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This guide will show you how to make a cheap and functional dongle which turns your TV into a full Linux computer. It utilizes the tiny ODROID-W development board and runs Raspberry Pi compatible software.
It’s designed for most modern TVs which have both HDMI and USB sockets. This means the small package can plug in and get both video and power directly from the TV so you don’t need any extra cables or chargers. You just change the input source on your TV and you have a fully fledged computer that can browse the internet or whatever else you want.
The project is definitely of the rough and ready variety. It ain’t pretty, but it works. It requires no expensive equipment to make and consists entirely of off the shelf parts. It combines the ODROID-W with a cheap USB Hub, some custom connectors, with everything being housed inside a plastic ID badge holder. It only requires some basic soldering skills, so if I can do it with my shitty soldering, you can too.
PHOTOS
- The Dongle
- Thickness
- Attached to TV
- Attached to TV 2
- TV Running Raspbian OS
PARTS (~$40)
- ODROID-W Computer (available [here])
- 4-Port Passive USB Hub
- Micro HDMI to HDMI Adapter ([link])
- Micro USB Male Plug (snip one off an old cable)
- USB Male Plug
- ID Card Holder (the non-rigid soft plastic type)
TOOLS / MATERIALS
- Small Philips Srewdriver
- Soldering Iron
- Solder
- Electrical Tape
- Wire Cutters/Strippers
- Scissors/Knife
- Hot Glue Gun (optional)
HOW-TO GUIDE
Step 1. Unscrew the bottom of the USB hub and remove it from the casing [VIEW PHOTO]
Step 2. Snip and strip the USB cable, leaving about 2 inches of red, white, green and black wire. Go ahead and strip and tin the ends too. [VIEW PHOTO]
Step 3. Solder the USB hub board to the ODROID [VIEW PHOTO]
Step 4. Use electrical tape or plastic sheet and cover the bottom of the hub’s board [VIEW PHOTO]
Step 5. Now we need to make the USB cable which will power the dongle. I used the USB male plug from the hub which we snipped off earlier and modified it to save space [VIEW PHOTO]. I then also prepped the micro USB male plug and stripped/tinned the voltage/ground wires.
Step 6. Add the plastic shielding back over the two wires then solder the two plugs together. I positioned it like this so the power cable could retract into the case when needed to save space [VIEW PHOTO]
Step 7. I added a bit of tape/glue to secure the wires, then I plugged everything in and stacked it up [VIEW PHOTO]
Step 8. Shove everything into the ID badge holder. I cut out some holes for the USB hub. [VIEW PHOTO]
Step 9. Plug in a wifi adapter, wireless mouse/keyboard and you can now dongle it up!
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BY CHRIS ROBINSON