yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] audio_inside:
Close but no cigar for my digital camera

I have the 4-In-1 cable and I have not been able to get my x7500 running WM6 to talk successfully to my FZ18 camera, which obviously does not have to rely on USB for power. I get tantalizing bits of evidence that it is on the verge of working, but it is very flaky and intermittent. The behavior is the same whether I'm using a 2G SD card in the camera or removing it and relying on the camera's 27MB of wired memory. I let the camera format the media.

Typically, when the camera is plugged into the 4-in-1 it displays “Connecting To PC”, and about one out of 10 times I get the intermediate “Access” message, then the “lightning bolt” icon on the camera’s screen that it normally displays when successfully connected to a USB host. Various combinations of power cycling, hibernating, plugging and unplugging of cables is usually required to hit this one-in-ten jackpot.

Once it’s at that stage, there’s an additional 50% (or less) chance that when browsing with File Explorer, I will see the camera appear in the pulldown list of mass storage devices as “Hard Disk”. However, if I select Hard Disk to browse, the machine either freezes or I get WM6’s spinning umbrella of death. One time - once! - as it was unfreezing I saw a brief list of the camera’s DCIM and other directories before the machine locked up again. So close!

Update: I also tried this with my Canon 350D, plugging in the camera and soft-resetting the Advantage, and got a little bit different response: during bootup, the Advantage asked me to locate a driver to talk to the unknown USB device! So the USB mass storage support on this camera appears to be a little different than the Lumix.
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] leoni1980:
you'd be better off just putting the card from your camera in a card reader. As far as i know usb host is only meant for flash cards, usb input devices and card readers. I've tested various brands of these devices and they all worked. Other devices may not work. As it happens i can plug my n95 in as a mass storage device, and this also worked when i tried a k810i, but it is obviously a bit hit and miss. Maybe one day someone will bring out a more capable driver which will support larger capacity hard drives with a power hub and a few more devices but until then it's hit and miss
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
HTC technical support call

hello all

I've just made a call to HTC UK technical department who have asked me to send them a summery of this issue so they can start to look into it. I have a reference number of the call with a very helpful front-line technician who said that the e-mail I send them would be forwarded to the development team also.

He briefly mentioned that WM6 may also be playing a part in the intermittent successful/unsuccessful USB connectivity issues, so the developers have to factor that scenario into the lack of power that the HTC advantage/T-mobile AMEO battery is supplying to the cable.

Anyway I will obviously keep you informed any correspondence and developments of this issue in this thread.

Optical10
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] JonSlater:
You say "obviously does not have to rely on USB for power", but are you sure it's not trying anyway? Have you tried plugging your camera's AC adapter at the same time? If they use the same socket (e.g. a mini-usb) on the camera, I'd say chances are high the camera is trying to charge off what it thinks is a PC.
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] audio_inside:
This particular camera (Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18) has a concentric DC-In connector and doesn't rely on its mini-USB for power. (This DC-In connector is for powering the camera only and will not recharge the battery.)

To confirm it draws no power from USB I removed the battery and plugged the camera into a powered USB connection on my desktop computer, but it did not turn on and wasn't recognized by the computer.

UPDATE: I did phone the HTC Tech support "hotline" for N. America at 866-449-8358, which is based in Toronto, not with any expectation of a fix but just to put in my 2 cents for USB driver upgrades. I have to say that I was very impressed that I waited on hold for only about 30 seconds - on a Saturday morning - and talked to a fairly knowledgeable CSR who actually listened to me, seemed to understand the product, and didn't just read me a script. So +10 pts to HTC for at least the APPEARANCE of product support.

