Database Users

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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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.
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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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X1 USB Host

Does any1 who has it knows if Xperia supports USH hub or mass storage?
If you connect an external USB stick or card reader, the Xperia is able to read from it?
I have asked on developer's forum, but no one was able to answer, so i thjought any1 who has it can try an tell me.
Thanx!

you can choose btw. mass storage or active sync in the settings.

DocMAX said:
you can choose btw. mass storage or active sync in the settings.
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I don't think that's what he means.... He wants to know if you can hookup an external card reader!

DocMAX said:
you can choose btw. mass storage or active sync in the settings.
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The question was if it could read from a mass storage device or a USB stick, not the opposite.
Afaik the USB port has no host mode, but on many devices today the hardware supports changing from slave to host mode. If so, it has to be some kind of firmware hack to do it.
Btw, the mass storage setting is superior to the ActiveSync mode in bitrate when transfering large files, like music and movies.

The truth is that MSM7200A natively supports "USB on the go", but if SE utilizes it, is another matter. Other HTC devices with the similar Qualcomm chip don't support it.
I wonder if this is a hardware or software issue (just like TV-out only difference being that on HTC devices it is enaled).

I have already check it with usb host cable from Toshiba G900 but nothings happend :-( Maybe it's just a metter of proper drivers or maybe it's just not implemented.

use wmStorage
http://deblor-freewaresmartphone.blogspot.com/2007/12/wmstorage-v18.html

damion.lamaison said:
http://deblor-freewaresmartphone.blogspot.com/2007/12/wmstorage-v18.html
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Does this work with WM 6.1. Someone should test anyway.
(I hate it that I am still waiting for mine for over 2 weeks)

I was somehow misundestood.
Let's say i'm out of the office whitout the notebook. I meet with a friend and i want to give him some files on a usb stick. I connect the stick to the Xperia, write the files from Xperia memory/email/whatever to the USB stick. Then we go an drink beer
Is that scenario possible?
I'm waiting for my Xperia to arrive (they say about 25th of nov.), but i want to know. I will test.
Maybe someone will write an app that can do that until i got my Xperia

I'm pretty sure that USB host has to be enabled in firmware not software. I read in a few places recently that practically all the chips include USB host these days, but many manufacturers do not utilise the ability. I think it's likely that they'll add USB host as a killer feature in Xperia X2 to try to entice us to upgrade.

memtronic said:
I was somehow misundestood.
Let's say i'm out of the office whitout the notebook. I meet with a friend and i want to give him some files on a usb stick. I connect the stick to the Xperia, write the files from Xperia memory/email/whatever to the USB stick. Then we go an drink beer
Is that scenario possible?
I'm waiting for my Xperia to arrive (they say about 25th of nov.), but i want to know. I will test.
Maybe someone will write an app that can do that until i got my Xperia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what USB on the go is. If the USB stack on a device is hardware implemented it can't be done. Of course as I said that Qualcomm SoC supports it but we don't know if HTC,SE utilizes it. Also, we don't know if it is a driver or software issue.

USB Host disconnected pin?

hello,
i've heard that the universal WOULD support USB host drivers if an unconnected pin inside the universal was connected... could anyone tell me;
- if i manage to get the pin connected, would i get usb host features like on any other usb host phone with proper drivers?
- how hard is it to do?
- WHAT to do?

Oh man,really really nice interesting idea,hope it's true and possible,i hope someone knows all about that and soon writes here how that is possible maaan,would be really awesome to play with that

