Database Users

Want to solve the still unanswered question of external access USB Host

After having a quick chat with cr2 about the process of linux i was surprised to see that external usb host support on the universal is still unknown (obv it uses usb host internally for phone)
basically i have a dongle which on one end has a mini-usb plug (i.e. goes in phone) and on the other end has a usb a receptacle.. i got it with a development kit for an AVR micro-controller that has onboard usb client/host... plugging in the cable switches its mode.
now from what i understand of the pxa270 dev manual
http://www.balloonboard.org/hardware/300/ds/PXA270-dev-manual.pdf
(section 20.4) is that the chip has 3 onboard host ports. the first is dedicated (which i assume is the one used for the phone) the other 2 are shared by usb client mode and must be configured to use host mode. there also is usb-otg supported on chip which may be how things are set up.
to me this suggests that physically the external usb port we have access to can be set to host mode via setting registers (or some software based setup) however i have not looked properly at the pin layout (and electronics is only a hobby) so if someone could try and decipher from this doc
http://pdf1.alldatasheet.net/datasheet-pdf/view/82521/INTEL/PXA270/datasheet.pdf
to progress we need to see whether this is the case or whether there is a physical aspect to setting host mode (if there is then seeing if it wired up)
then we need someone with a bit of low level coding skills (prob linux based coding route) to do any initialisation then on to testing.
as i said i have a dongle but i'm not willing to risk my exec (poor student y'see) until i know a few bits... i have no intention of frying my phone due to test usb device drawing to much power from phone and melting something (i am not sure how the usb spec handles it...i know pc's shut the port down if it draws too much power but a pda i'm not so sure... especially if it isn't expecting it!)
what are other peoples thoughts on all this can anyone investigate anything or verify any of my thoughts etc
i'd like to settle the mystery which ever way it turns out...usb host mode under linux would sure be shiny
it would also be interesting to see whether the 3rd port is connected up

also see section 12 of the first pdf it covers more in depth the details regarding usb

Athena + using USB host with bespoke USB device (FAT 12)

Hi,
I am attempting to connect a bespoke USB device to the athena.
The bespoke device is recognised as both a mass storage device and keyboard in windows XP.
But when plugged into the Athena, the red charging light turns on. But it doesn't appear in file explorer.
One time (though I havn't been able to reproduce it), a dialog box poped up asking me if I wished to format a device. The bespoke device uses FAT12, does anyone know if Windows mobile even supports FAT12?
Also, is there "add-remove hardware" type funtionality in windows mobile? Should I have to reboot each time or should new hardware be picked up straight away?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

How is it connected - through the built-in usb port or through the 4-in-1 cable?

I'm using the 4-in-1 cable.
One interesting thing, if I reboot it with it plugged in. It hangs for a little while on the windows mobile splash screen. Then if I press the power button once and then again to turn the screen back on. For a few seconds a "Hard drive" is in explorer.
The bespoke device also is detected as HID device and a number of other USB devices (but using only built in Microsoft drivers) when plugged into a PC (i'm in contact with the hardware vendor to geta concise list). So my other theory is that it hangs trying to find the other drivers (if FAT 12 is supported at all).

Ok, I started wondering when you said the red charge light came on. I was wondering if you were plugging it into the sync/charge port and somehow the device was backfeeding some energy, tricking the device to go into charge mode.
I think you are on the right track. Windows Mobile has few built-in drivers, so the delay probably is due to a search for non-existent drivers. If the manufacturer doesn't have WM drivers, you might try looking at other manufactuers with similar devices that do have WM drivers and try them. Others here have gotten peripherals to work that way.
I just found this page which discusses the file system used by WM. I haven't read the links on that page yet.
http://blogs.msdn.com/jasonlan/archive/2007/03/13/what-file-system-does-windows-mobile-use.aspx

NST + USB 3G modem

Hi
Now that we have noefresh hack and multitouch aside of USB host support, maybe someone can port USB tethering to nook?
This way, we could use a USB 3G modem to have internet on the go with our Nook Simple Touch.
Web browsing in broad daylight in the park! ) working from terrain with webbased applications.... voip calling.... the possibilities are there.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=940470
Above's a link from a similar thread explaining the procedure for a non-3g android tablet.

Voip is quite a stretch (no sound, duh). But the idea is quite good, having 3G access is a must, even though battery time would drop sharply (1 day maybe, like regular tablets?).

I want to buy a NST and no 3g is the only thing blocking me from getting one.i thought of getting a super cheap android phone using wifi tether, but it seems like overhead.

I hope I'm proved wrong, but I've worked with embedded linux devices and USB 3G dongles in the past and they place quite heavy demands on the power supply circuitry. In the case of the Nook Touch I get the feeling the USB host functionality would struggle to handle the peak loads required. If you do experiment, start with a powered USB hub and keep an eye out for odd behaviour when transitioning to battery powered (most commonly: device dropping out as unrecognized, failing to connect despite good reported signal)

Worst scenario a hardware mod will be required to supply needed extra oomph.
I was thinking of integrating the USB dongle's insides into the NST anyway, once it'd work automatically.
Can someone with an NST show output from lsusb -vl from adb?

