[Guide] USB Host

TerrorApple · Aug 26, 2012

I've tried mounting my external 1 TB Freecom HDD (socket powered) with 800GB NTFS, 200GB FAT32. I'm trying to copy videos from the FAT32 partition to my device. I've entered the commands in Terminal Emulator, but it only tells me: Stopped (signal). I've attached a screenshot. When I use ASTRO and open the /mnt/sdcard/usb folder it tells me: no data.
What am I doing wrong?

nerd65536 · Aug 26, 2012

cryingfreeman86 said:
Hi everybody,

First of all sorry for my englisch. I have a big problem with the USB otg function. An USB mouse works well but USB drives don't work. I have copied the text from terminal emulator:

app_162@android:/ $ export PATH=/data/local/bin:$PATH
app_162@android:/ $ su
app_162@android:/ # mkdir /mnt/sdcard/usb
mkdir: can't create directory '/mnt/sdcard/usb': File exists
2 /dev/block/sda1 /mnt/sdcard/usb <
mount: mounting /dev/block/sda1 on /mnt/sdcard/usb failed: No such file or directory
255|app_162@android:/ #

I also tried sda instead of sda1. No difference.
Please could anybody help me.

Run

Code:

ls /dev/block/

to see whether any devices named like "/dev/block/sd*" are detected.

You can also plug in the drive, then run

Code:

dmesg

to see debugging messages.

TerrorApple said:
First of all, sorry for my English.
I've tried mounting my external 1 TB Freecom HDD (socket powered) with 800GB NTFS, 200GB FAT32. I'm trying to copy videos from the FAT32 partition to my device. I've entered the commands in Terminal Emulator, but it only tells me: Stopped (signal). I've attached a screenshot. When I use ASTRO and open the /mnt/sdcard/usb folder it tells me: no data.
What am I doing wrong?

Apple

Let's verify that /dev/block/sda (or sda1) is detected. It should show up when you run the command:

Code:

ls /dev/block/

Reboot the phone and try it again.

TerrorApple · Aug 26, 2012

Thanks for your fast reply. I've tried that command, but "sda" nor "sda1" shows up. But what does the last line in my second screenshot mean? It's the mount command again, but with a different error...
Restarting the phone didn't help either.

devgee · Aug 27, 2012

@OP
There is app called OTG Helper, which helps to mount usb devices without terminal commands, all you need to do is click mount,
Ill be posting the app thread and a Video !
It really helps people who are getting errors in the terminal and it is easy to use !

App ----> http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1802740

Requirements : 1) Y-Cable
2) OTG Cable
3) Power Adapter (HTC Power Adapter didnt work for me, so i used another one)
3) USB stick ( I used a 8GB Trancend)
4) HTC One S

Video:

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

TerrorApple · Aug 28, 2012

Thanks for the app. I installed BusyBox Free and started the app. It tells me everything is OK. But when I click Mount it says: No devices found.
I set up like this: Freecom HDD (Freecom Network Drive XS 1TB Mini USB) -> adapter (mumbi Mini USB Male -> USB Female) -> HTC USB cable -> HTC One S. (I'd post links to my stuff, but I need at least 10 posts here for that...) The HDD is socket powered, so I shouldn't need any other cables. I also tried another HDD (Western Digital), but it didn't work either. What am I doing wrong? Am I using wrong cables?

gemarcano · Aug 28, 2012

TerrorApple said:
Thanks for the app. I installed BusyBox Free and started the app. It tells me everything is OK. But when I click Mount it says: No devices found.
I set up like this: Freecom HDD (Freecom Network Drive XS 1TB Mini USB) -> adapter (mumbi Mini USB Male -> USB Female) -> HTC USB cable -> HTC One S. (I'd post links to my stuff, but I need at least 10 posts here for that...) The HDD is socket powered, so I shouldn't need any other cables. I also tried another HDD (Western Digital), but it didn't work either. What am I doing wrong? Am I using wrong cables?

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I recall reading somewhere (this thread maybe) that the HTC One S doesn't provide power to USB devices, hence the need for a Y cable. I believe the first post of this thread explains the proper setup. I hope this helps.

Sent from my HTC VLE_U

TerrorApple · Aug 28, 2012

gemarcano said:
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I recall reading somewhere (this thread maybe) that the HTC One S doesn't provide power to USB devices, hence the need for a Y cable. I believe the first post of this thread explains the proper setup. I hope this helps.

Sent from my HTC VLE_U

Yes I know I need power, but my HDD is socket powered! Do I then still need a Y-cable? Because when I plug it in to the socket I hear my HDD running. I thought you only need an Y-cable if you want to connect a USB stick or something else that does not have it's own power source?

devgee · Aug 28, 2012

You need a y cable and a power adapter!

