PSGroove Guide for ROCKbox

This guide will cover the Playstation 3 PSGroove port for devices using the Rockbox Open Source Jukebox Firmware.

Compatible Devices

PSGroove port is compatible with device using a CPU version "PP502x"

Here is the way to check your own device's CPU version :

Start up Rockbox on your device, then go to System -> Debug -> View HW info.

According to CPU version, PSGroove for Rockbox should be compatible with these devices :

GoGear HDD1630
GoGear HDD6330
GoGear sa1200

iPod 4G Grayscale
iPod 4G Color/Photo
iPod Video 5G/5.5G
iPod Mini 1G
iPod Mini 2G
iPod Nano 1G
(The iPod Nano 2G is not RockBox compatible yet (no possible PSGroove port))

Iriver H10 5GB
Iriver H10

M-Robe 100

Sansa C200 V1
Sansa E200 V1
Sansa E200 R

Samsung YH820
Samsung YH920
Samsung YH950

Tatung Elio TPJ-1022

Toshiba Gigabeat S (not F or X)

Vibe 500

Guide

How to install

First, you need to install Rockbox firmware on your device.

Once installed, you will have to replace a file with another one.

The new file fully disable the Rockbox USB functionality and allow PSGroove to send Data to the PS3.

Rockbox USB functionality will not work anymore (computer interaction, file browsing, etc.), use the Disk mode (Select+play when booting an iPod) to connect to computer to acces your player's files.

Rockbox firmware installation

1. Download the Rockbox installer.
2. Run the program and go to the file/preferences to pick your device's model.
3. Then, go to Installation tab, and install the bootloader
4. Once done, install Rockbox and select either the Stable Rockbox, or the Archived version if you want to retain your Rockbox usability as a normal player.

Note : The best choice would be to install the exact same revision which was used by the PSGroove patch. The installer doesn't give you the choice to install a given revision, you will have to download it yourself and replace the .rockbox folder on your device manually.

PSGroove installation

ATTENTION : 
PSGroove replace the USB mode by a USB Hub.
Connecting the device to your computer won't work anymore unless you force the Disk mode.
To access Disk mode on an iPod: Reset your player (hold Menu+Select), when you see the Apple logo hold Select+Play.

Installing PSgroove on your player can be done using 2 methods :

1. RockBox-PSGroove Installer

Rockbox-PSGroove installer

Rockbox-PSGroove installer Requires Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0

It will install a new bootloader to your media player which allow you to select which firmware you want to use (Original, Rockbox, PSGroove, Disk mode).

It will then replace your rockbox firmware with one from the included PSGroove patched firmware to your player.

Pros :

Easy and automatic installation for many devices
Install a Bootloader menu (iPod, Linux, Rockbox, PSGroove)

Cons :

Only for Windows
No PSGroove version choice (You have to download the needed PSGroove files and replace them in the installer sub-folder before using the installation button)

2. Manual installation

Replace device:/.rockbox/rockbox.ipod (if you are using an iPod) by the one provided by your PSGroove compiled binary

3. Alternative solution for multiple payloads

You can have multiple payloads on your device and choose which one you want to reload by placing all the .ipod files in a folder, and loading them manually with the Rockbox files explorer.

- Keep your original device:/.rockbox/rockbox.ipod firmware.

- Create a folder at the root of your device, example : device:/PS3/.

- Rename the payload files to a name matching the payload version : Hermesv3.ipod, hermesv4b.ipod, PL3_23-10-10.ipod etc.

- Place the files in your device:/PS3/ folder.

- Boot your device and configure it to show all compatible files (Settings/General Settings/File View/Show Files/Supported or All).

- Now each time you want to boot your PS3, go to the file browser, and select a .ipod file, it will reboot into the corresponding PSGroove or PL3 firmware.

Pros :

Keep the original Rockbox firmware intact, so the USB port is always working. You don't need to go in Disk Mode anymore when you connect the device to computer.
Multiple versions available, you don't need to reconnect the device to the computer when you want to boot the PS3 with another one.

Cons :

Need to go to the files explorer and reload a firmware instead of direct boot in jailbreaking mode.

How to use

1. Power cycle the PS3

2. Disconnect your earphones, and Reset the Ipod with Menu+Select (Important for first PSGroove versions!).

3. When Rockbox is loaded, connect the device to the PS3, power ON the console and push Reset quickly.

FAQ

Does the original PSGroove port for Rockbox read bdvd?

No, you have to modify the source and recompile, (patching the rockbox.ipod in an hexeditor doesn't work. Rockbox won't boot because of checksum error)

How do I enable bdvd?

If you want to patch the sources and compile it yoursef, look for the port1_config_descriptor[] in the psgroove_descriptors.h file, search for 0x78, 0x78, 0x78, 0x78 and change it to 0x62, 0x64, 0x76, 0x64.

Else, download a payload from the list bellow as they are already patched for bdvd support.

Files

PSGroove

Original PSGroove port to rockbox video.

Rockbox patch provided by shuffle2.

Github:

This is a patch for rockbox which replaces usb functionality with that of psgroove.

Currently it is only functional on PP502x targets, and has only been tested on a
5th generation ipod video.

Additionally, the descriptors/payload is the vanilla psgroove data at the moment.
I hope to eventually port Aaron's changes to build descriptors at compile time...
or someone else can do this change and commit it :)

Note : This PSGroove port doesn't include the bdvd access. It's for homebrews only.