Database Users

USB Host Capabilites

I read that engadget was able to get USB hosting working on the universal, however it appears that this is not possible (reading the threads here). I just wanted to confirm that using a 'usb dongle' to connect other devices to the universal does not work - as I thought that wm5 did support this. Is it just a question of drivers or is the hardward not capable?

Just to remind that topic...
I'm really interested is it possible to connect a portable harddrive to my MDA Pro?

i dun think so its true. If anybody proves this to be true, then please let us know.

noname_nick: have you found the engadget article?
V

@Vijay555,
It was a Q&A article they posted when they had just received the Universal. Should be there in their archives i guess.
Cheers.

I just checked with an sd card reader and a 40gig usb hdd....it didn't detect either :-(
don't think the universal supports usb hosting :-(
hope its just a software handicap and not a hardware one!
San

universaldoc said:
@Vijay555,
It was a Q&A article they posted when they had just received the Universal. Should be there in their archives i guess.
Cheers.
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Click to collapse
yeah I even posted in that engadget article asking to reconfirm their findings and thry did reply saying it could be used as a usb host as they had it dine themseves (it was one of the factors that made me get the universal) alas the dumbfuc*ers removed the ABILITY for usb host or maybe engadget was Forced to say yes(as in LIED) under pressure from htc etc??
just my 2 cents !

If I'm not mistaken, the hardware in the Universal supports USB Host. But it is not implemented in the software running on the Universal... It's like having a sound-card in your computer, but with no drivers to use it. Maybe there will be a patch or update for WM5 which supports USB Host.

Suspect that you need a USB host cable to have any chance of testing USB host functionality, this cable tells the PDA that it now needs to work in host mode.
The Sharp Zaurus has a similar arrangement where a single USB port can work in host or slave mode, which is switched using the relevant cable, link to such a cable http://www.streamlinecpus.com/store/product.php?productid=100&cat=0&page=1&featured
Suggest you search Zaurus forum (www.oesf.org) for more information.
Mike

does anyone has this cable and test it already?
It seems it will fit the mini USB port for the Universal?

Don't think it's native on the Universal - if it was, it ain't now. In the meantime, Softick Card Export II PC version 2.10 works great as USB Host services to the Storage Card!

Yes, I use the same thing on my Uni. I like it very much as i do not need a SD card reader anymore. But I still dream to be able to hook up my external slim HDD to my Uni.

Yes, I use the same thing on my Uni. I like it very much as i do not need a SD card reader anymore. But I still dream to be able to hook up my external slim HDD to my Uni.

vijay555 said:
noname_nick: have you found the engadget article?
V
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Here is the article http://www.engadget.com/2005/09/02/...l-questions-weve-got-htc-universal/1#comments

I found driver for Toshiba E740 USB mass storage driver ( for PPC 2002) but maybe is a best way to find solution for Universal - it's look that only soft for this funcionality is missing :?: Deje PocketPC Page

usb host.....
USB standard provide 5 volt DC.
All HTC device have got 3,7v DC battery!! so it is not possible to power any kind of USB device!!.
The only way consist in voltage duplicator that should provide 5v using 3,7 v source, i think that HTC device has not this voltage regulator.
wishes
Antonio

fraant said:
USB standard provide 5 volt DC.
All HTC device have got 3,7v DC battery!! so it is not possible to power any kind of USB device!!.
The only way consist in voltage duplicator that should provide 5v using 3,7 v source, i think that HTC device has not this voltage regulator.
wishes
Antonio
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Click to collapse
the universal have the hw to have usb host functions but htc don't have put it to the out side world.
The mini-usb can't be used as initiator.
in thoery you could open the universal and hook another miniusb connector on the usb bus.... and then the drivers nightmare
Deje have drivers for mass-storage on ppc2003/ppc2 and they work fine.
I use both on casio-e200 and on the toshibare800.
btw:neither casio nor toshiba have 5v bateries and they work with external usb devices like keyboards mices etc, for disks i have to use external power...
bye

Access USB device directly. Is it possible?

On WM5 has anyone been able to access USB devices like printer, Pendrive etc directly? Would be great to be able to print directly or access files from a USB memory stick.
Have heard of HP printer drivers for older versions of windows CE somewhere...

