Has anyone here managed to connect a standard USB memory stick to an Android tablet (or iPad) using an OTG cable? There are many sites claiming they show you how to do it, but until now I have failed. First check: is it true that a OTG USB cable has 5 connectors ? If so, how does it connect to a standard USB 4-connector device ? Thanks in advance
Yes.
All microUSB have 5 pins.
the usual data+/data-/ground/5Volt and a sense pin, which says if it's OTG or not.
There are some USB sticks with standard USB plug one end, and micro USB plug at other end, specifically for plugging into mobiles/tablets.
I would just warn that the size of such a thumb stick allows you to put a lot of leverage on the micro USB socket, and we see lots of those broken off the circuit boards at repair events, even with just the smaller leverage available from a micro USB plug.
Thanks for these replies; still a bit puzzled. Going from left to right: at left, an Android tablet with a micro-USB port; next, an OTG cable whose micro-USB plug goes into the Tablet port; next, at the other end of the OTG cable a 5-connector OTG port; finally, at right, a standard USB stick with a 4-connector USB plug
5 into 4 won't go (or 4 into 5 - who is a plug and who is a socket is not very clear in USB world) Explanation please ? Rob
There are some USB sticks with standard USB plug one end, and micro USB plug at other end, specifically for plugging into mobiles/tablets.
I would just warn that the size of such a thumb stick allows you to put a lot of leverage on the micro USB socket, and we see lots of those broken off the circuit boards at repair events, even with just the smaller leverage available from a micro USB plug.
Hence I put flash sticks on a 4" or so usb extension lead
NT
Yes, I have.
I'm not clear whether you're having a problem making the physical connection, or whether can can connect but not access the data on the memory stick. Which is it?
First, the physical connection. If your memory stick has a standard full size USB plug (as most have), you need an OTG adapter cable which has a micro-USB plug at one end (to plug into the tablet or phone) and a full size USB socket at the other end. The memory stick then plugs into the socket.
Having made the physical connection, your tablet/phone may not immediately be able to "see" the memory stick. To make it work on my Nexus-10 tablet, I needed to install an App called Nexus Media Importer
- which ISTR cost a couple of quid. Not sure whether that supports all Android devices, but you may need something similar in a version which works with your device.
Some devices - such as mice and USB keyboards - work straight off with no problem.
Other people have already answered the question about the 5th pin.
And even then not all Andriod devices are equal. I have a Nexus 7 which (with Nexus Media Importer) can handle OTG cables and external devices, and a Nexus 4 which cant and apparently never will be able to. The Nexus 4 apparently lacks some firmware/hardware required for OTG to work. I think the Nexus 4 lacks a power output on the USB socket
You may have an Andriod tablet that falls into this category.
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