USB Host Capabilites - JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General

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.
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
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

Related

USB host functionality?

Has it USB host functionality to attach e.g. a hard drive?
Would be interesting to know
Regards,
Rainer
since universals cpu is PXA27x.....(272),then it has a USB host functionnality...and if u are wondering...then yes...this means that u can connect ur HDD to it,and guess what....it's the first HTC device with USB 2.0,so imagine!!!!!!!
RAGO :lol:
Great news!!! Makes me wanna get this device even more
So you want to carry a big device around and then an external hard disk drive! Seems a bit over the top for something to do your phone / email on.
But isnt the USB on the MDA IV mini usb? How do normal usb devices work on a mini usb port?
Magician has also an Intel PXA272 but as far as I know USB-Host isnt working. If it works please correct me.
Lets hope that USB-Host will work on Universal.
Has anyone tried USB-Host on Universal yet?
Btw is there another cable needed (are other Pins of the 5 in the MiniUSB Plug used?) or just an adapter for the end of the USB-Cabel
Has anyone tried USB-Host on Universal yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the device have been been released yet so unless people here
get early samples to review i dont think anybody have tried it yet
[/b]
No time or kit handy to test I'm afraid.
I got sent some info that claimed the Universal does have USB host (from someone claiming to have one for testing but is under NDA) - but nothing confirmed or proved.
Having a PXA27x processor does not have to mean that the USB host functionality is made use of. The HP iPAQ hx4700 and Dell Axim X50v both have processors capable of USB hosting - but neither device makes use of it.
dgpurvis said:
Having a PXA27x processor does not have to mean that the USB host functionality is made use of. The HP iPAQ hx4700 and Dell Axim X50v both have processors capable of USB hosting - but neither device makes use of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't say that ONLY PXA27x have USB hosting functionality,and am quite sure ur right concerning the iPAQ and the Axim.... :wink:
"PXA27x CPUs have USB host functionality",said Intel:
"Does the Intel® PXA27x family processors support USB Host in addition to USB Client?
Yes, the Intel® PXA27x family processors, supports USB HOST and Client (Rev. 1.1 compliance) and USB On-The-Go (OTG). "
Read this http://www.intel.com/design/pca/applicationsprocessors/faq/pxa27x_faq.htm#usb
Still...untill the Universal is released and fully tested,all we are saying remains theories :wink:
untill then.......
greetings..
RAGO :lol:
A bit extreme though and I find it hard to accept that we need a USB client for the device. I mean what's next, having ActiveSync installed in the Universal and have other handheld devices sync in it as well? Weird...
Still the idea seems good...
RAGOv said:
dgpurvis said:
Having a PXA27x processor does not have to mean that the USB host functionality is made use of. The HP iPAQ hx4700 and Dell Axim X50v both have processors capable of USB hosting - but neither device makes use of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't say that ONLY PXA27x have USB hosting functionality,and am quite sure ur right concerning the iPAQ and the Axim.... :wink:
"PXA27x CPUs have USB host functionality",said Intel:
"Does the Intel® PXA27x family processors support USB Host in addition to USB Client?
Yes, the Intel® PXA27x family processors, supports USB HOST and Client (Rev. 1.1 compliance) and USB On-The-Go (OTG). "
Read this http://www.intel.com/design/pca/applicationsprocessors/faq/pxa27x_faq.htm#usb
Still...untill the Universal is released and fully tested,all we are saying remains theories :wink:
untill then.......
greetings..
RAGO :lol:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Er... what?! I'm not sure you read my point at all...!? I said nothing about whether other processors have USB host or not - I'm not at all sure why you think I did?!
I simply pointed out that PDAs with the PXA27x processor don't always make use of its USB host functionality. In your original post you appeared to suggest that the presence of the PXA27x would mean the Unviersal definitely has host functionality - I was correcting that.
BTW - don't assume either that the Universal has USB 2.0 - I've not seen a single report that it does - and though the PXA27x does support it - only one Pocket PC with that processor has, to date, implemented it.
Remember - the XDA IIi has a PXA272 processor - and has USB Client 1.1 only and no USB host.
No answer yet?
Come on people!
Surely, there are several testers on this forum already..
Why haven't you tested this yet?
who are the testers?
i havent seen any
but then i'm a bat
well one problem with testing i guess is getting the cable
guess it would need usbA or B depending on the type of usb mass storage controller in one end and a universal connector in the other
if no such cable came with the device then
maybe people would have to make the cable themselvs
usb hosting
Well dudes, I sent an email to clubimate techsupport asking them about usb hosting capability, still waiting for an answer... maybe if enough people email them, they will take notice and put it in their faq or whatever...
greetings
Nabil H
I tired on my JASJAR and didn't work...
At least JASJAR has the usbd.dll and usbhid.dll.
i will try tonight
mda pro -> mini usb -> mini usb -> creative Zen micro Mass storage 5 gig
i've already tried this.
jasjar-miniUSB w/ USB A-USB A-B gender changer-USB B->external harddisk.
nothing happens
gm said:
nothing happens
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you connect a keyboard and tell us
what will happen ?
Edit: I'm not a microsoft expert, but if there
is a background program like activesync that
forces the port to slave mode, then nothing should
happen.
I don't remember its name, but this program
should be killed.

