ePenis perhaps.

  7. I love the idea of portable devices having a USB host mode. I wish there was one for my ipaq h1910 (well I guess I could always make it cool by making it into an ipod as previously posted).

    GP2X is even more awesome than its predecessor.

  8. You could try to do an easier USB host mode with some adapter called USB on the go, i don’t know much about it because i blew all my cash on the gp2x and a 1gb sd card (you’d be amased how fast that fills up with porn ;)

  9. Anyone know if this could power an external usb hdd without the nedd for external power? I’m thinking no, as my pocket pc can’t, but if it could this would be an instant buy.

    (I’m sure an ipod would work, too bad I don’t have one…)

  10. okay, well i’m also a bit of a GP2X hacker (was working on getting USB Host mode going earlier, but needed some hardware..) and can now happily report that there is work on a breakout box for the gp2x that will give -full- connectivity .. video/audio/serial/jtag/usb/midi .. to the gp2x handheld ..

    today we’re wiring up our first pcb proto; if all goes well, i’ll have my 40gig jobo giga one datatank (its battery powered too!) wired up to my gp2x, and i’ll have the ‘perfect’ PDA/game/entertainment system combo ..

  11. okay, well i’m also a bit of a GP2X hacker (was working on getting USB Host mode going earlier, but needed some hardware..) and can now happily report that there is work on a breakout box for the gp2x that will give -full- connectivity .. video/audio/serial/jtag/usb/midi .. to the gp2x handheld ..

    today we’re wiring up our first pcb proto; if all goes well, i’ll have my 40gig jobo giga one datatank (its battery powered too!) wired up to my gp2x, and i’ll have the ‘perfect’ PDA/game/entertainment system combo ..

  12. I got a Toshiba E330 for $100 on ebay that has usb host capability. I run a USB wifi adapter on it. It also recognizes most usb flash memory devices, but has trouble with a cheap USB webcam/digicam.

  13. usb host is available on fujitsu-siemens pocket loox range. They will power up some plugged in devices( like card readers), but for hard drives use a battery extender. Usb host cables and battery extenders are available from pc-mobile(do a google). You will also need drivers to use the host function for most peripherals, the drivers are from Ratoc(do another google). I personally use a usb powered Freecom 40gigabyte drive as well as a self powered 160 gigabyte mobile hard drives, both work well.My model is the Pocket Loox N520, with built in GPS.Hope this helps.mally

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