Hello friends, I am new to this forum, but certainly not new to the tablet world. I purchased the iconia a100 a few weeks ago and I must say it is a superb tablet in almost everyway. That being said, I am trying to come up with a solution for the lacking usb host on this tablet. I am certainly not a dev, but I am wondering if there is anything in the works for a working usb host? Does anyone know if acer has any plans to offer an adapter or even a different docking station with the usb host working from the 40 pin? If anyone has any ideas or would like to start a project i will be glad to help in anyway I can. While i was researching this usb host problem i see that there was a very sinilar situation with the galaxy which has since been resolved. Any suggestions? Thanks
Not yet possible, but you can pretty much count on it to be baked into a custom ROM when we get the ability to fully unlock and root this device. Root is already possible, and done. Unfortunately, we cant really do much development on it right now due to the encrypted bootloader. Most devs are waiting for the ics update in January to get the ball rolling on tweaks and hacks to the a100.
Sit tight, they'll have you up and running in no time
ummmmm............ could you repeat that?
This is also #1 on my wishlist. However, I don't know if that is even possible with a custom ROM; it requires the hardware to support it and I don't recall seeing any teardown that states that it would be possible.
I've seen it done in various phones, but don't know if its been posted on any here, but I'm sure a search on the forum would help find them. Its a matter of reconfiguring the port in the programming and getting an adapter from micro USB to standard USB.
But don't quote me on any of this, I could be mistaken with other devices. There has been talk about USB hosting on the a100 before.
ummmmm............ could you repeat that?
Yes, you would need something called an OTG (on the go) adapter. The hardware in the device has to support host, so it is not JUST software.
I can confirm that i have tried the otg adapter as well as other adapters...and it only works as slave. I would just like someone to confirm that usb host is possible [that the harware supports host capabilities]. I am just glad to see there are more people interested in fixing this problem as this tablet is superfast and top quality in every other way in my opinion. Thanks again
Maybe something comes out of
http://www.circuitsathome.com/mcu/programming/android_adk_compatible_usb_host_library_release
I ordered an OTG cable and once it comes I will take a look at enabling USB host mode.
I am guessing that the hardware supports USB host, but will need a kernel module and some scripts to enable it.
I also suspect that the USB port will not supply power to an attached device. If this is the case, the workaround is to attach a powered USB hub to the OTG cable.
Crossing my fingers, and waiting for that OTG cable to come in the mail...
flar2 said:
I ordered an OTG cable and once it comes I will take a look at enabling USB host mode.
I am guessing that the hardware supports USB host, but will need a kernel module and some scripts to enable it.
I also suspect that the USB port will not supply power to an attached device. If this is the case, the workaround is to attach a powered USB hub to the OTG cable.
Crossing my fingers, and waiting for that OTG cable to come in the mail...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
USB host is enabled in the kernel. Hardware does support USB host.
Acer left it off the board entirely, so I doubt much can be done without hardware modding, which I'm all for lol.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.
Sounds grim if the hardware connection is not there, are we sure that the port is just not supplying power?
do the kernel modules load? (e.g. usb-hid, usb-storage)
Has anyone actually tried to:
a) insmod the correct modules
b) force change to host mode (the device probably has to be either slave or host, not both at once)
c) connect something (e.g. a mouse or a thumbdrive) through the otg cable and a powered usb hub?
At least I won't have to build a kernel to test this out.
flar2 said:
Sounds grim if the hardware connection is not there, are we sure that the port is just not supplying power?
do the kernel modules load? (e.g. usb-hid, usb-storage)
Has anyone actually tried to:
a) insmod the correct modules
b) force change to host mode (the device probably has to be either slave or host, not both at once)
c) connect something (e.g. a mouse or a thumbdrive) through the otg cable and a powered usb hub?
At least I won't have to build a kernel to test this out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this comes up every now and then, I really dont know how far anyone gets before giving up. Feel free to try out whatever you want, while I don't care about USB host I know a lot of people do and would love an update on any progress anyone can make. Even if its just things that don't work.
Acer is generally lazy and cheap, we use the same kernel source as the a500 which has host, which is why we also have it. It could be modules, though I doubt its so simple. Also a powered hub would be needed, there is no power supplied to the port that anyone has found. This could be remedied with some hardware work I'm sure. The hub would also need to be one way, meaning not dumping power to host as I doubt the a100 will take it and without protection would likely suffer damage if the power pins are even hooked up.
