OESF Portables Forum
Model Specific Forums => Gemini PDA => Gemini PDA - Android => Topic started by: Eldkatten on June 15, 2018, 12:51:34 pm
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Hello,
do USB-Memory-Sticks actually work with the Gemini on Android? I have seen recommendations of USB-Hubs, but only from people who think they should work, none of them owns / owned a Gemini and has tested it.
On my other Android devices I had to install a USB-Manager like "StickMount", but then USB-Memory-Sticks are accessable.
I tried a USB-Memory-Stick which features a Micro-USB plug, with a Micro-USB-to-USB-C-Adapter. The latter works fine both for charging and conneting with a PC. But when I plug in the USB-Memory-Stick nothing happens, with or without any USB-Manager. One of which gave an error message that the /mount-directory isn't avaible / could not be created.
Oh, and flipping the adapter didn't help either. I found out that charging works with the adapter plugged in either way, but data transfer only works when the adapter is plugged in one way, but not the other.
So, anyone who has connected a USB-Memory-Stick to the Gemini, got it working and can tell how they did it?
Thanks and kind regards
P.S.: Solution are different USB-C-to-micro-adapters, see
https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?s=&...st&p=287866 (https://www.oesf.org/forum/index.php?s=&showtopic=35174&view=findpost&p=287866)
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So, anyone who has connected a USB-Memory-Stick to the Gemini, got it working and can tell how they did it?
Hi
I've got one of these
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Plugged into either socket directly or through a A to C adapter works fine, the A end plugged in to a hub plugged into the left socket also works.
How is your stick formatted? Because Android is rather fussy.
My hub is a 6 port job from pqi but the USB C and the HDMI ports don't work with the Gemini, the RJ45, USB A and SD card ports do work. Actually I'm not sure if this model is still available.
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Hello,
do USB-Memory-Sticks actually work with the Gemini on Android? I have seen recommendations of USB-Hubs, but only from people who think they should work, none of them owns / owned a Gemini and has tested it.
On my other Android devices I had to install a USB-Manager like "StickMount", but then USB-Memory-Sticks are accessable.
I tried a USB-Memory-Stick which features a Micro-USB plug, with a Micro-USB-to-USB-C-Adapter. The latter works fine both for charging and conneting with a PC. But when I plug in the USB-Memory-Stick nothing happens, with or without any USB-Manager. One of which gave an error message that the /mount-directory isn't avaible / could not be created.
Oh, and flipping the adapter didn't help either. I found out that charging works with the adapter plugged in either way, but data transfer only works when the adapter is plugged in one way, but not the other.
So, anyone who has connected a USB-Memory-Stick to the Gemini, got it working and can tell how they did it?
Thanks and kind regards
I have tried some USB sticks (USB 3 and USB2). It works using a USB hub like the one from the connectivity pack (also tried a different one) and also using a simple USB Type C to A adapter (available on ebay for approx 1EUR from china). Both, the right and the left port are working for sticks. When the stick gets plugged in, Android detects it and displays a notification. Afterwards the stick is usable. Using a hub I also have been able to use multiple sticks simultaneously on the right port (since there have been rumours that the right side port could only handle one device). From doing some speed tests with debian (hdparm -t) it looks like the right side port is limited to USB 2.
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Hello,
and thank you for the replies. So, as I understand it, USB-sticks are only detected and usable when connected through a USB-hub, but not when plugged in directly?
P.S.: oh, sorry, I missed the part "Plugged into either socket directly or through a A to C adapter (...)". How does a USB-stick need to be formatted then? As said, the USB-stick I tested works fine with other Android device, version 4.2, though.
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How does a USB-stick need to be formatted then? As said, the USB-stick I tested works fine with other Android device, version 4.2, though.
If it works for any Android it should work on the Gemini. Have you installed the latest firmware? Is it still running the stock Android as supplied, if not that might be related.
Have you checked the notifications (swipe down from top) after inserting the stick?
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How does a USB-stick need to be formatted then? As said, the USB-stick I tested works fine with other Android device, version 4.2, though.
If it works for any Android it should work on the Gemini. Have you installed the latest firmware? Is it still running the stock Android as supplied, if not that might be related.
Have you checked the notifications (swipe down from top) after inserting the stick?
Not quite correct...
The Android installation on the Gemini includes drivers for FAT32 but does not include drivers for ExFAT. Nearly every other Android device from the last 5+ years includes drivers for ExFAT.
The result is that if you put a card larger than 32GB (native ExFAT) in the Gemini it demands to reformat it to FAT32.
I haven't tried this again since yesterday's update, but I doubt it has changed. Microsoft charges device manufacturers a significant chunk of change to include ExFAT drivers.
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Not quite correct...
The Android installation on the Gemini includes drivers for FAT32 but does not include drivers for ExFAT.
Sure but the Gemini should be able to see the stick even if it can't read it without formatting it first.
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Hello,
and thanks again to you all. I tried a few other things with USB-sticks of different sizes, but with no success. I think now that the USB-micro-to-C-adapter might be the problem. I'll get a USB-C-Hub soon, so I'll see what happens then.
I just liked the idea that I can plug in a usual USB-Stick into the Gemini with just a tiny adapter in between.