PalDragan said:
Oh man,really really nice interesting idea,hope it's true and possible,i hope someone knows all about that and soon writes here how that is possible maaan,would be really awesome to play with that
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Click to collapse
nice to hear someone else would like to get it to work too
EDIT: just found this on another thread on another forum about a PXA270 phone, someone was trying to get it to work, seems like all we need is
- switch the pin to host mode
- a driver (maybe zenos latest ones?)
After about 6 months of not touching this project, I decided to take another quickie look at the PXA270 docs and programmers reference. What I now see is very interesting.
Originally, I was looking at bringing out the USB Host 1 interface pins to the outside world as they were only terminated internally on the motherboard. Only about 1% of users might be able to do that.
I then started to look at the USB OTG (On The Go) interface that this chip supports. The USB OTG interface can be used as both a client and host. It shares the same pins as the Axim's serial port. Unfortuately, there are two serial control lines pins that are not brought out to the connector, so I scrubbed that idea.
This past weekend I picked up the programmer's design reference book to look at how the various USB interfaces are programmed and I saw something that I missed before as this was in the USB Client section. It appears (to me anyways) that the USB Client pins can also be programmed to act as a USB Host when in the USB OTG low power operation mode. The manual discusses how the additional control registers are used along with an output mux and charge-pump circuit (to provide the +5v). Refer to the PXA27x Processor Family Developer's Manual - dated Jan 2006, sections 12.5.2 and 20.
I will be looking at this more closely to see if a simple driver can be written (Afarre, where are you...) to switch the USB client pins into Host mode. In addition to this, the USB device drivers would be needed. Please remember, an additional IO interface circuit will be needed to connect between any USB device and the Axim as the proper voltages are not on the sync connector.
Click to expand...
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the_fish said:
nice to hear someone else would like to get it to work too
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Click to collapse
Suuuuuuuuuure,every crazy idea to abuse my PPC and i'm in for the quest

PalDragan said:
Suuuuuuuuuure,every crazy idea to abuse my PPC and i'm in for the quest
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Click to collapse
haha same, btw thats the link to the topic:
http://www.mobilitysite.com/boards/x50-x51-forums/140071-hacking-pxa270-internal-usb-host-24.html
Unfortunately, this means it's not for 99% of users as it requires a delicate hardware mod/addition to the motherboard (see my earlier posts & photos in this thread).
Click to expand...
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seems like they were still working on the driver (which we already have(?)) so we only need the hardware mod.... i guess...

the_fish said:
haha same, btw thats the link to the topic:
http://www.mobilitysite.com/boards/x50-x51-forums/140071-hacking-pxa270-internal-usb-host-24.html
seems like they were still working on the driver (which we already have(?)) so we only need the hardware mod.... i guess...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ummm it's definately a crazy idea. We were discussing with mamaich (our guru) last year. Unfortunately it's not that simple to provide the power in sync connector, which is acting as a usb client (connector) at the moment.

tomal said:
Ummm it's definately a crazy idea. We were discussing with mamaich (our guru) last year. Unfortunately it's not that simple to provide the power in sync connector, which is acting as a usb client (connector) at the moment.
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did you read in the thread i posted a link to? they had the same problem, but also found out that it maybe is possible to provide the nessecary +5v too, they were not sure tho, and i thought maybe zenos drivers contain the code to do that.

the_fish said:
did you read in the thread i posted a link to? they had the same problem, but also found out that it maybe is possible to provide the nessecary +5v too, they were not sure tho, and i thought maybe zenos drivers contain the code to do that.
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Ok, seems there is a new idea of power injection from outside.
Anybody tried it...?

Couple of months ago, I was trying with outside +5v power but nothing happens

Win_XP said:
Couple of months ago, I was trying with outside +5v power but nothing happens
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did you use one of those special USB cables that have two female USB-A, one for power and the other for the device to plug in?

http://htc-tytn-ii.handster.com/software.php?id=3339&for=HTC+TyTN+II
i don't know anything about this.. i'm actually looking to hook up something that normally has a rs-232 port.. but is also made in usb.. It draws power from another source
with something like that program doesn't that suggest usb host is possible..

http://gnalpgnarf.handster.com/software.php?id=3339&for=gnalpgnarf

hmmm....am I right or am I wrong?
Theoretically speaking the idea with a pin is supposed to redirect power from intake to output, however, not only Uni is incapable of supporting the output (you are essentially attempting to piggyback another device), the external support will not be possible due to pin configuration, regardless of the cable used.
Another thing, other than sheer experimentation, what would be the real point of such USB host?
STOP TORTURING YOUR UNIs, GUYS!!!!