The system itself runs at 12v though I'm sure there's a 5v rail someplace but if it can support powering anything past maybe a flash drive is unknown.
Take a visit to iconia-dev on free node, they'll know more of this then probably anyone here does lol
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.
The A500 does not implement USB otg, but rather a standard USB port. In other words, USB otg is not necessary for the A500 since it has a standard port. The USB otg standard allows a the port to act as both master and slave depending on the connection. In the A100 service manual, the schematic shows only one connection to the chipset (client), host is unconnected, which could be a problem. However, it is known that the Tegra 2 can support otg connections. I'm not certain, but it may be possible that by shorting pins 4 and 5 in the micro usb connector (ie, using an otg cable) and with the proper kernel level support, the A100 could still act as a USB host, albeit with no power supply to the micro USB port.
I'll continue to investigate this once I have a chance to build otg support into the kernel and recieve the otg cable.
flar2 said:
The A500 does not implement USB otg, but rather a standard USB port. In other words, USB otg is not necessary for the A500 since it has a standard port. The USB otg standard allows a the port to act as both master and slave depending on the connection. In the A100 service manual, the schematic shows only one connection to the chipset (client), host is unconnected, which could be a problem. However, it is known that the Tegra 2 can support otg connections. I'm not certain, but it may be possible that by shorting pins 4 and 5 in the micro usb connector (ie, using an otg cable) and with the proper kernel level support, the A100 could still act as a USB host, albeit with no power supply to the micro USB port.
I'll continue to investigate this once I have a chance to build otg support into the kernel and recieve the otg cable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that, but one thing, its already in the kernel. However Linux society and/or waydownsouth would know more about what's in there, I just know it isn't blocked there. Modules etc I don't know. I look forward to seeing some progress on this topic.
Tapatalked from my Galaxy S II.
Pulled the kernel config from my tablet, you are correct, otg support is built into the kernel.
I'm using ezterry's kernel, almost everything is built in, there are only a few modules that have nothing to do with this.
I tested with an OTG cable, which shorts pins 4 and 5 in the micro usb connector. As expected, this did not enable USB host mode.
I tested wtih 5V going into the micro usb connection, as some of the non-powered devices need that voltage applied to activate the port, still nothing. (and no damage!)
I added a few other things to the kernel, the dmesg output changed slightly compared ezterry kernel
When connecting otg cable with 5V, dmesg shows:
tegra-otg tegra-otg: SUSPEND --> PERHIPHERAL
vbus connected, lock wakelock
tegra-otg tegra-otg: PERHIPHERAL --> SUSPEND
tegra_usb_phy_power_off(inst:0), phy->regulator_on: 1, line : 2754
tegra_usb_phy_power_off(inst:0), tegra_get_revision(): 0
vbus disconnected, unlock wakelock
android_work: did not send uevent (0 0 (null))
In the possibility that USB host is not possible on the micro usb port, a hardware mod could be done. There are points for a mini PCI-E connector on the motherboard (this is where the 3G module would be for A101). Solder wires to pins 36 and 38 for USB data, 4 for ground and connect them to a usb port. The PCI-E only gives 3.3V, but power could be supplied by a powered hub instead. There is even space inside the unit to mount a micro usb connector on the end with the power button.
The main roadblock is that the solder points are on the back side of the pcboard so you have to fully disassemble the unit to remove the motherboard. It would actually be fairly easy to do if the points were showing when you remove the back cover.
I don't think I have the nerve to actually try this.
flar2 said:
In the possibility that USB host is not possible on the micro usb port, a hardware mod could be done. There are points for a mini PCI-E connector on the motherboard (this is where the 3G module would be for A101). Solder wires to pins 36 and 38 for USB data, 4 for ground and connect them to a usb port. The PCI-E only gives 3.3V, but power could be supplied by a powered hub instead. There is even space inside the unit to mount a micro usb connector on the end with the power button.
The main roadblock is that the solder points are on the back side of the pcboard so you have to fully disassemble the unit to remove the motherboard. It would actually be fairly easy to do if the points were showing when you remove the back cover.
I don't think I have the nerve to actually try this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well if you want to play it like that, you can use a mini pci-e > usb adapter, which is also available with and without sata too lol. It would, maybe, depending on the board used, even line up with the sim slot, so minimal case cutting would be needed to make it accessible for usb. Straight drop in for an A101, though we lack the actual slot for it. Might be something I'll try later on.
