USB on a tablet?

Forums › Android › USB on a tablet?

MichaelNZ

1594 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 485

Trusted

Net Trust Ltd

#198371 6-Jul-2016 13:10

I am getting a new Samsung Tab A with 4G - hopefully next week when the overdue shipment arrives.

I have not owned a tablet before and so far I have just used the USB connection on phones for charging, transferring files and O/S upgrades.

I am thinking - it must be usable for something else? I haven't yet seen an app which uses the USB though. Can someone please give me some examples of what they have used this USB connection for?

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

richms

29098 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10208

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1587111 6-Jul-2016 13:55

I have a little USB endoscope camera that can be used to look inside walls or other places to hook cables thru etc, it uses the USB OTG on a phone or tablet to work.

Also a memory card reader for getting pics off the real camera inorder to share when out, as the wifi on the camera is a piece of crap.

USB DAC for better audio.

Richard rich.ms

nzlegs

52 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 9

#1587159 6-Jul-2016 14:40

I use the micro USB connector with a 64Gig Strontium USB stick equipped with an OTG connector with my tablets that have either MX or VLÇ video apps for playing video clips that have been transferred from my main PC.
My Tab Pro S has a type C connector though and as that is a Win10 tablet I guess it out of this discussion.

1eStar

1604 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 375

#1587203 6-Jul-2016 16:38

If you get a USB OTG adapter (approx $1 each from aliexpress etc) you can connect up a USB hub, USB mouse, USB keyboard, external usb hard drive( depends on power requirements) etc

Linuxluver

5833 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1639

Trusted

Subscriber

#1587241 6-Jul-2016 17:35

MichaelNZ:

I am getting a new Samsung Tab A with 4G - hopefully next week when the overdue shipment arrives.

I have not owned a tablet before and so far I have just used the USB connection on phones for charging, transferring files and O/S upgrades.

I am thinking - it must be usable for something else? I haven't yet seen an app which uses the USB though. Can someone please give me some examples of what they have used this USB connection for?

I've connected a self-power HD to the USB port on my phone and been able to access 3TB of files.

_____________________________________________________________________

I've been on Geekzone over 16 years..... Time flies....

Dingbatt

6804 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3694

Lifetime subscriber

#1587720 7-Jul-2016 15:52

Via OTG, the SD card in my Nikon camera, a USB mouse, the reversing camera in my car (needed capture dongle as well), an independently powered hdd and the usual array of USB sticks lying around the place.
The biggest limitation I have found is that you can't charge your device at the same time as using the OTG. Got around that for the reversing camera by using wireless charging on my S6.

“We’ve arranged a society based on science and technology, in which nobody understands anything about science technology. Carl Sagan 1996

MichaelNZ

1594 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 485

Trusted

Net Trust Ltd

#1588283 8-Jul-2016 14:45

Thanks for the responses.

I have had a look on Samsung's website whether my Galaxy J5 or the Tab A I have on order features this. In both cases there is no mention.

WFH Linux Systems and Networks Engineer in the Internet industry | Specialising in Mikrotik | APNIC member | Open to job offers | ZL2NET

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

richms

29098 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 10208

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1588301 8-Jul-2016 14:55

There are USB hubs that are powered that _may_ work to keep the battery from draining, if not getting a little bit of charge into the phone.

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20160707185208&SearchText=usb+otg+charge+hub

Many more than when I ordered one.

Richard rich.ms