[NTLK] USBC Rechargeable MP2X00 Batttery

[Matthias Melcher]

> On 6. Sep 2025, at 05:44, Elias Basse <kd5jfe at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> While waiting on parts, I am compiling a project for PPP to WiFi using an
> ESP-32, a TTL/232 Serial converter, and some dodgy wiring to bring wifi to
> the newton using serial from a dev board.  If this works well enough, I am
> going to make a sled for it to fit in the newton and connect to the
> internal port. (Or I can make this an external module smaller than the
> original Newton modem).
> 
> All the best, and thank you all for the support.
> 
> Best Regards,
> Elias


Yes, PPP works. I connected a Newton via dongle to a Linux machine running PPP, and it works just fine. And yes, the ESP32 comes with PPP, so this should work pretty much out of the box.

Also, Jake has designed and built an internal ESP32 board last year already and I have written 90% of the firmware. The project stalled, but the resources are very much available.

Please let's put our heads together and develop *one single* ultimate internal board. I will happily pay for PCB manufacturing runs during the design phase, and I still have a hand full of internal connectors laying around.

Such an internal board would give the user:
 - Wifi/internet over modern routers with modern encryption
 - Bluetooth for keyboards
 - Serial data over USB-C (NCT, NCX, NTK)
 - Power the device, possibly charging
 - Additional internal mass storage (install form SD card)


Cheers,

 - Matthias





Obligatory geek part: 

Jake's board is really great and almost there. 

I suggested adding space for a MicroSD card, preferably in a way so the card can be user accessed without opening the case. Using a sandwich board, it can live right next to the USB-C adapter. The MicroSD card on the dongle acts like a huge package database for the Dock app and is very convenient for installing apps.

Also, Jake opted for powering the dive over USB PD (power delivery, needing step-down conversion), which delivers more than enough power to the Newton and all imaginable peripherals including battery charging. This is really great. It's not working though if the USB-C has no PD, which is the case for most laptop ports. I would love to have a power solution that keeps the PD option, but also provides enough power via a standard (non-PD) USB connection to run the MP, even if it can't charge batteries that way.

If we can solve these two issues, I believe that we have the perfect internal board. 


Total geek out part:

If we go further, we can implement USB-C host mode and make the Newton provide power to external devices like a mouse or keyboard. But that requires even more electronics and goes beyond my hardware abilities. The software side though may be solvable. This would be in addition to use Bluetooth keyboards.

And just for completeness, there is a sound output on the internal connector. Even if we don't know what to do with it right now, we should still just hook that up.

Lastly, I would love to have a general purpose IO on the board. Because we can.