[ale] Hacking old directtv stuff

[Mike Panetta]

-------Original Message-------
From: John Mills <johnmills at speakeasy.net>
To: ale at ale.org
Sent: 05/19/03 08:05 PM
To: ale at ale.org
Subject: Re: Re: [ale] Hacking old directtv stuff

> 
> Paperweight Collectors -

On Mon, 19 May 2003, Mike Panetta wrote:

> Anyone willing to give one of these "paper weights" to a curious person?

Naw - I'm still hoping someone else will figure out a fun use for it.

Thats actually what I had in mind...  I even have a debugger pod at work that will work with that processor...  Weather or not it will help depends on if there is a header connection for it or not, and whether or not someone (maybe me) can figure out enough about the memory map to figure out how to load another OS on it.

> Anyone ever figure out what processor it has in it yet?

There are two large chips: one is a Moto XPC850SRZT50B, which seems to be 
a comm processor with a cut-down 860 (PPC) core. The other is an Alcatel 
'DYNAMITE' which I would guess to be a gate-array or PAL programmed for 
signal processing (modem or modems). No markings on top of the PWB except 
'Telocity'. There are three dual-row pin headers and one pushbutton 
switch.

I believe the dynamite is actually a chip for which you can get specs off the alcatel web page.  I know they have data sheets for other xDSL products on that page.  I bet it interfaces to the 850 through one of the SCC's on the 850 (I have the 860 databook, and its a very similar part, both share the same core processor) possibly through a UTOPIA interface.  Hmmm, apparently Alcatel sold its microelectronics divison to ST Microelectronics, so I guess the datasheet would be there...

I would still be very intrested in looking at it if anyone would want to loan one to me :)

Mike

>>>>>>>>

Others look to be flash, RAM, clocks, drivers/receivers, ...

I asked when I signed up with Speakeasy if the unit could work as a modem 
for them. The service person said:

1) It was probably configured wrong (bridge vs. ???), and
2) I might find netlore on hacking it, but they didn't have anything to
   suggest.

I understand these units come up and apply for DHCP configuration from 
their network (i.e., by modem on the phone line). If someone could get at 
that side and start poking into the beast by SNMP, perhaps they could 
learn something. Without a bit of documentation it sounds like a long job 
for little return, but hey, I hope I'm wrong.

 John Mills
 john.m.mills at alum.mit.edu

_______________________________________________
Ale mailing list
Ale at ale.org
<a target=_blank
href="http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale">http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale</a>
> 
_______________________________________________
Ale mailing list
Ale at ale.org
http://www.ale.org/mailman/listinfo/ale