Why not use your mobile as a router(hotspot)and tether via wifi?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

imachine said:
Can someone with an NST show output from lsusb -vl from adb?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, if it will make you happy.
Code:
busybox lsusb -vl
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 058f:6254
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 058f:6254
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0d8c:0008
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 04d9:1203
Now you know what I have plugged into my Nook at this very moment.
How does this help?
Here's a graphical shot of the same thing: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=24824407#post24824407

Usb Host Mode Problem

Let me start this thread by stating that I DID have my Nook Color, booted off an sd card with cm9, working with my usb powered hub connected to a mouse, controller, flash drive, and keyboard. But through a possible hardware error on my part, I cannot get it to work anymore. I'm fairly adept at modifying my Android Devices. I used USB Host Controller and looked through my dmesg logs and the only thing I found of note was it recognized my 7 port hub, but had it suspended. I attempted to enabled/disable USB Host in my Terminal Emulator with commands found in the USB Development Thread but it simply did nothing. Reading logs, etc. is not necessarily a strong suit of mine. So finding what MAY by the problem, has been a bit of a pain the past 2 days. However I will detail my problem below:
Items used:
- 7 - Port USB Powered Hub from Micro Center
- OTG Cables bought from Amazon.
- Nook Color (With various roms. Notably Cm7.2, CM9 (Unsure of nightly version), AOKP Build 40):
- Belkin USB Keyboard and Mouse
- PS3 Controller
- Sandisk 16gb Micro Flash Drive
Apps Used:
- Nook Color Tweaks
- USB Host Viewer
- USB Host Diagnostics
- USB Host Controller
About 3 days ago I decided to set up a station for my tablet as a mini-computer. I had successfully connected a mouse and keyboard (independently of each other) previously but I wanted to go ahead and use my powered usb hub and get a real mini-computer experience on my android tablet. These are the results (All tests include the use of an OTG Cable to connected to either the USB Device or Powered Hub):
Test 1:
Rom: CM 7.2 Kang
1 USB Device Connected: Mouse (Yes), Keyboard (Yes), Flash Drive(No), Game Controller(No) - All enabled via Nook Color Tweaks
Devices Connected to Hub: No
Test 2:
Rom: CM 9
1 USB Device Connected: Mouse (Yes), Keyboard (Yes), Flash Drive(No, I believe it required more than 100mah to power), Game Controller (Yes) - All worked by just Plug N Play.
Devices Connected to Hub: Yes (The Mouse, Keyboard, Flash Drive, and Controller worked simultaneously)
[To Note: Inbetween this test I pulled the OTG-Cable connected to the hub without un-mounting the flash drive first. CM 9 wasn't happy and told me to properly un-mount my sdcard first before pulling the cable. (I bowed to my Android lord and said "okay".)]
Test 3:
Rom: AOKP Build 40
1 USB Device Connected: Mouse (Yes), Keyboard (Yes), Flash Drive(No, I believe it required more than 100mah to power), Game Controller(I have not verified) - All worked by using Nook Color Tweaks. Did not Plug N Play.
Devices Connected to a Hub: No (However it will charged).
Problem:
Looking back at my 'To Note'. Somehow I believe this has caused the problem. Since then USB Host Mode has only worked with a single device NOT connected to the USB Hub. Although my Nook will charge connected to the powered hub with or/without the hub turned on it still will not allow a single device to worked. I've used Nook Color Tweaks with my USB Hub plugged in with both USB Host Mode and VBus External Powered checked (In all 3 roms; AOKP, CM 7, and CM 9) and the only successful attempt made where the HUB and all 4 devices worked were in CM 9 for about a day and a half. Then I pulled the OTG Cable without un-mounting the flash drive, and alas, no-go with the Powered USB Hub.
USB Host Controller tells me I have USB Host Mode enabled (In all 3 roms) yet going to connected devices shows nothing. USB Host Viewer (In all 3 roms) shows nothing connected. And USB Host Diagnostics tells me various things that I'm willing to list here if needed (Host API, Kernel, etc), yet each time the USB Devices connected during the diagnosis, they are not recognized.
Troubleshooting:
- I've plugged my usb powered hub to my computer. It works just fine with each device connected, at once, or together.
- Each device works independently connected to my computer (Keyboard, Mouse, Flash Drive, Game Controller).
- I can still connect a keyboard and mouse independently to my nook with Nook Color Tweaks, but Plug N Play does not work.
- I've attempted both USB Host Mode off of SD Card (CM 9) and EMMC (AOKP Build 40) where Plug N Play only worked with SD Card (CM 9).
- The Kernel for all 3 roms has been 2.6.32.xx or greater (Cm 7.2 used Dalingrin's OC kernel, AOKP Build 40 uses 2.6.32.59, and I'm unsure of CM 9's).
At this point I'm at a loss and I am looking for help. I've done a fair bit of searching (Admittingly too much during work) on these forums. As stated in the beginning of my post, I had it working with all 4 devices in CM 9 booted off my sd-card, since then I've switched my EMMC from CM 7.2 Kangs to AOKP Build 40 (hawt) and successfully used both with a mouse and keyboard. But I cannot get the powered USB HUB to do anything BUT power my Nook Color.
Thank you for your responses and if you need logs, links to the items, apps, or roms used,(forum wouldn't let me post all of them) screenshots from apps, anything, I will respond as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