Edit: I forget, does the sim slot line up with the pci-e slot? Been awhile since I saw the inside of one, so I may be wrong on that point.
There isn't an actual mini pci-e connector in my tab, it's just the solder points, so you would have to solder on a connector to use the adapter. The sim slot doesn't line up. But it looks like the empty sim slot is not high enough for a micro usb port to fit anyway.
I tried the hardware mod. Unfortunately the mini pci-e is not hooked up to the system. In other news, the motherboard is very easy to remove and reinstall.
there is a ROM in which they have implemented the usb otg?
Inviato dal mio Galaxy Nexus con Tapatalk 2
For those who had problems with their Kies or Windows not recognizing their S3 or find that copying your files using the MTP device mode slow, change your USB cable. I had problems rooting my Rogers G3, copying files to my computer was impossible and when I connect my G3 to a Vista desktop computer, I get the error USB device not recognized (code 10). Then I remember I have no problems with my Win7 laptop. The only difference was the USB cable. I use the same cable on the Win7 laptop and Wahla! Everything worked beautifully!
You would think there is no difference in a regular USB cable but it does. Hope this helps those having those nightmares trying to connect their phones to Kies.
Well.... i could see maybe if your USB cable was damaged somehow that it was hindering functionality... or was just a crappy USB cable to begin with.... but USB is USB. Pin layouts haven't changed.... nor has the wiring layout for USB cables changed. Yes, we have three different classes of USB now... but as far as i'm aware, it's only the USB controllers that are different, not the cables that are used. If they changed the cables, then i don't think that there would be a possibility of pretty much universal backwards compatibility between all versions of USB. I've used my S3's micro-USB cable... my old Motorola Atrix 4G's micro-USB cable... hell, even the micro-USB cable used to charge my Logitech mouse... never had a problem with any of them. Soooo.... a damaged cable is the only thing i can think of that would have caused issues with it not recognizing the device.
I thought the same. This 'damaged' usb cable is from my Samsung Vibrant. It still works with my Vibrant. How do you explain that?
Anyway, just trying to help.
Didn't help me either unfortunately. My laptop works fine but have the problem on my desktop. Setup my parents Galaxy S III with its new cable and had the same problem. Luckily I found that I can use the USB 3.0 port as a workaround...
My phone isn't detected by my Winodws computers at all.
If I plug it into one of the USB ports directly, the phone starts charging, but that's it.
This is obviously not a driver issue as there's no unknown devices in Windows.
I tried different USB cables, USB-C and MicroUSB-to-USB-C adapters to no effect. Also tried this on two computers to no effect.
There's nothing in the phone's USB-C port (dust, dirt etc) and it's usually covered by the magnetic tip of my Volta charging cable (that's one of those "MagSafe-like" cables where the actual plug breaks off from the cable if you pull it)
If I connect the phone to a USB hub, the hub's ports usually light up when a device is connected. The phone does not trigger the port LED to light up.
Same behavior in System, Recovery and Download mode -> Computer doesn't even notice there's a new device, but device is charging (so apparently it notices there's something connected, just no data transfer)
Is my phone broken? Maybe a hardware problem with the USB-C port? Any advice on how to narrow down my problem?
Thanks in advance for any help or ideas you might have.
I had the same problem today but, in my case, it was the cable's connector.
Since you have multiple cables, it's unlikely they are the issue but it would be proof if you were able to check them with a different device. Also, ensure they aren't charge-only cables (I have a few of those; they lack data pins so devices don't slow-charge when they could rapid-charge instead).
You checked in download mode, so that eliminates configuration issues with Android.
That's all I got; it does appear to be the phone's connector or the USB interface.
A hail Mary would be to stick a 2PS6IMG.zip onto an SD card and RUU it in case firmware is the problem.
