How to: Make your own USB OTG cable for an Android smartphone - Te...

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How to: Make your own USB OTG cable for an Android smartphone
27 Jun, 2012, 6:50 pm IST | by Francis D'sa

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Some high-end Android phones and most of todays Android tablets support USB OTG (On-The-Go). This enables users to connect a standard USB input

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ome high-end Android phones and most of todays Android tablets support USB OTG (On-The-Go). This enables users to connect standard USB input devices such as keyboards and mice, or even extend storage using a regular USB pen drive. However, only a few Android tablets are equipped with a USB host port (Type A Female connector), while no mobile phone is. Some mobile phone manufacturers ship USB host ports with their handsets while others have them as optional accessories, usually at a premium price. In order to connect an Android phone to a standard USB device, you need to use a micro (or mini) USB to USB Type A Female convertor, but this should also be an OTG cable. A mini USB OTG cable is available in the market and can cost you around Rs.150 Rs.300, but finding vendors who actually sell it is not easy. The ones that are available are not guaranteed to work. The case of the micro USB OTG cables is also similar.

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How to: Make your own USB OTG cable for an Android smartphone - Te...

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USB connector types

In this workshop, we show you how you can build yourself an OTG cable (be it micro or mini) at almost no cost. Do note that the procedure mentioned here will involve hacking into your existing cable, and even a small blunder can potentially damage your cable or the device you use it with. Proceed with extreme caution as we take no responsibility for any damages to your device. Do this at your own risk. Furthermore, do take note of your Android specs and check carefully to see if it has OTG capabilities before trying out this workshop. Phones dont need to be rooted as the stock ROM usually supports OTG in compatible handsets. Those who have installed third-party developer ROMs should check with the developers if the OTG feature is enabled in the kernel.

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Since all phones usually ship with cables, we suggest you opt for a second one from the market to create the OTG cable. For those who are not able to find a similar cable, this workshop will also show you how you can use the same cable for regular and OTG modes. In the following procedure, we'll be using a micro USB cable that well convert to be used with USB OTG. Requirements: A standard mini or micro USB cable Some small, thin wires A sharp knife Soldering iron and solder wire Wire cutter Hot glue or any quick glue Firstly, we need to slice open the micro USB connector end very carefully using a knife. The idea here is to cut the outer sleeve (length-wise) into two halves to reveal the connector inside. Be careful not to destroy the outer sleeve as we shall be glueing it back on after the work is done.

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A miniature switch

After the sleeve is taken apart, some of you might find a whitish plastic mould covering the connector s leads. This is for strengthening the cable to connector contacts, and its use depends from manufacturer to manufacturer. Those who have this mould will also have to cut through it to reveal the connector leads. On revealing the connector leads, you will find that it has five leads and not four. The usual four are power, data, data and ground, while the non-connected lead is sense. This lead needs to be grounded before connecting the cable for the phone to switch to OTG mode and sense a USB device connected to the interface.

The difference - circuit

Given above is the pin-out diagram for the micro and mini USB connector. Pin 1: VCC Pin 2: data Pin 3: data Pin 4 Not connected / unused Pin 5: ground In order to get the phone to go into OTG mode, we need to short Pins 4 and 5. You can either choose to short them permanently by soldering them together or soldering two wires to each of the pins and leading those outwards from the connector, which can then be soldered to a small switch. Using the switch, we can switch the cable between normal and OTG whenever needed. If you choose to short it permanently, you will have to cut off the connector at the other end (The Type A Male USB connector) and solder a Type B Female connector to accommodate a USB device. You can also choose to have a male to female USB convertor at that end. Here's what we did:

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How to: Make your own USB OTG cable for an Android smartphone - Te...

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The connector and the sleeve

We chose to connect a small switch to the leads at Pin 4 and Pin 5 and glue the switch to the wire itself. This way, we could use the cable for both regular and OTG purposes. Next, we glued the connector sleeves back carefully using hot glue. Now the other end of the cable, which has a male USB connector, needed to be converted into a female. For this, we opted for the scrapped USB rear panel connector of a desktop PC. We soldered the wires of the USB connector to create a USB female-to-female convertor. Once done, we now have an OTG cable ready for use. Just to ensure we do not end up frying our phone, we used a multimeter to double-check any cable shortings during the soldering. Lastly, we connected the OTG cable to our Android (the Sony Ericsson Live with Walkman) and used a USB mouse with it. If your cable worked for you and your phone is compatible with OTG features, you can also connect a USB hub to the OTG cable and use a USB keyboard, mouse and pen drive together on the same Android device.

