IPhone serial communication

From IPhone Hacking Wiki

It is possible to communicate with iPhone OS devices through either of two physical ports:

• the 30-pin USB dock port
• the mini-jack headphone (audio) port

Alternatively one could use bluetooth (iPhone and iPod Touch 3G) or wi-fi (all devices) to transmit information.

USB port

The bottom of an iPhone 3G revealing the dock port.

A 30 pin dock connector for an iPhone or iPod. If this were a connector manufactured by Apple the dock icon would be printed on the underside of the connector (the side with the pins).

The USB port on the iPhone and iPod Touch can be used to send and receive information, power an external device, and/or power the iPhone or iPod Touch.

The USB port exists in the iPhone file system as /dev/tty.iap. Root permissions are required to access the port.

Pinouts

• http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod_pinout.shtml
• http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Apple_iPod_-_iPhone_dock
• Color coded diagram by Geohot with ribbon cable

Methods

All of the following methods require a jailbroken device:

• Good blog post: http://hcgilje.wordpress.com/2010/02/15/iphone-serial-communication/
• With minicom: http://www.ohscope.com/2009/02/serial-port-on-iphone-with-minicom.html
• DevDot tutorial: http://devdot.wikispaces.com/Iphone+Serial+Port+Tutorial

Hardware

• iPodExt breakout: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/ipodext-assembled-version-breakout-for-ipod-p-148.html
• Redpark serial and RJ-11 cables: http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/12/redpark-announces-serial-and-rj-11-cables-for-iphone-ipod-touch/

Audio port

Pinouts

• http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/iphone_headphone_pinout.shtml

Methods

The following method does not require a jailbroken device:

• Frequency-shift keying: http://www.perceptdev.com/labs/content/iphone-rs232-1200-baud-no-jailbreak-required-using-20-sdk

Further Reference

• http://www.openframeworks.cc/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2279

See also

• Apple Accessory Protocol