Using a usb device on the phone.
I know of no WM5 or WM6 phone for that matter that have a usb STACK on them that would allow them to use a usb device. They are designed to BE a usb device for a pc...not the other way around.

famewolf said:
I know of no WM5 or WM6 phone for that matter that have a usb STACK on them that would allow them to use a usb device. They are designed to BE a usb device for a pc...not the other way around.
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i think you are mistaken.. there are a couple new WM5 and/or 6 devices that have USB hosting support.. among them is the Athena, O2 Flame, and toshiba g900, and those WM devices exclusive from/for japan..

Yeah, it is the other device that must be able to read the PPC.
My stereo read my Tytn as a storage device. Can play music directly from the PPC. However it is the Stereo doing the recognizing job. Not the other way around.

I'd just like to clarify a few things:
1) USB has two sides - host and client and they are different by hardware and not just software so there is no "able" question here.
2) In cases like memory stick, printer etc. when your device uses what is connected to it, the phone must act as host. The reason there are few devices with USB host is mainly because to be fully implemented this standard must provide up to 500 mA current to the hosted device and of course thats a bug problem when working on battery.
(Any phone that does implement it, provides it "unpowered" so not all devices will work)
3) In cases where something is using your device like the stereo, the phone acts as a client so with the right piece of software (like WM5Storage) any phone can be used.

The fujitsu Pocket LOOX T810/830 can act as a USB hub.
Some devices have this capability but not a feature that is common.
Sam.

I'm really unqualified to discuss this in great detail, but why I got there was - I've read somewhere in these forums about Win95 emulators for ppc devices. Now if it could be possible to "emulate" just the USB stack portion of Win95, maybe, the ppc could be connected to devices like printers which would not require a powered USB connection.
That's all ...
Atul

emulating an os dont add new features to the hardware though

External USB hard drive

Does anybody know if it is possible to connect the phone to a USB hard drive?

only with flame and Athena as they are the only ones which support usb host
other devices cant use usb devices only be used by usb hosts normaly a pc

There was actually someone who developed a working hard disk storage driver for windows mobile but last I checked the site no longer offered it. Searched for days trying to find the file elsewhere. No luck. Cant think of the company that made the driver.

I'm bumping this as I am also after the same sort of program / utility.
I want to be able to access my External HD and view / play files off it... anyone able to help me out?

Maybe with a external powersupplied disk
Rudegar said:
only with flame and Athena as they are the only ones which support usb host...
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Correct
Our Hermes has no usb host support. I found a topic at forum.brighthand.com which suggested the host functionality could be added with a usb host driver. I found the software (attached zip) but alas... Though I did exactly as the 'manual' (readme.txt) explained, the usb-stick did not appear in my explorer.
Possibly an external drive with external power supply might work because the hermes usb port is simply not powerful enough to supply the power to the usb-stick. However I did not "explore that possibility" (don't have one ) and chances are 'just a driver' is not enough and hermes lacks "usb host hardware".

dident read the post because you dident give a link to the post just the forum
but i doubt that it's a general thing
many pda's have usbhost in the cpu itself but htc never connected those connectors
so it's not wired to the connector they have their own usb chip
so if the post you read said it about any other pda then htc based one it could be that that manufactor did connect the usb but dident supply the driver which would then be fixed with what you found

Rudegar said:
many pda's have usbhost in the cpu itself but htc never connected those connectors
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Click to collapse
Sounds like there could be the potential for a hardware hack...

heh, nice try. but it will end like GPS HW hack on the TyTN (aka Hermes). it is not worth it, I mean there is easy way, just buy device with GPS integrated, or buy external. I have electronic skills and proper tools, I can do such things but it is too complicated. in that hermes was problem, that antena was not properly connected and you can never get a GPS lock. I guess that with usb host is the same. missing circuitry.
Deuce Nitro said:
Sounds like there could be the potential for a hardware hack...
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Click to collapse

Yepp!
Hi,
this is correct
sinmae said:
heh, nice try. but it will end like GPS HW hack on the TyTN (aka Hermes). it is not worth it, I mean there is easy way, just buy device with GPS integrated, or buy external. I have electronic skills and proper tools, I can do such things but it is too complicated. in that hermes was problem, that antena was not properly connected and you can never get a GPS lock. I guess that with usb host is the same. missing circuitry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The USB host port of the Samsung CPU is used to connect to the internal GSM/GPRS chipset. So no chance to break it up!
If someone would ever hack this hardware part, the result would be a hermes without radio.
The engineers at HTC used the USB host port to achieve the necessary bandwith for high speed data connection to the GSM/GPRS chips from Qualcomm.
Best regards,
scholbert

thats an interesting information, thanx
scholbert said:
The engineers at HTC used the USB host port to achieve the necessary bandwith for high speed data connection to the GSM/GPRS chips from Qualcomm.
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IrDA on X1

I have a Scuba Diving computer that I use via IrDA on the Dell Axim that my X1 has just been purchased to replace.
Can anyone tell me if it would be possible to use an external USB IrDA dongle with the X1. I've only seen Windows XP/Vista drivers listed against these dongles.
What would be involved in developing a driver?