Gesendet von meinem HTC One S

gemarcano · Aug 28, 2012

TerrorApple said:
Yes I know I need power, but my HDD is socket powered! Do I then still need a Y-cable? Because when I plug it in to the socket I hear my HDD running. I thought you only need an Y-cable if you want to connect a USB stick or something else that does not have it's own power source?

You're right, sorry. I looked up your drive and it has its own power adapter. The y cable shouldn't be needed. I don't know much about Android, but since its similar to linux... Plug the HDD in and in the terminal run "dmesg", and copy approximately the last 15 lines or so. If the phone sees the drive at all, some sd* string should appear in the dmesg output.

Also, what ROM are you using?

Sent from my HTC VLE_U

TerrorApple · Aug 28, 2012

devgee said:
You need a y cable and a power adapter!

Gesendet von meinem HTC One S

But my HDD is socket powered! Or does USB need extra power?

gemarcano said:
You're right, sorry. I looked up your drive and it has its own power adapter. The y cable shouldn't be needed. I don't know much about Android, but since its similar to linux... Plug the HDD in and in the terminal run "dmesg", and copy approximately the last 15 lines or so. If the phone sees the drive at all, some sd* string should appear in the dmesg output.

Also, what ROM are you using?

Sent from my HTC VLE_U

OK I ran "dmesg" and don't really know what that all means

I added a screenshot. But it doesn't seem like it found my HDD...
BTW my Freecom HDD is always on (no stand-by), my WD HDD has stand-by enabled. And when I connect my WD to my PC you hear it starting and beginning to work. But when I connect it to my phone and mount it doesn't wake up from stand-by. Seems like the HDD doesn't even notices I gave the mount command!
I'm using ICS 4.0.3, no custom ROM, but T-Mobile branding.

gemarcano · Aug 28, 2012

TerrorApple said:
OK I ran "dmesg" and don't really know what that all means I added a screenshot. But it doesn't seem like it found my HDD...
BTW my Freecom HDD is always on (no stand-by), my WD HDD has stand-by enabled. And when I connect my WD to my PC you hear it starting and beginning to work. But when I connect it to my phone and mount it doesn't wake up from stand-by. Seems like the HDD doesn't even notices I gave the mount command!
I'm using ICS 4.0.3, no custom ROM, but T-Mobile branding.

If you are on T-Mobile stock ROM, even if rooted, I don't think it'll work. The ROM needs USB host support, which is configured in the kernel, so a custom Rom would be the way to go (which one? Sorry, I don't know...). Of course if you can get another USB storage device to work on the stock ROM, then I'm wrong about the ROMs, haha. From the dmesg I don't see anything about any external USB device. I find that odd, since I would expect at least a blip on the dmesg, but then again, it could be related to the lack of USB host support... Could anyone verify my claims about the kernel USB support and the ROMs?

Edit: My One S isn't rooted, so I can't test this right now. I think your best bet would be to try different devices. Also, after you issue the mount command, just type the command "mount" and press enter. If it mounted it, somewhere it that long blurb there should be mention of an sd* device along with /mnt/sdcard/usb as mount point. Also check in Astro by going to /mnt/sdcard/usb after mounting to see if there is something there. Hope that helps!

Sent from my HTC VLE_U

TerrorApple · Aug 28, 2012

gemarcano said:
If you are on T-Mobile stock ROM, even if rooted, I don't think it'll work. The ROM needs USB host support, which is configured in the kernel, so a custom Rom would be the way to go (which one? Sorry, I don't know...). Of course if you can get another USB storage device to work on the stock ROM, then I'm wrong about the ROMs, haha. From the dmesg I don't see anything about any external USB device. I find that odd, since I would expect at least a blip on the dmesg, but then again, it could be related to the lack of USB host support... Could anyone verify my claims about the kernel USB support and the ROMs?

Edit: My One S isn't rooted, so I can't test this right now. I think your best bet would be to try different devices. Also, after you issue the mount command, just type the command "mount" and press enter. If it mounted it, somewhere it that long blurb there should be mention of an sd* device along with /mnt/sdcard/usb as mount point. Also check in Astro by going to /mnt/sdcard/usb after mounting to see if there is something there. Hope that helps!

Sent from my HTC VLE_U

devgee posted a video with a working USB OTG: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=30791064&postcount=24 Which ROM is that? I've already tried ASTRO, it just said no data. If this all doesn't work, I'll buy a Y-cable and try a stick first, like in the video. Maybe it's just an issue with my HDDs...
And it would be really great if someone (maybe the OP?) could say, if you need a custom ROM or not.