What the guy told me about the USB problem was that he was sorry and he'd pass the info up the line.
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] mahjong:
hmmm... but what the guy told you about the USB problem?
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] leoni1980:
what is the 'usb problem' people speak of here? i use usb thumb drives and input devices with my Athena and suffer very few problems other than the machine's very occasional reluctance to recognise devices. to my knowledge the athena was never intended to support external non-flash memory devices. further to this i doubt that mass-market requirements for high capacity externally-powered hard drives in wm6 are sufficient for Microsoft to support their development. inevitably such development is down to third parties (notably developers on sites such as this). with all due respect you can reasonably assume that both HTC and Microsoft have bigger fish to fry unless you can effectively argue why in hell a businessman would ever need to plug a big, mains-driven hard disc into his phone anyway.
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] mahjong:
OK you I right. I used the wrong word (problem). I agree with you that in the features of the cable said pen-drives and card readers, nothing about usb hard drives.

Anyway I would like to know what THEY answer. Just for the fun of it. :-)
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] vzuravlo:
Wrong! USB Host is USB Host. It MUST work with all mass storage devices.
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] patrickl:
If all mass storage devices would work the same this would be possible. Unfortunately this is not the case.
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] leoni1980:
where did you get this ill-informed information? the xbox 360 (for example)has mass storage capability but not everything works with it, nor is everything storage-related MEANT to work with it.

As it happens most thumb drives work with the Athena (or at least most I've tried have). To my knowledge there is not a single powered or unpowered mechanical drive that works with Windows Mobile's USB Host drivers. Much as I would like to be able to plug a big hard drive into my Athena for fun the reality is that I would probably do this a couple of times and realise it wasn't worth persevering with. I imagine it would be slow, unstable and cumbersome. Microsoft never intended such hard disks to be used with phones and as such it is no surprise they don't work!

With respect to other devices - well it's just hit and miss what works - unless the manufacturer happens to produce their own driver for windows mobile.

I would like the mass storage capabilities to be a LITTLE more stable, but Windows Mobile as a whole is a little unreliable - how often do we have to reset our devices due to crashes (even on powerful devices like the Athena); how often does Internet Explorer suddenly start saying 'page not found' for no reason, or the wireless adapter stop working and so on and so on and so on....

despite this I love windows mobile, and I appreciate the excellent work of the developers on here who help to make these devices all the more enjoyable. If someone has the know-how to write a stable driver for large hard disks then I will happily test it out, but I think it's a waste of time asking HTC and Microsoft.
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] mahjong:
All I know is what the oficial HTC shop site said in the features of the 4 in 1 cable:

- Pen drives

- Card Readers

- Keyboard

- Mouse

So... nothing about hard drives.
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] silviu.h:
On my old Toshiba e800 (Windows Mobile 2003 SE) I used to connect my photo-storage device (essentially a mobile hard drive unit with an embedded card readed; it's used by photographers in the field to unload their memory cards) and it worked like a charm. I could then browse the disk using my PocketPC and review the pictures using the 4" screen instead of the small camera display. I used Ratoc Systems drivers by the way.

This does not work on the Athena, I don't know if it's related to the cable, the USB drivers, Windows Mobile 5/6 or anything else...
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
HTC technical hotline Official Response

As per my last contribution to this thread here is the e-mail I received from HTC technical in its entirety,

"Dear Mr ...,

We have received some information from our developers regarding your query about 4 in1 cable.

We have been confirmed that it is compatible with USB key boards, USB mice, Card readers, and Thumbdrives (usually up to 1GB).

All the devices mentioned above must be low powered devices in order to work with HTC Advantage (T-Mobile Ameo).

We have been also confirmed that USB hard drives with external power supplies should also work, however it is not guaranteed one make may work another may not. Same applies to Thumbdrives. We are still expecting more technical and descriptive information however at the moment this information has not been yet disclosed to us.

Thank you for your enquiry, Should you have any other problem, please do not hesitate to call us. Your Local number can be found at http://www.europe.htc.com/support/csbyphone.html

Best regards,

HTC Europe

callservice@htceurope.com

http://www.htc.com"

So it seems that it is hit and miss as to whether your low powered USB hard drive will work with this cable according to this response!

