3G dongle connected to N900?

Hi there,

I don't know if this is possible with current software or hardware, but here is my question:

Is it possible to connect a 3G dongle, via USB cable and running the USB host software on the N900, providing you with cellular data access?

The reasoning behind it is: certain operators will provide tarriffs for data only, but I don't want to miss calls when my voice SIM is out.

I am guessing the N900 would need some USB dongle host software. Or would it? Do USB 3G dongle have necessary software/hardware themselves.

Any comments? Thoughts?

Thanks,
Bernard

On Saturday 06 March 2010, Bernard Tyers wrote:

> Is it possible to connect a 3G dongle, via USB cable and running the
> USB host software on the N900, providing you with cellular data
> access?

N900 does not have USB Host Mode, so no.

----- Original message -----
> On Saturday 06 March 2010, Bernard Tyers wrote:
>
> > Is it possible to connect a 3G dongle, via USB cable and running the
> >  USB host software on the N900, providing you with cellular data
> >  access?
>
> N900 does not have USB Host Mode, so no.

I am sure I saw USB host mode software in a repos. (Goes to check...) Yes there is an application called USBControl which says "Enables USB host port to use eg USB mem sticks....etc".

I guess this is the same function as the USB Host app on N800?

Any other comments?

Thanks,
Bernard

----- Original message -----
> On Saturday 06 March 2010, Bernard Tyers wrote:
>
> > Is it possible to connect a 3G dongle, via USB cable and running the
> >  USB host software on the N900, providing you with cellular data
> >  access?
>
> N900 does not have USB Host Mode, so no.

I am sure I saw USB host mode software in a repos. (Goes to check...) Yes there is an application called USBControl which says "Enables USB host port to use eg USB mem sticks....etc".

I guess this is the same function as the USB Host app on N800?

Any other comments?

Thanks,
Bernard

Jan Knutar wrote:
> On Saturday 06 March 2010, Bernard Tyers wrote:
>
>> Is it possible to connect a 3G dongle, via USB cable and running the
>> USB host software on the N900, providing you with cellular data
>> access?
>
> N900 does not have USB Host Mode, so no.

You're kidding? Did they not learn from the N800 at all?

///Peter

On Sunday 07 March 2010, Bernard Tyers wrote:
> ----- Original message -----
>
> > On Saturday 06 March 2010, Bernard Tyers wrote:
> > > Is it possible to connect a 3G dongle, via USB cable and running
> > > the USB host software on the N900, providing you with cellular
> > > data access?
> >
> > N900 does not have USB Host Mode, so no.
>
> I am sure I saw USB host mode software in a repos. (Goes to check...)
> Yes there is an application called USBControl which says "Enables
> USB host port to use eg USB mem sticks....etc".
>
> I guess this is the same function as the USB Host app on N800?
>
> Any other comments?

Other than "It doesn't work", no.

USBControl was uploaded before anyone had a device in their hands and
discovered there's no USB Host mode.

----- Original message -----
> On Sunday 07 March 2010, Bernard Tyers wrote:
> > ----- Original message -----
> >
> > > On Saturday 06 March 2010, Bernard Tyers wrote:
> > > > Is it possible to connect a 3G dongle, via USB cable and running
> > > > the USB host software on the N900, providing you with cellular
> > > > data access?
> > >
> > > N900 does not have USB Host Mode, so no.
> >
> > I am sure I saw USB host mode software in a repos. (Goes to check...)
> >  Yes there is an application called USBControl which says "Enables
> >  USB host port to use eg USB mem sticks....etc".
> >
> > I guess this is the same function as the USB Host app on N800?
> >
> > Any other comments?
>
> Other than "It doesn't work", no.
>
> USBControl was uploaded before anyone had a device in their hands and
> discovered there's no USB Host mode.

Aha, now if you had mentioned that before it would have saved some time.

Bernard

Am 07.03.2010 02:07, schrieb Peter Flynn:
> Jan Knutar wrote:
>> N900 does not have USB Host Mode, so no.
>
> You're kidding? Did they not learn from the N800 at all?

The problem is to use the USB port as a plug in for the charger/ac
adapter. On the N8x0, there was a separate input for the charger. All
new cellular phones in the EU must have a micro USB port as a connector
for an ac adapter (in the future). There are some problems to use the
USB port both as power input and also power output (required in host
mode). And yes, I really want a USB host mode, too.

-Klaus

--
Klaus Rotter * klaus at rotters dot de * www.rotters.de

On Mon, 2010-03-08 at 10:31 +0100, Klaus Rotter wrote:
> Am 07.03.2010 02:07, schrieb Peter Flynn:
> > Jan Knutar wrote:
> >> N900 does not have USB Host Mode, so no.
> >
> > You're kidding? Did they not learn from the N800 at all?
>
> The problem is to use the USB port as a plug in for the charger/ac
> adapter. On the N8x0, there was a separate input for the charger. All
> new cellular phones in the EU must have a micro USB port as a connector
> for an ac adapter (in the future). There are some problems to use the
> USB port both as power input and also power output (required in host
> mode). And yes, I really want a USB host mode, too.

IIRC it's forbidden by the USB spec. Also the spec says you can't have
OTG and more than one USB connector.

So basically the Euro spec forbids host mode on phones.

Xav

On Mon, 8 Mar 2010, Xavier Bestel wrote:

> On Mon, 2010-03-08 at 10:31 +0100, Klaus Rotter wrote:
>> Am 07.03.2010 02:07, schrieb Peter Flynn:
>>> Jan Knutar wrote:
>>>> N900 does not have USB Host Mode, so no.
>>>
>>> You're kidding? Did they not learn from the N800 at all?
>>
>> The problem is to use the USB port as a plug in for the charger/ac
>> adapter. On the N8x0, there was a separate input for the charger. All
>> new cellular phones in the EU must have a micro USB port as a connector
>> for an ac adapter (in the future). There are some problems to use the
>> USB port both as power input and also power output (required in host
>> mode). And yes, I really want a USB host mode, too.
>
> IIRC it's forbidden by the USB spec. Also the spec says you can't have
> OTG and more than one USB connector.
>
> So basically the Euro spec forbids host mode on phones.

No, that is a myth. The facts are:

1. There is no mandatory regulation, only a voluntary MoU (Memorandum of
Understanding), so nothing is forbidden.
2. Said memorandum allows for devices not following it if there is a
good reason. It seems to me that supporting host mode is a good
reason.
3. The MoU allows for using an adapter for microUSB charging, so Nokia
could include standard Nokia charger connection in the phone, and
include an opposite adapter in the box.
4. The MoU only covers devices introduced to the market after 1/1/2010,
so it is irrelevant to the N900.

--
Matan.