Kind regards
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Hello again,
now I have exactly the same stick:
I've got one of these
[ You are not allowed to view attachments ]
Plugged into either socket directly or through a A to C adapter works fine, the A end plugged in to a hub plugged into the left socket also works.
(...)
but unfortunately it works with all my Android devices, but not the Gemini. I don't have a hub yet. So I guess it must be the USB-micro-to-C-adapter. Which one do you use?
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So I guess it must be the USB-micro-to-C-adapter. Which one do you use?
None, I plug the C connector straight into the Gemini, both sides works perfectly.
I had to let the Gemini format it and when plugged into a PC the PC complains, suggests formatting it but if that dialogue is dismissed the PC reads and writes quite happily.
Mines a 64G, don't know if there's max size the Gemini can see, perhaps if your's is a 128G that might be a problem (but honestly I doubt it).
The recent update made no difference, it worked before and it works after.
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Hello,
None, I plug the C connector straight into the Gemini, both sides works perfectly.
(...)
Augh, me again, I should learn to read and look. I don't have exactly the same stick, mine has USB-A and micro-USB on either end. Well, ok, I'm waiting for the hub and see what happens then.
Thank you for you responses.
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Hello,
now I have a USB-C-hub, and memorysticks are accessable with the Gemini now. I wonder why this didn't work with the UCB-C-to-micro-adapters I tried.
Anyone uses such an adapter, or USB-C-to-A, and recommend some that works reliable?
I just don't like to have to connect a hub with a yard-long cable (well, slightly exaggerated ;-) ) only when I want to use a memorstick.
Kind regards
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Hello,
now I have a USB-C-hub, and memorysticks are accessable with the Gemini now. I wonder why this didn't work with the UCB-C-to-micro-adapters I tried.
Anyone uses such an adapter, or USB-C-to-A, and recommend some that works reliable?
I just don't like to have to connect a hub with a yard-long cable (well, slightly exaggerated ;-) ) only when I want to use a memorstick.
Kind regards
Check you have an OTG adaptor. The first adaptor I used didn't work, but the first OTG one works fine.
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How does a USB-stick need to be formatted then? As said, the USB-stick I tested works fine with other Android device, version 4.2, though.
If it works for any Android it should work on the Gemini. Have you installed the latest firmware? Is it still running the stock Android as supplied, if not that might be related.
Have you checked the notifications (swipe down from top) after inserting the stick?
Not quite correct...
The Android installation on the Gemini includes drivers for FAT32 but does not include drivers for ExFAT. Nearly every other Android device from the last 5+ years includes drivers for ExFAT.
The result is that if you put a card larger than 32GB (native ExFAT) in the Gemini it demands to reformat it to FAT32.
I haven't tried this again since yesterday's update, but I doubt it has changed. Microsoft charges device manufacturers a significant chunk of change to include ExFAT drivers.
I use Total Commander with plugin Microsoft exFAT/NTFS for USB by Paragon Software (one-time purchase for lifetime). I connected sucesfully flash drive Patriot Supersonic Magnum 2 512GB formatted in exFAT (not FAT32). When I connect it with Gemini via adapter (USB type C to USB-A), I open plugin, mount it, and then I can easily access all content on the flash drive, copy and move between Patriot and Gemini. It is true transfer speeds between laptop (with NVME SSD and USB 3.1) and flash drive are around 300 MB/s, but between Gemini and flash drive transfer speeds are around 30 MB/s. But it is working, it takes only few seconds to start transferring data.
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The Gemini even doesn't support ext2/ext3/ext4 on USB drives! Apparently, FAT is the only filesystem supported.
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Hello,
my issue is solved now. I got these adapters:
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B078MCZSLT...=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B078MCZSLT/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
It is abit strange that plugged in one way, some of the USB-Sticks I tried were recognized, but when plugged in the other way (flipped 180 deg) all USB-Sticks were recognized. Alright, I can live with that.
Kind regards
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Hi all,
Somewhat related... But what is it with Android and access to USB sticks?
I've got a FAT formatted stick I connect with the PC USB-C hub that sometimes
appears, sometimes not, sometimes after a while.
Once the stick appears, some apps can ONLY read from it (Ghost Commander) while
others (like Android's "Downloads" file manager app) can read and write to the
stick.
Any idea what gives? Is this some spotty attempt at "security" or ?? Any
ideas how to make ordinary FAT USB stick access & writing reliable?
Thanks,
PJS
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Glad you guys have somehow solved the read/write USB sticks topic. Any encouraging sign on the read/write Ext4 partitions on external device atm? I can't even access my SDCard FAT/Ext4 partitions rw from (rooted) Android for now.
The Android installation on the Gemini includes drivers for FAT32 but does not include drivers for ExFAT. Nearly every other Android device from the last 5+ years includes drivers for ExFAT.
The result is that if you put a card larger than 32GB (native ExFAT) in the Gemini it demands to reformat it to FAT32.
I haven't tried this again since yesterday's update, but I doubt it has changed. Microsoft charges device manufacturers a significant chunk of change to include ExFAT drivers.
The Gemini even doesn't support ext2/ext3/ext4 on USB drives! Apparently, FAT is the only filesystem supported.