What Model Is This Player?
 

Hi,
I've bought a cheap USB 4GB SD Card MP3 Player from eBay for my daughter. I copied some audiobooks and other stuff for her, organized in different folders and tagged by track numbers. The player always starts with folder no. 5 no matter how I re-sort or re-name the folders. I'd like to learn a bit more about MP3-player firmware in general and about this model in special:


It has two stacked pcbs inside, each labeled DHZ-311 Shoujixing. I took off the upper board with the display and the display driver.

I don't know about this particular player, but I have generic mp3 players that sort according to the order in which files/folders were copied. When I drag and drop multiple folders from Windows, as I learned (with frustration) they don't get copied in the order they are sorted in Windows. For example, if you drag folders 01 to 10, it will start copying from 06 (as shown the progress window). Someone suggested zipping the files and unzipping it to the player. I have not tried this yet but you could give it a try (and let us know if it works.)

Thanks for that hint, will try later. First thing I tried, renamed all files in the other folders from *.mp3 to *.mp5. Now it only plays the files of folder 1. Renaming is much faster than transfering all files again through a USB2-"FullSpeed" (i.e. USB 1.1) port. However, this is not a comfortable solution at all.

I eventually dared to remove the lower board of the Player.
http://ftp.nuclear.free.fr/img/DC091020001.jpg

It has 2 chips from SINOWEALTH, the SH86021K USB interface and the SH86170P064 MP3 player. I googled for it and found some information about the SINOWEALTH product line, mostly 4-bit and 8-bit mpu chips (it appears they re-invented the 8051). http://www.sinowealth.com/ftp/Select...ion_Manual.rar

http://ftp.nuclear.free.fr/img/Sinow..._Selection.JPG

From what I see I can't flash the SH86170. Should go for something else. What's the cheapest MP3 player for RockBox?

Best regards,
mPeggy

Are you in US? I bought refurbished Sansa players from Buy.com for me and my son for real cheap. He has a e250 and I have a c250, both can do Rockbox, though I didn't bother to put it on the c250. Otherwise, check out Rockbox's web site to see what players they support and google their current prices - and watch for sales.

No, I'm in Europe. No Sansa 250 for sale over here. Pretty rare on eBay too. Could get a used one for about 25 EUR. I understand the Sansa got fixed battery and fixed memory? I'd prefer something with one or 2 AAA cells and SD or micro-SD memory. A TFT display is not that important, I'm not watching movies while driving.

Both Sansa E-series and C-series players use lithium batteries, but the Es are enclosed while the Cs are removable. Both have micro SD slot but support only up to 2GB without Rockbox (then up to 8GB, I think). Not sure about my son's E-250 but my C-250 can play when charging; I have it hooked up to a pair of computer speakers and a USB wall charger next to the bed. Hopefully Rockbox will continue to add to their list of supported players.

Yes, sure they will.

Thanks for your Sansa hints. There was only a handfull of e250s and only one c250 on Ebay during the last two weeks. I might consider buying one from the US as shipping isn't that expensive any more. Well, depends on the seller's experience (and willingness). However, I guess a used player will need a new battery?

Is there a RockBox version to run under Windows Mobile? A smartphone might be easier to get as telcos dump them in masses. I was using an MDA Music (HTC Typhoon) for years. The battery is still good. And replacement battery wouldn't cost that much, maybe 'cause nobody needs one.

The built-in Windows Mediaplayer, however, was awful, replaced it by TCPMP. Much better, but somewhat unhandy too. I know RockBox from my old Archos Jukebox. There's nothing next to it.

Best regards,
mPeggy