If anybody has had success with specific manufacturer card readers/photography banks /external hard drive caddies which are also battery powered or in fact any USB devices PLEASE LET US KNOW IN THIS THREAD so I can start so I can start a database of working USB devices I make and model number.

Optical10
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] audio_inside:
Hmm, Ratoc has WM5 drivers for their Compact Flash -> USB adapter in order to support mass storage devices.

Anybody here brave enough to try installing them on their Advantage? :D

Here's the link to download:

http://www.ratocsystems.com/english/download/driver/cfu2.html
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] audio_inside:
See this published report of the use of an 80GB hard drive (removed from a Mac laptop) installed in a USB enclosure and successfully (if slowly) used at the end of a 4-in-1:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/mobile-gadgeteer/?p=559&page=2
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
Hi

I've already asked Ratoc if the T-Mobile AMEO / HTC Advantage 7500/7501 WM5/WM6 & here is their answer,

"Thank you for your inquiry.

Since we have not tested the CFU1U/CFU2 on the T-mobile AMEO, we cannot say if it will work or not. But I took a look at the specification of the T-mobile AMEO. It only supports CF memory card.

To use the CFU1U/CFU2, the slot must support IO card function. And the driver needs to be installed."

Notice it dosn't specify the OS requirements so I've asked the further question about WM6 compatibility.

As I've used the CFU1U successfully on my Dell Axim with my 149GB battery powered External USB caddy I will be happy to try the lastest driver if it has WM6 support on my T-Mobile AMEO.

patiently we wait....Optical10
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] audio_inside:
Weird - did they think Ameo/Advantage supports Compact Flash?

I did download their driver and install it but didn't see any change in behavior connecting to my digital camera nor to a FAT-formatted iPod Nano (enabled for disk [mass storage] mode).
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
LOL - I think they were just covering their replies legally, maybe?

Anyway I've just contacted Matthew Miller from the zdnet.com article that reviewed the HTC Advantage that mentioned some success with his 80GB Mac HDD here: http://blogs.zdnet.com/mobile-gadgeteer/?p=559&page=2 but more interestingly he mentions "The cool new microSD to USB adapter from Kingston", so I've asked if he has had time to test this intriguing new device.

I'll hopefully report back soon.

Optical10
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] auramae:
Anyone tried this?

I am hoping to use my Advantage as a laptop replacement for doing presentations. I know the 4 in 1 cable will hook to the projector (or so I am told!) and I am hoping that I can use the USB to plug in my Logitech presenter remote. My guess is that it would be similar to a mouse. Anyone done this successfully?
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] mahjong:
After Matthew Miller mention that he success connect a USB HD externaly powered I did my tests.

So I grab my old Iomega external HD (http://www.ciao.co.uk/Iomega_HDD_External_Hard_Drive_250_GB__6105260) and connected to the X7500 using the HTC dock station (http://www.slipperybrick.com/2007/06/htc-advantage-x7500-docking-station/) which provides host USB in the same way than the 4-1 cable.

The first time I connected the X7500 looks hang and I reset... but then I thought... OK what if the hang is just the X7500 doing something... So I connect the HD again once the X7500 finish the boot-up and again the X7500 hanged... but I leave it hanged. After 10 minutes (10 minutes 5 seconds) the X7500 awake and I saw the contents...

BUT every single time I chose a file or move to another directory the X7500 took another 10 minutes to awake... so not useable... as Mattew said.

I did the same test with my LaCIE 30 GB USB HD without external power (http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop...obile Hard Drive USB 2.0-External Hard Drives) YES IT IS PINK... and I couldn't manage to see the contents even watting for 30 minutes, so in this case I think the problem was lack of power.

Best Regards,

mahjong
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] chrisdk:
Sadly, my 4-in-1 won't talk to either of my (old-ish) CF readers, although it will work with a USB memory stick. Can anyone recommend a CF (or multi-card) reader that does work with it?
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
I have currently got my eye on the new kensington USB 2.0 Hi-Speed 19-in-1 Media Reader - part number: FCR-HS219/1, which unfortunately hasn't reached UK shop as we speak.