This might be tricky, as I read somewhere on the forum that the USB port is not powered, and therefore connecting dongles (including e.g. USB drives) is difficult.
The last I saw was that it might have been possible to connect the X1 to a powered port adapter, into which USB dongles were attached.
Would it not be easier to connect X1 to a Bluetooth / IRDA dumb client which is in between the IRDA device?

it require a pda to support usbHost to operate any type of usb devices
as far as i know x1 and most htc pda's dont support usbHost

Calvin H said:
Would it not be easier to connect X1 to a Bluetooth / IRDA dumb client which is in between the IRDA device?
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Sounds like a useful suggestion. Could you point me to the type of device you mention.
Thanks for taking the time to answer my question.

Rudegar said:
it require a pda to support usbHost to operate any type of usb devices
as far as i know x1 and most htc pda's dont support usbHost
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Click to collapse
You're right on this one. It's not possible to connect USB devices to the X1 because there's no host. Even with a seperate power source, the X1 will not recognize it. Look at it this way, whenever you connect the X1 through USB, it'll act as a slave, waiting for input. Dongles need input themselves, so both devices will keep waiting for each other forever... It's like a bad fairytale!

Angelusz said:
... It's like a bad fairytale!
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This this the sort of device that might enable Price Charming (the new name for my X1) to get together with Cinderella (the new name for my lonely, but very beautiful Dive computer)?

Usb host on Acer s200

It s a little strange but seems like no one in this forum tried to connect usb devices to our phone since zeno usb host driver has been released.I tried to search in google but no one tried in acer s200...Are there anyone that know if it work before i try it by myself?

I've tried it
HI, i have tried it with a 1gb, 2gb, 4gb, usb flash storage. But it seems not to work. It don't shows me another device in the explorer (win explorer or resco explorer)
Maybe someone have tried it succesfully?

external power is required, see usb-host scheme by dcordes... keep in mind, however, that hd2's got a micro-usb connector

tsamolotoff said:
external power is required, see usb-host scheme by dcordes... keep in mind, however, that hd2's got a micro-usb connector
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Hi tsamolotoff,
the usb host work properly:

Yes i built a usb cable with external power supply.I ve made a cable that supply 5v to the device i want to attach to the s200,but only the two data lines go to the phone.But this afternoon i ve read a german forum and someone said that in some cases (nokia) the usb host cable must supply 5v even to the pocket pc,and i want to try by this way.Stefano wich cable have you made to get the s200 found the usb mouse and the pen drive in linux kernel?Do you think that with zeno drivers we can use the usb host even in windows?

Stefano_1986_
Interesting, however, it'd more exciting if it worked under wince (did you check?)

Axel85 said:
Stefano wich cable have you made to get the s200 found the usb mouse and the pen drive in linux kernel?
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This is my cable:
Axel85 said:
Do you think that with zeno drivers we can use the usb host even in windows?
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Click to collapse
tsamolotoff said:
Stefano_1986_
Interesting, however, it'd more exciting if it worked under wince (did you check?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have checked but not working

ok almost like mine.This morning with this cable and zeno drivers i ve noticed that if you connect a device like a pen drive,the screen turn on backlight,and it s not for the fact that i attached the cable with 5v,the tension is always present in the usb cable.So maybe the hardware feel the new device but have not the correct drivers to control

What is the solution I have the same problem

so all, what's the solution then? if I want to conect my F1 to a CF card reader? how to use external power...

It doesn t work under windows mobile...This is the solution.
It only work via linux kernel (tested a mouse a keyboard and a usb drive),but since no android build is avaible for s200 you can t use it.
So usb host is supported by s200 hardware,but it s locked in windows mobile kernel and can t be changed.this is a really great stupid thing i know...but sadly it s the true
Guru correct me if i writed something wrong

maybe it can work now, coz Android can be loaded in S200...
I just think if my S200 can read the photos from CF card reader...

yes sure we can make it work under linud distros or android as proved by stefano some month ago