I am pretty sure, that the Universal doesn't support USB Host.
It did not, it does not, it will not.
Sorry guys!
To be honest:
Yes, the PXA270 chip supports USB Host, but in most HTC devices they use this feature already for something else, like: WLAN or 3G connection.
DOMy

seen this?:
http://hhtinker.blogspot.com/2008/10/usb-host-on-treo-650.html

do you know what USB Host already busy?
it used as data call transfer radio <-> CE.
USB hub will not solve this problem easy.
also if you want attach it to miniUSB connector, you need additional OTG chip.
=> Host on universal is very hard to do, ...impossible.

USB Host once again!

Hi all!
Now I know that there was a thread regarding the presumed USB Host functionality on the HD2, but that thread seems to be like dead... But now since the finished product has finally landed, I think we should start thinking about it again. Now we all know that the USB Host feature isnt listed officially, but there are rumours flying around suggesting that the feature is available in the HD2's chipset, which means that maybe there is a way to develop drivers for it or something. I remember one of the old HTC devices, which turned out to have USB Hos capabilities which were discovered by the community years after the device sowed up on the market So, in other words, if a possibility of activating this feature exists, souldn't the community start to at least investigate it? That is only my suggestion

Think you are talking about this thread?

Toshiba TG01 has the same Snapdragon platform and provides USB host capabilities. So I am pretty sure will have usb host too or at least some clever guys can extract it from the Toshiba.

12aon said:
Think you are talking about this thread?
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So You're saying that the drivers from that thread should work?

jgal said:
So You're saying that the drivers from that thread should work?
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Could very well be, I haven't tried. I guess the first one to try will inform the rest I guess

if someone tests it and informs us about it with a positve resulttttt,
i will go to the store and get my self a cableeeeeeee

if it will work, some people can shut up about second camera, they can buy webcam and connect it

Are you talking about using your HD2 as a Harddrive??
YES!

Are you talking about using your HD2 as a Harddrive??
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No he wants to plug a hard drive (or an usb key) in the HD2.

DocteurN said:
No he wants to plug a hard drive (or an usb key) in the HD2.
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Ooh, that I dunno.

I'm also very curious to know if the HD2 has USB-Host support!

20mihalko said:
if it will work, some people can shut up about second camera, they can buy webcam and connect it
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No, you still require the driver to get it working which probably won't exist. My Eten M600 works with mouse, keyboard, hub, harddrive so far.
20mihalko & xmoo, can any of you test TMC on iGo8? I asked in both of your thread but didn't get a reply. It's one of the deal breaker for me to give up the X1

jackleung said:
No, you still require the driver to get it working which probably won't exist. My Eten M600 works with mouse, keyboard, hub, harddrive so far.
20mihalko & xmoo, can any of you test TMC on iGo8? I asked in both of your thread but didn't get a reply. It's one of the deal breaker for me to give up the X1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you could pm me about the TMC.
Dunno what it is, and never worked with it!

xmoo said:
If you could pm me about the TMC.
Dunno what it is, and never worked with it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
check you PM box

Hi guys,
I'm coming back with the same question in this thread, do Leo have an usb host or maybe like written before we can make it live with specific drivers like the Diamond ?
Thanks for testing
I'm still waiting for mine (the 23rd I presume)
Kindest Regards
Plnf

Do you think it will be possible to find the toshiba tg01 drivers for usb host and inlude it to the hd2 device? For what should I have to search on my tg01 and where? Maby the drivers will also work on the hd2?

Hi,
Maybe you have an install cd with your tg01 where you can fing usb host drivers ?
Rgds
Plnf

I have read that someone disassembled the HD2 and found out that the USB-Chips (Including HOST feature) of the Toshiba and the HD2 are the same, BUT the HOST-Pins arent connected

scilor said:
I have read that someone disassembled the HD2 and found out that the USB-Chips (Including HOST feature) of the Toshiba and the HD2 are the same, BUT the HOST-Pins arent connected
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That's a shame!

scilor said:
I have read that someone disassembled the HD2 and found out that the USB-Chips (Including HOST feature) of the Toshiba and the HD2 are the same, BUT the HOST-Pins arent connected
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, connect the pins... what are you waiting for.

OTG Support

While i was thinking is it possible to make OTG work on Touch Pro 2?
Any Software or ROM or Kernel updates will do?