Micro USB Pin points

By following this workshop you can now conveniently use a pointing device to control your apps and games, use a keyboard to type e-mails and messages or use a pen drive to store or access media or large files. If you are lucky enough to find a micro USB connector and a Type A Female USB connector at an electronics store though, you can make your own OTG cable for under Rs.100.

Tags: USB On-the-go , USB OTG , DIY , How To , Mobile Phone Cables , Mobile Phone USB Support , USB Cables ,

Disclaimer We've thought very carefully about the advice given above. And while we can state, categorically, that all effort has been made to ensure that it is reasonably sound advice, we cannot guarantee that your problem will be solved. Tech2 does not warrant or make any representations as to the accuracy, usefulness or completeness of the prices, data, recommendations, advice, and any other information. Tech2 disclaims all responsibility and all liability for all expenses, losses, damages, loss of face, costs, or anything worse that you might incur as a result of the information on this page, or any linked website.

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Do not attempt to troubleshoot, repair, or modify any device without understanding and following all of the relevant safety guidelines! Do also please keep in mind that repairing a product on your own while it is under warranty, will automatically nullify the warranty provided by the company. Despite the above, if you feel you'd still like to send us a query then please note that your full name will be published, and your question will only be edited for language. Send in your queries for the TroubleShot section to: queries@tech2.com

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34 comments

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Novy Bajwa I like it. Reply

Subscribe Founder and CEO at Androidmud.com

1 Like Follow Post July 1 at 5:53pm

Jayesh Dhudashia Nice but better to buy it.

Subscribe Works at I own my own buisness

Reply Like Follow Post July 2 at 12:41pm

Francis DSa

Top Commenter Asst Head Test Center at Tech2.com

true Jayesh. but since there are some people who cannot get it in their cities. this workshop might help. also this workshop is for those who like hacking things themselves. Reply 9 Like July 3 at 7:00am

Karan Shah Mahakal Institute of Technology Bro.. can i use this cable use in android 2.1 or 2.2.2... Reply Like September 1 at 11:16am

Francis DSa

Top Commenter Asst Head Test Center at Tech2.com

Hey Karan, you can use the cable on an Android 2.1 or 2.2 OS but it will depend if the device supports it in the first place. Check out the specs of the handset for compatibility and support. Additionally, I am sure if you install a third-party ROM with OTG support, it should work. Trying it out is the only possibility and option you have. Reply Like September 3 at 8:13am View 3 more Mayank Raj don't waste your time on this....but a new 1. Reply Like Follow Post July 6 at 5:22pm

Francis DSa

Top Commenter Asst Head Test Center at Tech2.com

enthusiasts dont look at it as waste of time. they want to do it themselves. buying a new one is an option similar to cooking food yourself or heading out to a restaurant. Reply 14 Like July 10 at 6:43am

Justin Olsson Associate Attorney at Goodwin Procter LLP I plan to give this a shot this weekend. Its remarkably hard to find one of these in a store... Reply 1 Like Follow Post July 14 at 8:47am

Manu Singh National Institute of Technology (NIT), Raipur thanks a lot. i didn't evn had to open that casing , I just carefully sorted 4th n fifth wire with a fine copper wire by inserting it under the male microusb connector. it is working fine. Reply 1 Like Follow Post July 17 at 9:06pm

Francis DSa

Top Commenter Asst Head Test Center at Tech2.com

Nice going. can you upload some pics to benefit others? you can paste some links here. Reply Like October 29 at 1:39pm

Abdul Kareem Mg Gulbaraga University yes I am made it, Reply Like Follow Post July 24 at 3:29am

Ashok Kumar congrats mr karim

Subscribe Territory Manager at Cipla Ltd

Reply Like July 24 at 2:36pm

Debobrota Dey OH! THANKS BUDDY...I DO IT SUCCESSFULLY............... Reply 2 Like Follow Post July 29 at 11:02am

Bera Rahul

Subscribe Insurance Agent at SBI Life

Yes this works fine Reply Like July 29 at 8:27pm

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eks
Guest Member

Try to find a connector of reasonably good quality. Cheap connectors may be poorly made and can damage your phone`s socket. Safest to just buy the original.
2.21 PM Oct 12th

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