USB Host Mode
 

Hi

I have a Nokia 770 with OS 2006 and try to use a usb thumb stick on it. I have made a USB Power Injector (it *should* work), so the power is not the problem. I also tried to put the nokia to the host mode with:
but the output of the dmesg is:
and no device under /dev/sdXY apears...
has anyone an idea what the problem is? I never flashed my nokia. Is this the problem?

When I connect and disconnect the usb cable, dmesg shows the disconnect or connect message, but no more.

I read many threads in this forum and others, but I did't found a solution...

Thx, in advance.

Hi,

similar problem here.

My N770 has OS2006.
I bought the Brando USB keyboard,
a powered USB hub, and a USB Y-cable as 'power injector'.

I installed X-Term and BecomeRoot,
entered :
sudo su -
then:
echo host > /sys/devices/platform/tahvo-usb/otg_mode
then :
/etc/init.d/ke-recv restart
then :
dmesg

and only got a long list of messages, one of the latest saying:

Selected HOST mode: no host controller, powering off

What went wong?

I already searched the forum and maemo.org for a solution,
but so far I've been unable to switch the 770 to host mode.



Thanks for reading

Ray

you need to load the host mode drivers

same problem here, i just finished soldering!

i tried it with cables and adapters and a gender changer, it didnt work so i thought id done sth wrong and manually soldered a mini usb cable to the hub. same thing here: "Selected HOST mode: no host controller, powering off".


/edit where the heck do we get and load that driver??

Thanks for your reply.

But how can this be done?

For whatever reason switching to host mode after booting in slave mode does not work. Something about the way it's initialized during the bootup sequence. You need to use the flasher to set host mode and then switch back to slave mode as needed (using the echo slave > /sys/devices/platform/tahvo-usb/otg_mode command). Then plugging in a USB keyboard, USB key, etc. will just work although you will need to mount any storage you plug in. I've gone as far as plugging in a USB 10/100 network adapter which worked fine after compiling the kernel module for it and ifconfig'ing it.

Host mode is just not very well supported in general since they don't include most of the USB drivers for devices and everything is manual as far as configuration. Some motivated person needs to port over hotplug or some such utility to automate the configuration of devices.


Larry

Is it possible using Windows PC to enable USB host mode on the 770 (I don't have have a Linux PC) ?

And does every shutdown of the 770 reset it to slave mode?


Ray

ray, you can dload DS Linux here. its 50mb. burn it on cd, put the cd in and reboot - voila, no need to install. http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/download.html

i cant believe it, its working! great!

The little guy needs the gadget driver, scsi etc to get the host mode working when doing the echo technique. I don't have the little guy in front of me right now but I'll try to post the order asap

No idea about the windows version of the flasher. Setting the host/slave mode via the flasher is persistent between boots. As mentioned you can still switch to slave mode on the fly via the given echo command, but rebooting will switch it back to whatever the flasher has set.

Larry

Thanks for the info.

Using the DSL-LiveCD I was able to use the flasher in an easy way (Thanks to quingu).
Now dmesg tells me a host is there, and also if a USB cable is connected.
But now there is no USB notification in the status area of the desktop anymore.
Regardless if I plug or unplug the USB cable, no USB symbol...

Also, the keyboard doesn't work yet using the hub.

Theoretically it should, since all the +5V lines inside the hub
are straight connected on the pcb, as is with the GND lines.
So if I plug in the mains adapter, the +5V lines of every port
has +5 Volts, actually +5.09 volts, with Nokia 770 connected.
And the manual of the hub says it delivers up to 500mA to the ports,
as long as the mains adapter is connected.

At least from this point there should be no need for another power injector,
or am I wrong here?

Or is there another software or configuration thing I missed?

I additionally tried the echo host... cmd as root, but no difference so far.

Thanks for your help.

Ray

if the hubs powered, it will most likely output the power to the outgoing ports, not the "host" port. you either have to solder or use a Y-cable where 2 sides connect the host-port of the hub and the 770 and the third goes into an outgoing port of the hub, thus getting power out of it.

if you want to use the 770 via usb w/ your pc, you have to temp. disable host mode.
goto xterm, gain root access then enter

echo peripheral > /sys/devices/platform/tahvo-usb/otg_mode

USB hardware
 

Does anyone sell the cable for the USb host mode, or do I have to make my own?

I prefer to purchase something than hacking cables together ???

I would probably blow up my 770 with crossed wires

have fun with google. check webshops for cables/adapters. use the forum search.

on the other hand... i did mine by hacking, its doable. if you do it concentrated and make a plan what exactly to do, chances are it works.

Hi all,

thanks for your help on hardware topic!
Finally I got the 770 to work with my USB keyboard:-)
It would have worked a few hours earlier,
if I only didn't put the 770 into wrong USB port
of the hub (stupid me...)

The Y-cable I have has two A-type plugs,
one of them for power only,
and one Mini-B plug, which goes into the Nokia.
But the hub input port has a Mini-B slot, too.
Solution: Gender changer A-female to A-female,
and another A-male to Mini-B male cable,
where the Mini-B plug goes into the hub input port...

Much cabling for one USB keyboard, isn't it?
However it works without slicing a single USB cable;-)


I still wonder why Nokia made it that difficult to use a wired keyboard with the 770...

Regards

Raymond

short answer: to force people to use an external usb power supply.

I wish Nokia made a powered USB hub accessory made specifically for the 770. Things would be so much easier not having to work thru a myraid of cables.