I'm pretty sure my cables could be used for data transfer as well. I'll try to find a colleague with USB c phone to try that as well. (family has all iPhones and most of my regular meet friends have phones from the stone age)
The firmware thing could be hard to do. Apparently you can't modify the Cid from within the phone anymore (setprop ro.cid doesn't do anything like it did on old HTC phones, despite having S-OFFed the phone) and T-MOB101 (T-mobile - the German parent of all those other clones) firmware is a rare sight.
due to my own stupidity, i had unlocked and installed twrp with a lot of effort, as the usb is decidedly iffy
i managed to use a file manager to import the requisite lineage rom and gapps, and then in my infinite wisdom stored them somewhere volatile - one mistake i won't make again
and so when i cleaned the device prior to a "new" install, i inadvertently lost the zip files, and now the computer refuses to recognise the device
no amount of forcing the right usb driver onit works, because i presume the computer does not know it's a flo
so, is there any way i can get it connected and push the roms to storage ?
my skills at the command line are limited, but i can follow scripts
this is sad, as i was soooooooo close to completing the install, after which the usb would have become redundant (i have a wireless charger and can wifi file across with a working system)
is this thus my very first brick ?
or can i trick the usb connection into working with the computer, or somehow wirelessly transfer to such a basic installation, or rig an otg connection (i have no cables that would seem to join micro-usb to any female plug to use a memory stick or sd card in adaptor)
thanks for any suggestions :fingers-crossed:
Get an image file from Google https://developers.google.com/android/images
Try going into TWRP and go into sideloading (can't remember exact menu - only used it once to get out of a similar problem), then try to connect USB lead to PC.
Run flash-all.bat on PC and that should at least get a system on the device.
Maybe...
thanks for the suggestion, but the sideload could place the lineage.zip instead if the computer would accept a usb connection - that's the problem: sideload can't work because the usb device is not recognised
my best bet would appear to be load the zip via otg - the twrp interface appears to allow that
i'll report back here if that works (once i procure a usb otg connector)
I was in a similar position once and couldn't get a normal USB ADB connection with PC until I tried TWRP sideloading which kicked in the PC connection.
Did you try it?
OTG was the next thing I was going to suggest
scruffy1 said:
the usb is decidedly iffy
no amount of forcing the right usb driver onit works, because i presume the computer does not know it's a flo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As the USB port is broken there is no hope that an OTG adapter would work because it can not function without the data connections, exactly like PC-USB. Have a look at the port's soldering, it may need some re-work. If the port's connectors are damaged then a replacement is very cheap.
:good:
k23m said:
As the USB port is broken there is no hope that an OTG adapter would work because it can not function without the data connections, exactly like PC-USB. Have a look at the port's soldering, it may need some re-work. If the port's connectors are damaged then a replacement is very cheap.
:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the suggestion
i sprung the back and was going to attempt to reflow the solder in case it had a dodgy connection - but i noted that the actual usb connector looked like it had been stretched, and took to it with my favourite pliers and performed some creative metalwork by squeezing it
lo and behold! the otg connection worked, at least for long enough to transfer the custom rom
thereafter when i reassembled the case, the otg connection failed but now the usb link seems to be happy enough even though that makes no great sense seeing it is the same connector port, and the otg works on my other android devices
still, gotta take what you can get, and i am now the proud owner of a nexus 7 "flo" with lineage doing nicely
thanks for all assistances
scruffy1 said:
thanks for the suggestion
i sprung the back and was going to attempt to reflow the solder in case it had a dodgy connection - but i noted that the actual usb connector looked like it had been stretched, and took to it with my favourite pliers and performed some creative metalwork by squeezing it....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh this explains why my N7 - used daily - has never developed any USB port problems! I thought that this USB port's construction was rather 'weak' so preemptively I applied a simple reinforcement, have a look at the attachments.
It was 4 years ago....
:highfive:
I have a USB OTG cable that I can use to connect USB devices like flash drives, keyboard etc. and that works fine, but for some reason my phone won't charge whilst the OTG cable is plugged in.
Am I missing some really obvious way of getting this to work? Is it software based? I'm rooted and running Lineage OS if that makes any difference. I've tried several different OTG cables, I've tried connecting to different power supplies, different USB cables, different outlets, I've tried going into developer debug settings - nothing seems to get it to charge and data at the same time.
I am also interested in the topic. Trying to run Octoprint for Android and charge at the same time. I bought an OTG Y cable and the problem is that the phone is either charging or communicating with the 3d printer. Never both at the same time. I've researched quite a bit on google and it turns out at least on some devices the required effect can be achieved but I haven't been able to find anything about huawei devices. It is most probably a software limitation.
The same problem but i have Samsung J5 2017, i have rooted device so there is option to modify system files
Gosh! Would love to get this working. Any news?