Has anyone tried plugging in a USB HDD?

i was wondering, what if i got a USB harddrive, and plugged it into my hermes?
would WM6 even notice its there?
this is assuming i've got a externally powered HDD that uses the normal USBHOST.
i searched "usb harddrive" in the hermes forums and not many things turned up..
If you have one lying around, give it a go?!
JamesHolden said:
i searched "usb harddrive" in the hermes forums and not many things turned up..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that might be the clue to your answer..... the usb port in the phone lacks the capability to host an actual usb device, whether the external device is powered or not... But give it a go anyway... i cant think of any harm in trying... unless there is some kind of major power backflow, but that shouldnt happen unless your external device is faulty
the OS may support it, but hardware-wise - i dont think the Hermes supports USB hosting? or does it?
My brain says no...
But the hope in me says yes...
Wondered about this myself before.
Doesnt the HTC have the ability to act as an external UsB drive through the USB port when connected to a PC using the Advanced USB settings. Maybe its just a question of reversing the settings maybe with an added utility or something i have an external hard drive but not converter to convert the full usb to a mini usb
4Site said:
Wondered about this myself before.
Doesnt the HTC have the ability to act as an external UsB drive through the USB port when connected to a PC using the Advanced USB settings. Maybe its just a question of reversing the settings maybe with an added utility or something i have an external hard drive but not converter to convert the full usb to a mini usb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
having the device mimmick and external drive and plugging in external storage through USB are 2 completly different things... and it all comes down to the USB host... when you plug your phone into your pc your computer then is able to act as a usb host, as it has the power and the drivers necessary for that... the phone itself lacks the abiltiy to be able to become a usb host...
but hey, at least your thinking
So it may be possible to access a USB HDD if we catered for it using a driver of some sort (written by us guys ofcourse). This may even show up in the file manager as something like /Hard_Drive.?
main procesor (and also OS itself) have support for USB host, but for some reason HTS decide to not enable this feature, it was asked many times, but solution doesnt exist yet... I used this functionallity on my old Fujitsu-Siemens LOOX n500 without necesity to install any drivers, or registry hack, after connection device had available after few second. It was WM5 device.
well think about this:
keep a laptop usb HDD in your car, 160GB of music at your command, with TCPMP who needs a ipod?
i've already modded my stock headset cable to have a 1/8" miniplug AND RCA's on it, so i'm set for the output, but my 4GB of microsd cards just don't cut it
so i'm working on tryin' to find a usb mini b male to usb b male cable right now, might just have to solder one up myself-- i'll post to see how it goes.
I think I've seen them for sale at Radioshack and Compusa - might try peaking in there though if you have a bunch of USB cables kicking around probably cheaper to solder
IF you look around on the net somewhere, someone successfully made a wifi hard drive, and i think it was fairly inexpensive... He loaded tons of mp3's and would access them from his phone via wifi.
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/consumer_electronics/DAVE/
How about this?
skunker said:
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/consumer_electronics/DAVE/
How about this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I got to get me one of these. So many toys, not enough time.
jcb_home said:
Now I got to get me one of these. So many toys, not enough time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks nice!
I just tried this. And nothing happens. Tried a usb memory key (low power), an external HDD (on its own power supply) and a card reader, none of them did anything.
thanks for the go.. after my weekend spent messing with *nix and tryin' to get into locked up wifi, i was spent.

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...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
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...
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

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
Click to expand...
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...
Click to collapse
the_fish said:
nice to hear someone else would like to get it to work too
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...
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...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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 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
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is my cable:
Axel85 said:
Do you think that with zeno drivers we can use the usb host even in windows?
Click to expand...
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

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