OESF Portables Forum
Model Specific Forums => Gemini PDA => Gemini PDA - Hardware => Topic started by: Javert on September 16, 2018, 08:26:07 am
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Hi all,
I just received this week the USB hub for my Gemini but it didn't seem to have any instructions with it.
Which side of the Gemini can I plug it in or will both work?
Also what is the 3rd smaller port on there?
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According to the description of this look-alike USB hub, the smaller socket is a USB-C charging port (using, ironically, PD):
https://www.xtorm.eu/en/connectivity/xtorm-...c-hub-4-in-one/ (https://www.xtorm.eu/en/connectivity/xtorm-usb-c-hub-4-in-one/)
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According to the description of this look-alike USB hub, the smaller socket is a USB-C charging port (using, ironically, PD):
https://www.xtorm.eu/en/connectivity/xtorm-...c-hub-4-in-one/ (https://www.xtorm.eu/en/connectivity/xtorm-usb-c-hub-4-in-one/)
It's USB-C, but there's no charging the Gemini through it, sad to say. And of course the hub must be plugged into the left USB-C port on the Gemini. It's actually a pretty crappy hub for the money -- one can do better for less, though then one doesn't get the Gemini logo, which might reduce its value to collectors of niche computer and phone equipment a century hence.
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It's USB-C, but there's no charging the Gemini through it, sad to say. And of course the hub must be plugged into the left USB-C port on the Gemini. It's actually a pretty crappy hub for the money -- one can do better for less, though then one doesn't get the Gemini logo, which might reduce its value to collectors of niche computer and phone equipment a century hence.
It IS possible to charge the Gemini through the hub (as discussed other places on this forum), but you need to power the Gemini off, connect the hub and charger, and then turn it back on again. If you just plug in the hub and the charger it WONT charge. If there are any dangers or problems with charging it through the hub I don't know, and "official documentation" (what little there is of it, has anyone seen the pdf of the user guide yet?) suggests it can't be done...
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Guys, do you know some magic how to make the usb hub work under sailfish?
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Guys, do you know some magic how to make the usb hub work under sailfish?
My hub just works, well the USB part anyway. Neither the HDMI or Ethernet work, but that is expected. the hub itself works fine. I have attached hard drives, usb drives and joysticks with no issue. Just remember hubs to the left, single device (via an adapter if necessary) to the right.
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Guys, do you know some magic how to make the usb hub work under sailfish?
My hub just works, well the USB part anyway. Neither the HDMI or Ethernet work, but that is expected. the hub itself works fine. I have attached hard drives, usb drives and joysticks with no issue. Just remember hubs to the left, single device (via an adapter if necessary) to the right.
mine does not work under sailfish. i guess it needs some driver or patch. i tried it with my notebook and the hub works, i just cannot use it with my gemini.
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I just received mine also. Surprised it worked under Windows 10. Needed it to burn a restore USB for a friend to fix their desktop and my Windows PC only has USB C. Worked fine and even charged the laptop at the same time.
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It's still so disappointing that the left port works as EITHER charging or USB host, but not both. I just received my USB Hub and wanted to use my Gemini with my Sentio Superbook I received. Unfortunately, if I follow the device here and turn off the Gemini, connect the hub, and turn on the Gemini, I do get power via the hub, but now I can't connect my Superbook. If I disconnect the hub and reconnect it (with the Gemini on), I can now use the hub as a hub, and now I can connect my Superbook - but now charging doesn't work. So as an end result, I can only use the Gemini with my Superbook with the Gemini running on battery. That really limits it's usage. The right port does not support using the Superbook. I'm hoping the next version of the Gemini does a little better with the USB-C ports.
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It's still so disappointing that the left port works as EITHER charging or USB host, but not both. I just received my USB Hub and wanted to use my Gemini with my Sentio Superbook I received. Unfortunately, if I follow the device here and turn off the Gemini, connect the hub, and turn on the Gemini, I do get power via the hub, but now I can't connect my Superbook. If I disconnect the hub and reconnect it (with the Gemini on), I can now use the hub as a hub, and now I can connect my Superbook - but now charging doesn't work. So as an end result, I can only use the Gemini with my Superbook with the Gemini running on battery. That really limits it's usage. The right port does not support using the Superbook. I'm hoping the next version of the Gemini does a little better with the USB-C ports.
That's obvious, that you cannot use one USB port for charging and in OTG mode simultaneously. MicroUSB or USB-C prot may work either in passive mode (as a device, which takes power from USB, like a disk drive, mouse, keyboard ethernet adapter and so on) or in active mode (as a device, which give power to a device connected to it, like PC). Normally, a mobile device (like smartphone) is a passive USB device. When its port switches to an active mode, it's callet OTG (On-the-Go). Of course, it cannot receive power in OTG mode, 'cause it gives power by the same wires.
So, the problem is not that you can't use USB OTG hub as an OTG hub and charge your device thru it at the same time. That's the only way USB can work.
The problem is that USB prots of Gemini PDA are different. One of them can be used for charging and in OTG mode. The sceond one cannot be use neither way.
I hope, this problem will be fixed in Cosmo Communicator, so either both ports will be the interchangeable, or at least one of them could be used for charging and another one in OTG mode.
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It IS possible to charge the Gemini through the hub (as discussed other places on this forum)
I've tried searching the forum and browsing but I can't find any information on how to do this. Could you possibly provide a link? Thanks.
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I've tried searching the forum and browsing but I can't find any information on how to do this. Could you possibly provide a link? Thanks.
Turn off the Gemini, plug in hub, plug in some (5V!) to the hub, turn on. Works with generic hubs too (that's what I have, btw - skipped the official one). I wouldn't recommend using the official Gemini charger for the hub, though - it may fry it, in theory; using something generic without any fast charge support, just to be on the safe side.
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I wonder, isn't there some hub that would work on the RIGHT side while still maintaining HDMI (or displayport, or anything similar)? Or does the right-side port just not support such a mixed mode at all?