Yet another question about USB on the 770

[Karel Jansens]

Yesterday, I came across a small USB hub that had an extra in-port for power. The idea is that you plug both USB plugs into your laptop, one for connectivity and the other to provide power.

I do have a 4xAA battery charger and a USB connector for it. Would I be correct in assuming that, if I plugged the data plug into my 770 and the "power" plug into the battery charger, I would be set to be able to plug USB devices into my 770 (after the software upgrade, obviously) via this hub?

Oh, in case you hadn't noticed: I'm a complete n00b on the USB thingie.

[Karel Jansens]

Bumpedy-bump?

[TA-t3]

As far as the connector scenario is concerned your assumptions look valid. It shouldn't matter where the "power" plug gets its plus 5V from. I've used a USB disk w/two plugs, on one occasion I plugged the "power" cable to a different device when using the thing with a computer with only one functioning USB port.
The second thing is the host mode issue, I guess that's what you mean by the "software upgrade"? From what I can remember about earlier descriptions of how to do this with the 770 I think you should be ok.. I can't see why not, at least. As for the N800 my understanding is that host mode isn't available in the kernel, unlike the 770 - but I still haven't received my N800 yet (3-5 days delivery, my ***..)

[fpp]

I think it's just as easy to use a normal portable hub and hunt for just exactly the righ "Y" USB cable that will power both the hub and the 770's port. It was all in that huge USB-host thread of way back when, with pictures. YMMV.

[Karel Jansens]

I think it's just as easy to use a normal portable hub and hunt for just exactly the righ "Y" USB cable that will power both the hub and the 770's port. It was all in that huge USB-host thread of way back when, with pictures. YMMV.

I must have missed that one. Actually, it's not so much a hub that I need than a way to make my card reader work with my 770: my camera uses CF cards and even with the help of a hammer, I couldn't get them inside the 770 :p .

[Karel Jansens]

As far as the connector scenario is concerned your assumptions look valid. It shouldn't matter where the "power" plug gets its plus 5V from. I've used a USB disk w/two plugs, on one occasion I plugged the "power" cable to a different device when using the thing with a computer with only one functioning USB port.
The second thing is the host mode issue, I guess that's what you mean by the "software upgrade"? From what I can remember about earlier descriptions of how to do this with the 770 I think you should be ok.. I can't see why not, at least. As for the N800 my understanding is that host mode isn't available in the kernel, unlike the 770 - but I still haven't received my N800 yet (3-5 days delivery, my ***..)

Host mode, yes. I figure that wouldn't be too much of a hassle, having flashed my NokiLLO a couple of times already.

If the N800 doesn't have host mode in the kernel, that'll be yet another reason for me not to buy it.

[fpp]

Remember this link ? :-)
http://www.pearl.fr/article-TG1070.html

[Karel Jansens]

Remember this link ? :-)
http://www.pearl.fr/article-TG1070.html

I need a more flexible design: my charger and my card reader both have mini-plugs.

ISTR a sort of USB kit in a shop or an online catalogue; it came with all kinds of adapters and stuff. I'll look around.

Hey, thanx anyway. Your solution is a lot cheaper than that hub I mentioned. :D

EDIT: Actually, come to think of it, all I need is a small-to-big USB converter (I don't know all them smart names) for the battery charger plus the Y-cable you showed. I already have a small-to-big-USB-plug-to-plug-stuff-in from my Archos PMA430 (See, Nokia? That one has proper host mode). And the card reader has an extension with a regular plug as well.

[fpp]

Yup, you got it, that's how I did it too. Except if you're lucky you may come across a variant of that Y-cable with a mini-USB (scientific latin name :-) at the business end, so one less adapter to worry about.

The fun part is that *my* battery pack is a smaller 4xAAA, but is has a large USB plug :-)

[Karel Jansens]

Yup, you got it, that's how I did it too. Except if you're lucky you may come across a variant of that Y-cable with a mini-USB (scientific latin name :-) at the business end, so one less adapter to worry about.

The fun part is that *my* battery pack is a smaller 4xAAA, but is has a large USB plug :-)

Actually, my battery pack only has the large Nokia-type plug (it's for my Archos), but I nicked some adapter plugs that came with a generic AC charger I have lying around. Only the one mini-USB though. I'll need to find a "female" mini-USB to "female" big-USB adapter.

[seoul_suicide]

Karel Jansens, like you i too am a noob on the usb thing.. 1 thing that struck me was if you wanted to attach a harddrive (i know you're talking about a card reader, but just curious) couldnt you just use a mp3 player since it powers itself?~

[Karel Jansens]

Karel Jansens, like you i too am a noob on the usb thing.. 1 thing that struck me was if you wanted to attach a harddrive (i know you're talking about a card reader, but just curious) couldnt you just use a mp3 player since it powers itself?~

I don't have a standalone MP3-player (I either use NokiLLO or my phone), but I do have a couple of portable USB hard disks, which I'm certainly going to try with fpp's suggested setup. And then I have all these USB keydrives lying around...

BTW, I seriously doubt whether many MP3 players have powered USB ports; they don't need them (what devices is one supposed to hook up to a music player?) and it would play havoc on the battery life.

[Karel Jansens]

Um...

I have some bad news for those who were looking forward to my experiences with a powered USB hub on NokiLLO.

The thing is this: I was in the store, fondling cables and plugs, when it dawned on me that I actually only needed this hub because I want to be able to see (and show) my digital pictures on NokiLLO, and my digicam has a CFcard...

... So I bought a new digital camera with a SD slot. Sorry, people. :p