Hi all,
I've just ordered this gorgeous phone and am waiting for it to be delivered. In the meantime I've been wondering given that it's capable of HDMI output and serve as USB host whether it is possible of it doing both at the same time, if say I hooked up the HDMI output along with other usb devices, like a USB drive and a keyboard via a usb HUB. I would be practically creating a bespoke docking station of sorts..
I know it's pushing the technology a little... and there are other alternatives to USB devices (NAS drives, wireless mouse/keyboards...), but my question is more about what the device is capable of.
Thanks.
Update:
So far I've successfully managed to plug in an old USB hub via a cheap micro-usb to USB adapter bought off e-bay. From there I hooked up a USB keyboard, Mouse, pen drive and also USB speakers.
I'm amazed it actually managed to power all of these devices without any problems (imagine battery drain is massive given that the usb hub is unpowered).
I would like to know if anyone has tried hooking up HDMI output while the USB is hosting other devices. Has anyone tried this already? I've searched everywhere and can't seem to find a definitive answer to my question.
As a side note, does anyone know of a docking station for the G2, similar to what you get with laptops?
Did you figure out the answer to this?
AlexOB1 said:
Did you figure out the answer to this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I have not yet tried this out. I had bought an HDMI cable/device thing but never got it to work on my TV.. apparently it had something to do with the technology that the phone uses for HDMI not being compatible with older Samsung TVs.
Would be great if anyone else has tried this out could post here, whatever the outcome
Greetings all-
I am an IT professional and was thinking how handy it would be if I could just plug my phone into our wired ethernet network to test if a port, cable, switch, etc is working properly.
Goal: To plug my G2 into an ethernet cable and use one of the IP info apps (or packet sniffer apps) to do some network troubleshooting. Basically, I would want to know if DHCP is working on a port and what IP info the phone is getting.
I know they make ethernet testers that can be plugged into a wire for testing/troubleshooting purposes but these are expensive and can't do what an sniffer app can. Plus I always have my phone and can easily carry a few extra cables with me to make this happen.
Experiment: I bought thingy one and thingy two.
I plugged both of these into my phone and then connected the ethernet cable. I saw the link light come on, so I know there is at least some connectivity. However, I am not able to get any data to pass through to the phone. I set the phone to airplane mode (so it won't use any wireless networks) and try to access the internet and I get nothing. The G2 doesn't know how to use the ethernet connection.
Does anyone know how to make this work????
Thanks for any help you can provide!!
mrhumble1 said:
Does anyone know how to make this work????
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Click to collapse
Nope, but thinking it through should be possible. In short you just have to configure Android/Linux to use the 802.11 adapter on the USB port. Would be interested to know what the log files have when you plugged in to the G2. Suspect
1) You will need to be rooted
2) Would try get the LAN adapter working on a Linux desktop first then go back to the G2. If there are Win, Mac & Linux drivers should be possible why Android is 'limited' to ASIX AX88772 chipset needs to be understood though.
Good luck
You will have to write specific drivers for it. It isn't just convincing the kernel that your microusb port is your 802.11 port, because the technology is different. Ethernet doesn't have to worry about maintaining a connection over the air, but it does have to remember which wire is used for what. So it would need an actual driver written for it.
http://pockethernet.com/
Does anyone have experience running ethernet to microusb on android devices? i really want the nexus player but no ethernet is an absolute deal killer for me. i dont believe in streaming 1080p video over wifi. i know it only has usb 2.0 but that should support up to 480mb/s theoretically. perhaps using a device like this: http://www.amazon.com/Smays-Etherne...3460191&sr=8-1&keywords=micro+usb+to+ethernet
I agree.
I would love to buy one of these, but my AP is upstairs above my living room and I do not get the best WiFi at my entertainment center. I have a range extender downstairs, but it is at the other end of the house.
My ChromeCast often stutters (or just won't work) on anything more than 480p Video.
But I do have Gigabit Ethernet wired to a switch at my entertainment center.
I use USB Ethernet adapters with Android HDMI sticks all the time. The Android Sticks have either full Size USB, an Ethernet Connection, or I use an OTG cable.
I would think that the OTG cable and USB Ethernet adapter would work with the Nexus Player, unless they specifically took the drivers out. Common or Generic chipset USB Ethernet Drivers seem to be pretty well supported in most Android Firmwares.
