Aydan | # 81 | 2010-06-03, 21:20 | Report

For more than one device you'd need a hub and for keyboards and mice there's always bluetooth.

joerg_rw | # 82 | 2010-06-03, 22:08 | Report

No, you'll need a USB hub for that - btw something that's on the blacklist for OTG, but should work with our plain hostmode ;-D

If you already have a hub then power consumption of the kbd and mouse won't matter that much, as you can use a hub with external power supply.

On a sidenote some keyboards need over 50mA. Still no problem, and also quite unusual nowadays.

/jOERG

maxximuscool | # 83 | 2010-06-03, 22:14 | Report

This is what I want to use it for. I can plug my ext-HDD with power from another source and plug it directly into my N900 and i can download stuff of it. This is my dream lol. Bloody Nokia

nosa101 | # 84 | 2010-06-04, 09:12 | Report

Found this
http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/04/n...-oscilloscope/

Could it help?

SpeedEvil | # 85 | 2010-06-04, 12:00 | Report

Basically not.

The 'interesting' parts of the USB are mostly confined to the USB module inside the chips.

That's what we're trying to work out at the moment, and it's generally better done with software debugging tools, as the hardware may not tell you much.
(you can't tell between state 34 and state 35 externally if there are no differences in the states of the wires - but you may need the device to be in state 34, before you can push it to state 89 which enables host-mode. (numbers made up)).

An oscilloscope would help not much more than a normal multimeter.

Bratag | # 86 | 2010-06-04, 13:33 | Report

http://sven.killig.de/android/N1/2.2/usb_host/

Just to add some fuel to the fire.

crazler | # 87 | 2010-06-04, 13:51 | Report

Is it possible with this mod to use a DVBT-Stick on the N900?

sjgadsby | # 88 | 2010-06-04, 14:06 | Report

Once USB host is fully sussed out and available to end users, the same two potential barriers will apply every possible USB device:

• power draw
• driver availability

The power problem can be worked around via a powered USB hub. That effectively converts the power problem into two sub-issues:

• must stay near a power outlet
• must carry a larger amount of gear

The first of those may be avoided via the purchase of a rare, but available, battery-powered USB hub. The second is only as limiting as you let it be:
In the end, the availability of drivers becomes the real issue. For any given device, search to see if Linux drivers are available for it. If so, there's a good chance it may be made to work with the N900. If you're not into compiling software and fixing "works on x86 but breaks on ARMEL" bugs, then you'll need to woo a friendly Linux geek.

Crogge | # 89 | 2010-06-04, 15:39 | Report

I agree that the driver part may becomes a quite big issue, I see already all the threads here like "My DVB-T stick doesn't works" or "My scanner can't be detected"..., still as long as there exist drivers for other Linux based phones it shouldn't be a big problem to port them. Making a X86 driver with ARMEL compatible is quite a lot of work, and you should give the "friendly Linux geek" at least a small donation then :P

I suggest to port drivers for the most common devices and collect them here or make a repository for it.

Texrat | # 90 | 2010-06-04, 15:50 | Report

I've been wanting for a long time to write up a "MID use case" on my blog where the N900 is used as a lab test/experiment controller/monitor. In a previous job I used a laptop and it got pretty awkward for some tests. Being able to tote something as small as the N900 just to monitor tests and experiments would make so many lab techs and engineers happy.

This project gets us that much closer. Of course now I have to research interfaces, drivers and data capture software...