TrekStor SurfTab ventos 7.0 HD (mid-g30ref)

From postmarketOS


Note Note: There are a number of similar devices with this SoC which might also apply to this page. They are usually called "MID" (Multimedia Internet Device) and have a lot in common.
TrekStor SurfTab ventos 7.0 HD
TrekStor SurfTab ventos 7.0 HD
TrekStor SurfTab ventos 7.0 HD
Manufacturer TrekStor
Name SurfTab ventos 7.0 HD
Codename mid-g30ref
Released 2013
Category testing
Pre-built images no
Original software Android
Original version 4.1.1
Hardware
Chipset Amlogic AML8726-MX
CPU Dual-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A9
GPU Mali-400 MP2
Display 1280 x 800 (IPS LCD, 7.0")
Storage 8/16 GB
Memory 1 GB
Architecture ARMv7
Type Tablet
Features
USB Networking
Flashing
Touchscreen
Display
WiFi
FDE
Mainline
Broken
Battery
3D Acceleration
Audio
Bluetooth
Camera
Internal storage
USB OTG
Sensors
Accelerometer
Magnetometer
Ambient Light
Proximity
Hall Effect
Barometer
Power Sensor
Misc
Built-in DVB
Camera Flash
Keyboard
Touchpad
USB-A
HDMI/DP
Ir RX
Stylus
Memory Card
Haptics
Ethernet
FOSS bootloader


Contributors

Users owning this device


How to enter flash mode

  • Recovery: Power on the device with both Power and Volume Down buttons.
  • U-Boot: U-Boot can be interrupted by holding Ctrl + C in the serial console when booting the device

Installation

Loading Linux from U-Boot

The U-Boot on this device tries to look for files called aml_autoscript (which is just a normal U-Boot script), uImage_recovery or recovery.img on a FAT32 formatted SD card when holding the recovery key combination. In our case, when can simply create a script which will load the kernel and the initial ramdisk from the same SD card like this:

  1. Create the script:
    uboot-script.cmd
    setenv bootargs "init=/init.sh rw earlycon console=ttyAML0,115200 no_console_suspend PMOS_NO_OUTPUT_REDIRECT"
    fatload mmc 0 0x82000000 uImage
    fatload mmc 0 0x83000000 uInitrd
    bootm 0x82000000 0x83000000
  1. Compile the script: mkimage -A arm -O linux -T script -C none -a 0 -e 0 -n postmarketOS -d uboot-script.cmd aml_autoscript
  2. Compile the kernel and generate a ramdisk which are both legacy U-Boot compatible. The kernel must be named uImage and the ramdisk uInitrd.
  3. Copy aml_autoscript, uImage and uInitrd to the root of a FAT32 formatted SD card and insert it into the tablet.
  4. Boot the device with the recovery key combination.
Note Note: It could be possible to store the kernel and ramdisk in the form of an Android boot image in the boot partition of the NAND to boot automatically, however this way hasn't been discovered yet.

UART

The back cover is clipped to the screen without screws and can be pried open with a tool between the metal and plastic frame. The UART pads are located on the lower left half and are kindly labeled.

Note Note: Be careful when clipping the back cover back on, the front glass can break easily.

TrekStor SurfTab ventos 7.0 HD mainboard.jpg

Hardware status (mainline)

Component Model Status Notes
SoC Amlogic AML8726-MX P Support exists in mainline (Codename meson6)
UART - P Output gets garbled after UART driver loads (Clock issue?)
MicroUSB - N USB 2.0
NAND Flash Micron MT29F64G08CBABA N 8 GiB
SPI NOR Flash PM25LQ032C N 4096 KiB
Charging Uses PMIC N
PMIC XPowers AXP202 N
Volume/Power/Home keys - N GPIO
Touchscreen FocalTech FT5x06 N
Accelerometer STMicroelectronics lis3dh N
Display LVDS N
Audio Amlogic AMLWM8960 N
GPU Mali-400 MP2 N
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Realtek RTL8723AU N Connected internally via USB
Front camera GalaxyCore GC2035 N
Main camera GalaxyCore GC0308 N
HDMI Unknown N

See also