The advantages with this particular model seem to be its support of SDHC the new high-speed format as well as the older multiple micro cards without the need of an adapter. Also because it is the new kid on the block I presume it will work better with new equipment like the Advantage?

I would be grateful if expansys.com technical departments could test this product before we all commit to the purchase, but I'm still waiting for a reply from the sale department to see if they will even be stocking it. I'll keep you posted.

Optical10
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] chrisdk:
Thanks for that.

I've ended up picking up an Integral Memory multi-card reader (http://www.integralmemory.com/product_categ.aspx?prid=40) from PC World (in the UK), and it works fine. I'd also tried a Mikomi 54-in-1 card reader from Argos, and had no luck with that.

I suspect that with multi-card readers, the Athena will only see the card in the first slot on the bus - with the Mikomi under Windows, the CF shows up as the second additional drive letter, but on the Integral it shows up as the first.
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
Thanks & sorry for the delay...

....my T-M0obile Ameo / Advantage has been RTM'd & relaced due to the 3m camera going belly-up, so I've just got it back & up and running again, minus the SBP restore that didn't work on the newer ROM :(, so I've had to re-install from stract all my app's!

I've just bought the Xantex Mobile PowerSource 100 battery pack / inverter & I will try it with the Ameo & my 149GB external battery powered USB HDD caddy & report back obn my results soon.

Once again thanks for all your inputs so far.

Opticalk10
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] cyberjak:
that's wild as i'm running the t-mobile AMEO ( UK ) and i hooked up a generic USB wireless optical mouse adn got a cursor no problem

hehehe
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] Daniel_Kwon:
How about this.. Using mp3 as a storage

I don't have an advantage yet..

It's on delivery now..

I'm also curious that how I can use the external storage..

check this out..

http://www.mobile-review.com/pda/review/htc-advantage-2-en.shtml

We tested out USB-Host with a couple of gadgets – a keyboard (Cherry), an HDD-powered player (iAudio Cowon M5) and a card-reader had no problems being identified by the system. In the cases with the player and card-reader, we simply got new sections in the file system.

They say... iAudio Cowon M5 can be used...

I think we cannot use an external hdd drive but we can use storage of mp3..

Is it right?

I don't have any one now so I cannot test.

Anyone wants to try and... tell me about that.. thanks..
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] mahjong:
Related to storage is a matter of try & buy I'm afraid.

On HTC half they said no way... but some people success to connect some external HDs.

:(
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] cyberjak:
he's right. try and hope. I've been working on getting a power source for a 2.5 inch drive i have for usb so i can test it i also am going to try various 3.5 inch hdd's and a cdrom using an external mains powered case i have.so far usb kingston 1gb traveler works great mounts a /harddisk under the filesystem

but the main thing is how thedevice identifies itself to wm5/6 that determines what driver the usb plug n play uses to try and mount it. i've also successfully used a usb mini wireless mouse under the wm6 official t-mobile uk rom
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] gbreyssem:
How did you get it woking???

Hello, I cannot get any cardreader CF nor SD nor others to work connected to the USB port of the 4-1 USB connector. Nor with a powered USB hub, nothing... As it works for you, how can I see my files in the File Explorer of the HTC X7500 ??? Please help, many thanks!
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
Maybe We Should Be Trying This Method?