---------- Post added at 10:10 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:02 AM ----------
Sorry to double post, but if you are wondering how a USB Ethernet adapter would be connected to a Nexus Player, you would just need one of these:
http://www.dx.com/p/cy-u2-166-usb-f...-adapter-cable-black-15cm-205901#.VD_RJLYXw3A
A hacked USB Travel Hub can also be used.
thanks, i think i have a spare otg cable laying around somewhere. my only question is does the micro usb on the player get used for power or for plugging in peripheral devices such as the ethernet adapter?
thecrunked said:
thanks, i think i have a spare otg cable laying around somewhere. my only question is does the micro usb on the player get used for power or for plugging in peripheral devices such as the ethernet adapter?
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Click to collapse
I don't have any inside information, but as far as I can see, it is powered through the micro USB. (Just like ChromeCast).
That is why you would need a cable like the one I linked to. Notice that it has a separate micro USB female for Power only.
Note also that there is another post in this forum "What Nexus Player won't Do", and Ethernet is not mentioned as removed in that list, so that may give some hope that it is in there.
The settings menus would also have to know how to allow you to configure the new network interface.
ChromeCast (stock ROM) does not support USB Ethernet, but of course the ChromeCast is a much simpler, no-UI device.
We will just have to wait until they are in peoples hands.
Frankly, I have to say that I am out. There are many good Android Set-top boxes out there that have a full selection of ports, possibly better processors, and are cheaper.
By the time you buy the Nexus Player, a wireless keyboard (which you are going to want), the game controller, USB adapters, and Ethernet dongle, you are going to be in the $200 range, and you are going to have a mess of wires and adapters -- No thanks.
I'll "stick" with my "stick", or upgrade to a newer Chinese Android STB that has a decent processor and all the ports.
Linuxslate said:
I don't have any inside information, but as far as I can see, it is powered through the micro USB. (Just like ChromeCast).
That is why you would need a cable like the one I linked to. Notice that it has a separate micro USB female for Power only.
Note also that there is another post in this forum "What Nexus Player won't Do", and Ethernet is not mentioned as removed in that list, so that may give some hope that it is in there.
The settings menus would also have to know how to allow you to configure the new network interface.
ChromeCast (stock ROM) does not support USB Ethernet, but of course the ChromeCast is a much simpler, no-UI device.
We will just have to wait until they are in peoples hands.
Frankly, I have to say that I am out. There are many good Android Set-top boxes out there that have a full selection of ports, possibly better processors, and are cheaper.
By the time you buy the Nexus Player, a wireless keyboard (which you are going to want), the game controller, USB adapters, and Ethernet dongle, you are going to be in the $200 range, and you are going to have a mess of wires and adapters -- No thanks.
I'll "stick" with my "stick", or upgrade to a newer Chinese Android STB that has a decent processor and all the ports.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yah i might just pick up the amazon fire tv. the only thing i am gonna use it for is xbmc/kodi and plex. maybe some youtube, netflix, and light web browsing if that.
Since it is relevant to this thread (at least a bit), I'm going to go ahead and post a link to an article on my website:
http://linuxslate.com/Guide_Android_Stick_TV_Box.html
I am NOT trying to dissuade anybody from buying the Nexus player. If you have good wifi and you don't want the headaches associated with a Chinese media player, the Nexus Player is an excellent choice.
thecrunked said:
thanks, i think i have a spare otg cable laying around somewhere. my only question is does the micro usb on the player get used for power or for plugging in peripheral devices such as the ethernet adapter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The official page says:
18W DC power
HDMI out ([email protected])
Micro-USB 2.0
So that's a separate power jack, and then USB for OTG or firmware updates or whatever.
Note that you don't want to get too new of a dongle, because if this doesn't have the absolute latest Linux kernel it might not support some of the newer gigabit dongles.
thecrunked said:
Does anyone have experience running ethernet to microusb on android devices? i really want the nexus player but no ethernet is an absolute deal killer for me. i dont believe in streaming 1080p video over wifi. i know it only has usb 2.0 but that should support up to 480mb/s theoretically. perhaps using a device like this: http://www.amazon.com/Smays-Etherne...3460191&sr=8-1&keywords=micro+usb+to+ethernet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can stream 1080p @ full Blu-Ray bitrate no problem..the problem is not the technology but likely your implementation. Also USB2 is limited to 256mb/s after overhead is subtracted. Thats far less than 802.11AC can do, I get a 890mb connection with a $15 .AC adapter on one of my PC's.
