N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

I've read LOTS here about USB Host mode, which many have said is a topic beat to death, but I tried many of the things mentioned here, but no luck with anything USB related. Seems like everything needed to make the USB go into host mode either requires .deb's, Python and compiling, or red Pill mode (RD) and similar, but I've tried following some of the threads and still no luck, and I work with electronics, computers and tech all day long. Just not familiar with Linux and I've searched a lot and spent a lot of time reading before posting here.

Can somebody point me to some threads that I can follow that lead all the way through the process, rather than just "load Python, set routes and go" kind of shortcut instructions for GNU/Linux wizards, and that don't require flashing?

BTW, tried loading Python 2.5 runtime from Maemo, so I could install USBCONTROL deb, but no luck again, always said it was missing files. Still wading through cryptic threads about how to get it loaded. I apologize in advance if this is the millionth post about this. Thanks for your help.

Re: N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

Python used to be simple to install but they changed something about how it was packaged, thus it can be confusing now. Anyways, the easiest way to do this should be by just going into Application Manager, click "menu -> tools -> catalogs...", hilight maemo extras, hit edit, uncheck "Disabled:" and have it update it's list. Now click "installable applications" (or whatever it's called), pick "All" for the category, and scroll down to usbcontrol, tap it and click Install. If that doesn't work come back here and tell me *exactly* what error it gives you and what it says under "menu -> tool -> Log..." (I think it's under tools...).

Good luck. Tell me if you need me to clarify something.

-John

Re: N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

I have the same problem with you.Thanks for John's help:)
useful!

Re: N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

I've had no problems using USBControl on my N800 connecting to usb sticks, external HD (Mains Powered) and nokia n73 & N95 mobile phones.

When i intilially installed USBControl I had a few problems with it recognising thing, but I worked out its best to:-

1. Open USBControl
2. Click on HOST
3. Now Connect USB Device (If mains powered, ensure powered on before connecting)

If I try to connect the USB decice first and then run USBControl it only works now and then, but most of the time never.

Again, I've been lucky with Python2.5, installed from the repos and update via the xterm, 'sudo gainroot' & 'apt-get upgrade' method.

Oh, out of interest, what files does it say are missing when you try to install Runtime? Can you not just install the missing files from Xterm?

Re: N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

Thanks Johnx! :)

I did just what you said and sure enough there was USBCONTROL and lo and behold, the 5.3Mb app loaded and installed just fine. I could swear USBCONTROL app was not in the catalog before I went to download it the other day.

Anyway, I rebooted, set USBcontrol to Host mode and excitedly plugged in the USB cable, then the FEM A<->Fem A adapter and plugged in the USB2 2Gb SanDisk thumbdrive.

The 810 gave a message:

" USB Device Not Supported" then a popup "Unable to connect. Device not supported"

The USB Control dialog reported:

USB CONTROLLER MODE: a_wait_vrise


Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0781:a7c1 SanDisk Corp
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000


I tried OTG mode and no error message but File Manager doesn't see it. USBCONTROl reports in it's dialog:

USB CONTROLLER MODE: b_idle

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 0781:a7c1 SanDisk Corp
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000



Just for the heck of it Periperal Mode listed:

USB CONTROLLER MODE: b_idle

Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0781:a7c1 SanDisk Corp
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000


So, it doesn't see the thumbdrive I have so far... any suggestions?

Re: N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

Well this is my last day of borrowing an N810 from a friend for evaluation, he wants it back. I can't make it see my thumbdrive SD card reader, which I need for the trip I am taking to Europe in June. I may have to give up and look at a Eee PC instead, since it supports SD native and will do eveything the N810 will do, just a bit bigger. I sure liked the N810, but it seems to take too much fussing with to do even simple things. A true geek-with-plenty-of-spare-time toy. Hey I'm a geek too, but with not enough spare time for the N810 right now. Thanks again for the help.

Re: N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

That's actually normal. It will say it's not supported, but it really is. Check in File manager and it should appear. Hopefully you have a chance to read this before you have to return the N810. :D

Re: N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

Tried it a few one more times, even with reboots in between, verified host mode, before I returned it. No luck. :confused:

Same errors "USB device not supported" and later the popup "Unable to connect, Device not supported."

This was the USBCONTROL dialog.


USB CONTROLLER MODE: a_host

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0781:a7c1 SanDisk Corp
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

File Manager did not see it, did not create a new drive or folder that I could locate, tried it a bunch of times.

Refreshed USBCONTROL then tried a different micro-thumb drive and got:

USB CONTROLLER MODE: a_host

Bus 001 Device 006: ID 058f:6331 Alcor Micro Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 0000:0000

File Manager did not see it again.

All I can do for now. I'll have to decide which gadget to buy. Thanks again for your efforts.

Re: N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

As a guess I would suggest that you have nothing wrong, it's simply that the USB device is not low enough power to be driven by the N810. In host mode and with a valid USB storage device, the file manager will start automatically and you will see the device reported at the bottom of the list.

I know these card readers work that I posted some time back (see second post), They are multi readers and work with at least 16gb SDHC cards.

http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...ht=dealextreme

I am still looking for a single SDHC card reader that will work (I've tried 5 different types so far with no sucess)

Re: N810 for travel - need USB for thumbdrive
 

Like dfinch mentioned, it is entirely likely you have a USB stick that requires just a *little* too much power. You can try pluging in a powered USB hub and using that to supply power to the stick and plug the tablet into the host side. Not exactly portable but would verify that is the problem.