I got this quote from JK on the run.com which is entitled "Hook a USB device to your Nokia N810 thanks to USB-On-The-Go", here's the link to the article:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/jkOnTheRun/~3/225515022/hook-up-a-usb-d.html

maybe HTC haven't included this functionality? However if they've included in functionality of USB on the go but it is somehow crippled or not working properly like the case of the present HTC customer backlash over sub-par video playback in recent devices employing Qualcomm's MSM7xxx chipsets -- apparently, handsets like the popular TyTN II and Touch Cruise were purposely shipped without drivers that would take advantage of the embedded ATI Imageon acceleration hardware, then we need to up the pressure on them to fix this problem of the USB on the go functionality!

let me know your thoughts, please, thank you - Optical10
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
SUCCESS !!! Using the 4 in 1 cable to access 160 GB HDD

I have today successfully connected the Seagate 160GB 2.5 inch laptop hard drive (Seagate Momentous 5400.3 160 GB 2.5 HDD mod# ST9160821A) To My HTC Advantage / T-Mobile AMEO via the 4-in-1 USB cable.

I had to use a Digimate III /(3) HIGH SPEED Portable Photo Bank & Card Reader 2.5 inch hard drive caddy / enclosure with battery or mains power that I bought here on eBay http://snipurl.com/1zlal , this was the only place I could find it minus the hard drive. The bonus with this particular hard-driving closure is that it also includes a 12 one card reader and did I say that it was hi speed USB 2.0 as well and it even works on Macs.

I was able to access 17,000 MP3s to my Windows mobile media player library via the HTC advantage/T-Mobile AMEO whilst connected to the Digimate III /(3) HIGH SPEED Portable Photo Bank & Card Reader. Hope the solution works for the rest of you as I can’ t see why it wouldn’t. So once again I have what I call the iPod/iPhone beater courtesy of the 160 GB capacity, sometimes life is sweet  enjoy.

Optical10
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] mahjong:
Well done although I don't fully understand the need of having 17000 MP3s in the Athena or any other portable gadget. :confused:

17000 x (average) 4 minutes each makes 68000 minutes which are 1133.33 hours which are 47.22 days (24 hours)... :rolleyes: If you spend let say 8 hours listening music this makes 141.66 days listening music (8 hours a day).

Be aware that your hears can suffer big damage (and I not joking this time).
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] cornelius:
i think basicall we can connect anything on 4in1 USB cable but speed is 1.1 and mus not take too much power from athena...

I've try muc HW and it successfull
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
Who wants to choose which songs to listen to when you're rushing out the door

Either you love music or you don't that's why I like to know that I haven't left that particular album or track at home when I'm feeling in the mood for it. 160 GB iPod anyone?

Optical10
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] mahjong:
17000 songs? That is lot of loving... :p

I was just joking all the time I didn't pretend any offense :)

17000 songs? Uffff
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] optical10:
No worries, "love and peace man"
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] Kenjari:
I didnt take the time to read through the thread....so maybe this has been answered.

I did get from scanning that on some card readers, there is only one card that is recognized by the Athena. This is my case, I have a card reader, I have tried my CF cards and the Athena doesnt see it. However, it does recognize the SD cards.

Is there a card reader out there that I can use that the Athena will see both forms of memory cards?

thanks....my apologies if this has been answered!
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] yu153448:
500 gig Seagate a sucess (the first time...but)

hey folks,

I was able to plug a 500gb seagate hard drive into my usb hub and plug that into my cheap ebay docking station (essentially same as athe 4 in 1 cable) and it worked. I then proceeded to plug in a mouse into the usb hub and they both worked. I was able to access everything on the hard drive including playing a movie directly of the hard drive with no noticable lag. Very impressive!!!!!!!!! and very cool!!!!!

BUT..... after playing around, i disconnected and tried again and it wouldn't recognize (the 500gig hard drive that is) , I even tried rebooting and it would not recognize. So it is possible and I will have to mess aaround to figure out the scenerio but it is possible.

As a side note the USB hub allowed me to plug in a keyboard , mouse and a 4gig flash drive and they all worked.

Also as a note, the hard drive was powered by an adapter. What I woldlike to try if I can find the it, is to plug the adapter which powers the usb hub and see what happens.

Cheers,
[Advantage X7500, MDA Ameo Accessories] Chem E Sam:
any new news on this? sounds very cool that you get such a big HD working. have you get it working again? i am very interested in this.