Linuxslate said:
I agree.
I would love to buy one of these, but my AP is upstairs above my living room and I do not get the best WiFi at my entertainment center. I have a range extender downstairs, but it is at the other end of the house.
My ChromeCast often stutters (or just won't work) on anything more than 480p Video.
But I do have Gigabit Ethernet wired to a switch at my entertainment center.
A hacked USB Travel Hub can also be used.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a lan drop and switch at your Entertainment center then your highest performance option is to add a access point to that switch, not to use a USB>Ethernet.
thecrunked said:
yah i might just pick up the amazon fire tv. the only thing i am gonna use it for is xbmc/kodi and plex. maybe some youtube, netflix, and light web browsing if that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm thinking about trying out the NexusPlayer to replace our FireTV...the FireTV is pretty great but its buggy and nobody seems to be trying to fix the bugs. Hulu loves to crash and has various other playback problems that we experience more than once a day (simply stops playing, or freezes, sometimes after a commercial the screen just goes black with a network logo[like ABC] but the audio is playing), Netflix also occasionally crashes back to the FireTV homescreen, Plex works ok sometimes but has trouble others, the plus is that it has Wifi+Ethernet+Optical. We previously had a Roku3 which was turtle slow compared to the FireTV. I should add that these bugs are widespread and common to many people, these are not issues limited to me or just a few people.
sluflyer06;
I do nit disagree with anything you are saying, however:
I do not see the point of having a wireless AP right next to ever node on my network.
Doesn't that make the "wireless " part nonsensical?.
2nd, I have Gigabit USB Ethernet adapters that use USB 3.0.
Linuxslate said:
sluflyer06;
I do nit disagree with anything you are saying, however:
I do not see the point of having a wireless AP right next to ever node on my network.
Doesn't that make the "wireless " part nonsensical?.
2nd, I have Gigabit USB Ethernet adapters that use USB 3.0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if your wireless is weak in that area, wouldn't a AP there benefit your other devices (laptops, tablets, phones?)? I agree that you don't NEED a acesspoint at every drop but we will always have a signifigant # of devices that cannot be wired these days so if you happen to have a drop in a room or area with weak WiFi it seems like the perfect opportunity to kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Also in regards to your USB3 adapter, it won't do you any good with the NexusPlayer because it only has a USB2.0 port...still not a restriction for video though...265 is way above even the highest bitrate blu-ray.
Quite shocked that:
It's not USB 3.0 OTG
That it doesn't have Ethernet at all, maybe a limitation of the Intel SoC? I know the Snapdragon 805 and friends have USB 3.0 OTG...
I wonder how the Intel SoC will play out. Intel is late to this party...
2bluesc said:
Quite shocked that:
It's not USB 3.0 OTG
That it doesn't have Ethernet at all, maybe a limitation of the Intel SoC? I know the Snapdragon 805 and friends have USB 3.0 OTG...
I wonder how the Intel SoC will play out. Intel is late to this party...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ARK page (Intel's CPU library) shows USB 3.0 (and up to 4GB of RAM, while we're at it). Maybe it's a cost thing? No Ethernet is likely the same story. "If you really need it, get a dongle" they'd might say.
Everything about this box seems like Google is targeting it as a lowest-common-denominator device. Being Nexus, it's still somewhat of a developer device. "Make sure your apps can run on this, and you'll be good everywhere." Actually, that's possibly a big part of why the first Android TV device has an Intel chip. Force developers to start supporting x86, and then the TV manufacturers can put any chip they'd like into their TV.
Plus, this lets Google sell it for cheap, and then if other manufacturers want to come along and put together some Android TV luxury box with HDMI in and a USB 3 hub and 4 GB RAM and an eSATA port, go ahead.
An ethernet to USB adapter that worked
Just thought I would share a solution that worked for me.
I live in an apartment building in Manhattan that has a few hundred units and four other similarly sized buildings all within 100 yards plus a muli-plex movie house in even closer proximity.