Have you considered on just reinstalling the whole build over from scratch? I think the USB host is part of the drivers in the kernel layer and that kernel layer might have become corrupted. If you got wifi and audio working on that nook color then the likelihood of having a hardware problem by that definition becomes less of an option, the USB hub is driven by the CPU. So if you got cyanogenmod up and booted, this points to a possible kernel opps. You stated you had it up before. I don't work on kang and AOKP builds so how is the stability of the usb host mode for those builds? Sounds more of a software issue and not some hardware issue. Unless you just like trying to decompile software for a learning experience for yourself. Did you do a hardware hack for your nook as stated in this thread here? http://hackaday.com/2010/02/10/usb-host-mode-for-droid/
Also make sure you disable all of your apps on your device, that is another possible cause, we don't know what type of apps or mods you have made.
Unless you got support to your USB the only way to find the problem is to decompile your whole build through ADB. Logs will not find the problem if its in the kernels. Or are you using ADB through wireless? Check this thread here if you haven't seen this thread yet. There is an app that gives you USB host support already. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1468531
UPDATE Aug 31st. 2012. Check thread here on USB host support. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1459892
If you want more experience on how android operates, you can start off by building your own cyanogenmod on your computer, the cyanogenMod wiki here shows you how. http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Barnes_&_Noble_Nook_Color:_Compile_CyanogenMod_(Linux)

[Q] Usb Host: Ethernet Adapter (Driver Compile Requested For Money)

Greetings....
I am hoping to get my Asix Usb to Ethernet adapter working with my nook STG. I believe the only remaining requirement is to compile the drivers for it (which are android 2.x compatible according to the driver manufacturer website).
I am rooted and have 'usb host mode' successfully working.
When my adapter is plugged in, it displays as a 'connected device' in my Usb Host information app and shows the details; make/model etc - so its connected successfully.
It works plugnplay with my other droid devices, however in these devices there is an Asix driver folder in /sys/bus/usb/drivers and there is not in my Nook, thus I believe i simply need to compile the drivers which will create the Asix driver folder.
If you have the correct setup and can compile the drivers for me (and potentially other Nook users), i will exchange them for 10GPB or 10 of your currency, via your desired means.
I am slowly trying myself on an ubuntu vm in windows but can only use the pc for short periods due to eye troubles; hence trying to use a Nook as my sole computer.
INFO:
Device: Nook STG firmware 1.21 - kernel source file link = images.barnesandnoble.com/PResources/download/Nook/source-code/nook2_1-2.tgz
Adapter Driver: Asix AX88772 - driver source file link = www.asix.com.tw/FrootAttach/driver/AX88772C_772B_772A_760_772_178_LINUX_Driver_v4.11.0_Source.tar.bz2
Adapter Info: BobjGear Adapter made for Android Tablets = www.amazon.co.uk/BobjGear-Ethernet-Exceptions-Description-Ultrabooks/dp/B007RTACDM
Other info: An XDA thread compiling the same drivers - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=37548841
I don't know how to apply the drivers so I need to learn how to do so, I have ADB set up and have Noogie, CWM and NookManager .img also.
Any other info needed i will provide
Sam

Just a quick comment:
Host mode on the Nook currently uses a lot of power.
Something like >100mA in comparison to a usual 8 mA or so.
It's not been tracked down yet.
I can get you better figures for this later.
Presumably this is for some fixed install using hard-wired power?

Renate NST said:
Presumably this is for some fixed install using hard-wired power?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I'm actually just using it as it is; no hardware mods.
I have not used usb host enough to know the drain speed but while plugged in to a live ethernet yesterday, it drained seemingly quick.
This isn't a preventative issue though; my need to access the web on the nook via ethernet (no wifi dizziness) is urgent.
If i had to recharge every 10 mins e.g, this would be extremely hindering but still necessary.
Hard wiring may be desirable (maybe not if it's permanent), i haven't read any posts on it thus far.
I do have a powered hub etc if applicable, i dont know if it can charge as well as hosting from the usb.
Sam

Yes, you can USB host and charge.
I'd recommend a back-powering hub.
That way, if you want to throw a USB keyboard on it too, you can.
See: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22956658&postcount=103

Great, i'll give it a try