Dockstar: Power via USB?

Hello,

someone posted the trick, that it should be possible to power up the Seagate Dockstar via 5V USB instead of 12V. I couldn't find it again, but I knew it is somewhere on the www. So I gave it a try and connected the USB port on the side via A/A cable to a phone charger and USB power meter. Voilà, it works! I've tested it with the 2 ports on the back too, works. 0.3 - 0.5 ampere consumption in recovery mode.

Does anyone of you know if this is a stable solution and "correct"? I want to power 2-4 Dockstars with a single USB charger/hub, only with ethernet connected, no other USB devices. (network boot / rootfs on NFS)


Regards,
Christian

thats an interesting hack there... i would be interested in how this behaves. I cant offer any advice or pointers on your question other than to say "suck it and see" then please report back.

Just for the record, because I'm playing around with my old Dockstars at the moment: Yes, it's possible to power the Dockstar with 5V (via USB or even the 5.5×2.5mm jack!), but at this mode no USB (i.e. storage) devices are detected.

EHCI timed out on TD - token=0x80008d80

      USB device not accepting new address (error=2)

It should be fine to boot from network or NAND though.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/02/2022 07:54AM by killerbees19.

Well, I did an extreme test on Raspberry Pi zero, it can boot from one Lithium 18650. And the usb-ethernet adapter won't work, but my wf-2120 usb wireless adapter worked! It can even boot at 3.0v and wireless still works!

killerbees19 Wrote:
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> […] but at this mode no USB (i.e. storage) devices are detected.

Oh boy, I was wrong! USB boots fine with 5V power input. :-)

Seems to be this issue: https://forum.doozan.com/read.php?3,35295

Maybe time to update my U-Boot and/or use another USB stick...

Just did a test myself on Dockstar, 4.8v DC from 5.5×2.5mm jack worked. :P I got u-boot messages from net console and I can ssh in later.

The Dockstar usb voltage is jumping between3.0v-4.0v, so I guess if I connect a WF-2120, I can get a wireless dockstar. Maybe I can use it as a print server for old printers.

Yeah, you're right. It jumps around and is far from perfect USB voltage.

> DC jack input: 5.31V
> USB output: 4.2-4.5V

U-Boot (2017.07-tld-1) and NAND (OpenWrt 21.02.2) booted fine at the moment.

But I'm willing to admit that I hadn't the courage to flash NAND with 5V. Did it with 12V ^^

But OPKG package installations seems to be okay with 5V without corrupting something.

It's pretty safe to run the Dockstar, and the Pogo Mobile with 5V. Quite a few routers are using just 5V.

-bodhi
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