I have a top-rated AC router and have run wi-fi analyzers to select the least crowded (and non-overlapping) 2.4 and 5 Ghz channels. 2.4 Ghz is essentially useless for streaming multimedia. Even with the 5 Ghz channel, casting music involves several buffering time-outs each minute.
Knew I had to go the USB to ethernet cable adapter route:
- first, I tried a too good-to-be true low-priced adapter on eBay. When plugged into the NP, an internal red LED light shined brightly through the white housing (almost like a Christmas light), but nothing.
- second, I tried a gigabyte adapter that stated in its product description that it was compatible out-of-the box with the NP. Bought it from directly from the vendor on Amazon. Came in brand new packaging and the adapter (plus included dongle cable, disc and instructions) all top-notch. Everything shouted quality compared to the first adapter ... but it also didn't work for me. I hoped it would and I hope it works for others who buy it. Just couldn't figure out why it wouldn't work for me. I tried what others suggested about unplugging the NP and rebooting the device to the root screen (holding the button on the bottom while powering and going through the menus). Also tried it with a PC. I just don't know what I did or didn't do right or why otherwise it wouldn't work.
- third, I looked at the pictures on the Internet depicting actual working adapters with the NP. Saw it was a SMC adapter. Then in a Reddit, I saw the model number mentioned. It is the: SMC Networks SMC2209USB/ETH 10/100 Mbps USB Ethernet Adapter. Bought it for $25 dollars on Amazon (see: amazon.com/gp/product/B00009967F/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).
Worked right out of the box! Just plugged it in (it evens comes with its own dongle cable).
One thing I realized from this, what people suggest "should" work with the NP and what IN ACTUAL FACT have been tested personally to work are different. I'm not a paid endorser of any company's products. I hope others share product names and model numbers of other adapters that they know from personal experience to also work out-of-the-box.
And as far as the buffering problems I had -- gone. The NP is actually usable now for multimedia content. I sure hope Google includes an Ethernet port when it comes out with a second generation NP.
dynadock?
Just wondering if anyone had tried something like a toshiba dynadock?
its powered, has multiple usb ports and ethernet! Would be great if it worked as i have access to them!:fingers-crossed:
natedogg118 said:
Just wondering if anyone had tried something like a toshiba dynadock?
its powered, has multiple usb ports and ethernet! Would be great if it worked as i have access to them!:fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the brilliant idea. I happen to have a Toshibe Dynadock V2. Plugged it in and ethernet came straight up in the settings. I guess we can add this to the list of devices that work.
Yes, Attaching a OTC cable to USB Ethernet Adapter totally works for me! I can see the connection made in the network settings (ip address and domain connection under "Ethernet").
pliz help
Same issue here.
Nexus Player OTG usb is completely disabled.
No mouse, keyboard, Rii or Flash drive 2.0 or 3.0 ...
Nada, null, running Oreo 8.0
I recently purchased the OTG cable on amazon, the first result/best selling $7... No lights come up on the usbs or any form of power going through. While ADB works fine
I'm desperate so I will root it but how to fix with root?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LLUEJFU/
This ethernet/USB thing has worked great on my nexus player. Connected an SSD, put my HD Homerun on the same wired LAN, it's a great little DVR/timeshifting box.
MrCalico said:
Yes, Attaching a OTC cable to USB Ethernet Adapter totally works for me! I can see the connection made in the network settings (ip address and domain connection under "Ethernet").
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I managed to get it working too
Working fine here too. I have a USB ethernet hub connected by OTG cable.
Use it for wired internet and USB mouse.
I see the ethernet is actually a daughterboard, which is connected by a ribbon cable. Anyone think there is a chance this is just a USB-to-Ethernet hub? If it is, it would be an easy mod to swap over to a USB port, which would dramatically enhance the functionality of the non pro version. Why they didn't do this in the first place amazes me... it looks like a 10 pin ribbon cable though, so not sure if it's USB...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-C-zfOjrmc
I'm interested in adding a USB port myself. But the mainboard has a Realtek chip (according to photos at fccid.io), which I assume is an ethernet chip. I have however seen people mention a soldered USB connector somewhere, but I haven't been able to find where.
Did you ever manage to find something out? I'd be happy even with SPI.
Can't you just use an OTG Y cable? Considering that is how the Firesticks handle USB via its micro port I don't see why Nvidia wouldn't have done that as well. Course I have the pro so I know nothing about the tube.