You mean like USB Host Mode?
I don't think anyone looked into it. Android or WinMo...

arrrghhh said:
You mean like USB Host Mode?
I don't think anyone looked into it. Android or WinMo...
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Yeah , that is whats making me ask it, it would be awesome if that Hapenned., by the way is it Possible?

nikhil.pgm said:
Yeah , that is whats making me ask it, it would be awesome if that Hapenned., by the way is it Possible?
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(Almost) anything is possible with enough time and determination...
Has it been done already? Not to my knowledge.

'Theoretically' you should be able to get this working. Like Arrrghhh said, anything is possible. I did get a usb otg cable for the rhodium (well, not FOR the rhodium, but 'theoretically' it should work) and found that this function is supported in the specs for our processor chip.
There are drivers and a pretty good source of information here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=480899
I never advanced past the point of realizing that while our phone 'probably' has the hardware to receive input from usb devices it cannot provide them with power to function. You seem to need to use an externally powered usb hub for those drivers to do you any good, and there really isn't anything On-The-Go about carrying around a usb hub and its power adapter! So it was at that point that I gave up. But, there is probably all the information you need in the thread I posted above to get you started.
Please post your findings if you have success/failure

Caldair said:
'Theoretically' you should be able to get this working. Like Arrrghhh said, anything is possible. I did get a usb otg cable for the rhodium (well, not FOR the rhodium, but 'theoretically' it should work) and found that this function is supported in the specs for our processor chip.
There are drivers and a pretty good source of information here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=480899
I never advanced past the point of realizing that while our phone 'probably' has the hardware to receive input from usb devices it cannot provide them with power to function. You seem to need to use an externally powered usb hub for those drivers to do you any good, and there really isn't anything On-The-Go about carrying around a usb hub and its power adapter! So it was at that point that I gave up. But, there is probably all the information you need in the thread I posted above to get you started.
Please post your findings if you have success/failure
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surely i would, leme work on that!

does the Froyo Build support OTG?
nikhil.pgm said:
Surely i would, leme work on that!
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Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1250199&highlight=7
its said that OTG isnt working in the Build
So does Android generally support OTG without any software support?
Can i get OTG support by just running in Android? ICS or CM or GB or Froyo?
[i m working on the Win6.5 OTG, ordered Host cable, waiting for it to arrive..]

nikhil.pgm said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1250199&highlight=7
its said that OTG isnt working in the Build
So does Android generally support OTG without any software support?
Can i get OTG support by just running in Android? ICS or CM or GB or Froyo?
[i m working on the Win6.5 OTG, ordered Host cable, waiting for it to arrive..]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That thread isn't talking about host mode, that thread is talking about transferring files via USB mass storage mode....
At any rate, I'm pretty sure the software simply supports it. Getting the hardware to talk properly is the hard part (again, as far as I understand it...)

arrrghhh said:
That thread isn't talking about host mode, that thread is talking about transferring files via USB mass storage mode....
At any rate, I'm pretty sure the software simply supports it. Getting the hardware to talk properly is the hard part (again, as far as I understand it...)
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i got the Female cable, but it never took the flash drive, dont know why? Tried Zeno's Drivers and Also Leo's too but its not working out, does it require an external power supply?
any one got it working ever?

nikhil.pgm said:
i got the Female cable, but it never took the flash drive, dont know why? Tried Zeno's Drivers and Also Leo's too but its not working out, does it require an external power supply?
any one got it working ever?
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Click to collapse
No one ever got it working, I thought I made that perfectly clear...
I'm not sure what you need, again there's probably quite a bit of legwork that you'll need to do in order for it to talk on our devices. I don't think you can just "use" the LEO drivers in this case - however, adapting them might be a good place to start.

nikhil.pgm said:
i got the Female cable, but it never took the flash drive, dont know why? Tried Zeno's Drivers and Also Leo's too but its not working out, does it require an external power supply?
any one got it working ever?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought I read somewhere that the TP2 can not provide power. You had to use a powered usb hub + device to have a chance at getting it working.
The downside being that you had all this stuff to haul around if you wanted to use an OTG cable.