Anything special to get USB to work on the side of the case?

Question

I have a Moto Z and was hoping to connect an RTL-SDR dongle to the side of the proto case. I attempted to setup the dip switches to enable the USB 3.1 interface and connected a USB OTG cable, but the phone is still not recognizing the device (I am using the middle USB connection). Is there something else that I am missing?

flowflow25 · Answer

Some notes on USB to try and answer several of the questions here. USB3 is literally just that, the USB3 PHY. It does not include the additional lines for USB2 (those have their own dedicated interface). You *may* look and find a device that will route USB2 traffic over USB3 for you, which would be handy in a dock type configuration. Additionally, when using USB3.0, the MDK does not support reversible cables. If your device does not enumerate, try flipping the cable. The existing 'compute' example firmware has support for attaching USB3.0 devices to the middle port on the MDK. If it enumerates when attached to the Moto Z with an OTG cable, it should work through the MDK. Please take a look at the new usb2 sample firmware posted for basic connectivity. Please note that the MDK does not support hot plug detect for USB2. So if you didn't write any firmware with the USB-Ext protocol , that's probably a big reason why USB isn't working. It's always good to attempt a direct connection to Moto Z with an OTG cable to ensure you understand that devices behavior when it enumerates.

anttibrain · Answer

Please read the documents the switches you need are the A3/A4 the USB 3.1 switches are not relevant if you want to use RTL dongle that is pure USB2 device.

Unfortunatly I can not test anything here as Android update did break the moto mods functionality completly, so USB is not working here, but I do not know if it is because of the problems with MDK or not.

Android update that moto-Z forced, thid brake the MDK functions completly here. JBL booster works, but MDK and any personality modules and LED demo, none of that works now.

anttibrain · Answer

after fixing the app clear issue with MDK (so MDK works again) I can also not see the microOTG memory stick connected to microUSB B connector, do not know why. EDIT: moto-Z USB-C to usb host, USB3 Stick works (without MDK) moto-Z MDK mid USBC same cable same usb stick does not work moto-Z usb stick in microUSB does not work I guess the manifest may have to be changed??

flowflow25 · Answer

The example is in nuttx/nuttx/configs/hdk/muc/ You'll see the usb2 project here, and the stm32_usbext_usb2.c file in the src directory. You may need to do a 'git pull' on the nuttx repository, it was just pushed last weekend.

flowflow25 · Answer

Actually that looks correct. USB on TypeC: A3 = off, A4 = on USB on microB: A3 = on, A4 = off 1. Are you using an OTG cable with the TypeC port? If not, you may try a Hub. 2. Have you tried flipping the cable? I just verified here with the usb2 firmware and a USB2 device attached to a hub attached to USB2 (middle TypeC). You may also use an OTG cable instead of a hub. Did you move away from using USB3.1, or that was overkill?

anttibrain · Answer

try using microOTG USB stick first, THIS MUST work, if you can not get that working no sense to try RTL dongle.. In my case it DOES NOT WORK. Also 6.0.1 - I do not know if the personality mods are failing, or if the update also makes the USB to fail, but in my case both the personality cards do not work (any more) and I can not get known working usbOTG memory stick to work either.

Anything special to get USB to work on the side of the case?

Top Replies