Edit: OK, I've PM'd devgee and it seems like you need a custom ROM (ViperOneS works), a USB OTG cable and an Y-cable. No wonder it didn't work

I'll have a closer look when I'm back from my vacation and then post here if it worked. Thanks to everyone who helped

nor-ric · Aug 30, 2012

Do you guys think it would be possible to use the phone as a desktop this way? I mean, my idea would be:
1) connect the phone to a usb hub
2) connect the hub to a monitor through MHL
3) connect the hub to mouse and keyboard

So as to use the phone with mouse and keyboard while mirroring the screen on the external monitor.

I'm quite ignorant when it comes to MHL output, so I apologize if I'm posting silly things!

nerd65536 · Aug 30, 2012

TerrorApple said:
But my HDD is socket powered! Or does USB need extra power?

USB needs extra power. It doesn't matter that the HDD is socket powered. You will still need the Y adapter for USB power.

nor-ric said:
Do you guys think it would be possible to use the phone as a desktop this way? I mean, my idea would be:
1) connect the phone to a usb hub
2) connect the hub to a monitor through MHL
3) connect the hub to mouse and keyboard

So as to use the phone with mouse and keyboard while mirroring the screen on the external monitor.

I'm quite ignorant when it comes to MHL output, so I apologize if I'm posting silly things!

MHL will not work through a USB hub.

gemarcano said:
If you are on T-Mobile stock ROM, even if rooted, I don't think it'll work. The ROM needs USB host support, which is configured in the kernel, so a custom Rom would be the way to go (which one? Sorry, I don't know...). Of course if you can get another USB storage device to work on the stock ROM, then I'm wrong about the ROMs, haha. From the dmesg I don't see anything about any external USB device. I find that odd, since I would expect at least a blip on the dmesg, but then again, it could be related to the lack of USB host support... Could anyone verify my claims about the kernel USB support and the ROMs?

Edit: My One S isn't rooted, so I can't test this right now. I think your best bet would be to try different devices. Also, after you issue the mount command, just type the command "mount" and press enter. If it mounted it, somewhere it that long blurb there should be mention of an sd* device along with /mnt/sdcard/usb as mount point. Also check in Astro by going to /mnt/sdcard/usb after mounting to see if there is something there. Hope that helps!

Sent from my HTC VLE_U

USB host works on rooted stock ROMS. In fact, you don't even need to root the phone to use a mouse or keyboard.

gemarcano · Aug 30, 2012

So all you need is the extra power supplied via the use of a Y cable? No custom ROM? I stand corrected. Thanks!

Sent from my HTC VLE_U

nor-ric · Aug 30, 2012

nerd65536 said:
MHL will not work through a USB hub.

Lol, my dreams have just been crashed!

TerrorApple · Sep 4, 2012

OK, I made it work now, I used: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005JDETZA http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0038PECX0 http://www.amazon.de/dp/B001BHVMIU and a FAT32 Intenso 16GB Stick (USB2).
Sorry for the German Amazon links, not enough time atm to find Amazon.com links...
For mounting I used this http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1802740 on ViperOneS.
Thanks to everyone!

devgee · Sep 4, 2012

TerrorApple said:
OK, I made it work now, I used: http://www.amazon.de/dp/B005JDETZA http://www.amazon.de/dp/B0038PECX0 http://www.amazon.de/dp/B001BHVMIU and a FAT32 Intenso 16GB Stick (USB2).
Sorry for the German Amazon links, not enough time atm to find Amazon.com links...
For mounting I used this http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1802740 on ViperOneS.
Thanks to everyone!

No probs TerrorApple

Gesendet von meinem HTC One S mit Tapatalk 2

uniserve · Sep 13, 2012

devgee said:
@OP
There is app called OTG Helper, which helps to mount usb devices without terminal commands, all you need to do is click mount,
Ill be posting the app thread and a Video !
It really helps people who are getting errors in the terminal and it is easy to use !

App ----> http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1802740

Requirements : 1) Y-Cable
2) OTG Cable
3) Power Adapter (HTC Power Adapter didnt work for me, so i used another one)
3) USB stick ( I used a 8GB Trancend)
4) HTC One S

Video:

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

Hi Devgee, would you mind to let me know whether your HTC One S is still with stock kernel and if yes, which module did you use to make this app working in One S?

TerrorApple · Sep 14, 2012

uniserve said:
Hi Devgee, would you mind to let me know whether your HTC One S is still with stock kernel and if yes, which module did you use to make this app working in One S?

devgee used ViperOneS in this video. Kernel in this ROM is 3.0.8.

[Guide] USB Host

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