Charging Cell Phone from Computer

On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 08:28:23 -0800, "Mr. Strat"
<rag@nospam.techline.com> wrote:

>In article <84r6frb2mq.fsf@ripco.com>, Todd H. <t@toddh.net> wrote:
>
>> Motorola is very annoying this way. On some Windows machines, a driver
>> is actually required to do the charging. John Navas has posted a link
>> to the driver though.
>>
>> On Macs, it just seems to work
>
>Yet another reason I try to avoid any version of Windows.

You could always go back to DOS or APPLESOFT and avoid all those nasty
graphical user interfaces. Think how much fun it is to program in
basic.

--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:09:13 -0700, DevilsPGD
<spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote in
<frfiq39fhabf1uqpv39pdlpsh5hatlcjgl@4ax.com>:

>In message <slrnfqi5sf.5f.dcferguson@akit-ferguson.com> Dennis Ferguson
><dcferguson@pacbell.net> wrote:
>
>>I don't this is Motorola's fault, I think this is a Windows thing.
>
>No -- It's neither's "fault", it's simply a matter of how USB works.
>
>The USB specification requires that devices connect in a low-power mode
>(100 mA maximum) and state how much current they need, before switching,
>with the host's permission, into high-power mode.
>
>Since charging the battery draws more then 100mA, Motorola would be in
>violation of the spec if the phone assumed it could draw as much power
>as it wanted without permission.
>
>In order to ask for permission, you need a valid driver installed.

There's nothing to prevent the phone from slow charging at 100 mA if
unable to switch into a higher power mode, and bus power may be limited
by other devices and/or the host, so I personally think this is at least
in part a Motorola handset implementation issue.

--
Best regards, MOTOROLA WIKI:
John Navas <http://cell.wikia.com/wiki/Motorola>

John Navas <spamfilter1@navasgroup.com> writes:

> On Tue, 05 Feb 2008 22:09:13 -0700, DevilsPGD
> <spam_narf_spam@crazyhat.net> wrote in
> <frfiq39fhabf1uqpv39pdlpsh5hatlcjgl@4ax.com>:
>
> >In message <slrnfqi5sf.5f.dcferguson@akit-ferguson.com> Dennis Ferguson
> ><dcferguson@pacbell.net> wrote:
> >
> >>I don't this is Motorola's fault, I think this is a Windows thing.
> >
> >No -- It's neither's "fault", it's simply a matter of how USB works.
> >
> >The USB specification requires that devices connect in a low-power mode
> >(100 mA maximum) and state how much current they need, before switching,
> >with the host's permission, into high-power mode.
> >
> >Since charging the battery draws more then 100mA, Motorola would be in
> >violation of the spec if the phone assumed it could draw as much power
> >as it wanted without permission.
> >
> >In order to ask for permission, you need a valid driver installed.
>
> There's nothing to prevent the phone from slow charging at 100 mA if
> unable to switch into a higher power mode, and bus power may be limited
> by other devices and/or the host, so I personally think this is at least
> in part a Motorola handset implementation issue.

Agreed. When I briefly looked into this, I vaguely recall something
about the wiring of that connector that kept usb on windows from just
working. I'm afraid I don't have time to chase that down, but I
believe this discussion took place here or in the cingular newsgroup.

Windows must be also partly to blame as well because when I plug my
Krzr or Razr into my mac iBook dual USB.... it starts charging. No
driver required. I got the tip from another Mac user who wondered
what the problem was when I reported my troubles charging on a Windows
PC.

--
Todd H.
http://toddh.net/

On 06 Feb 2008 10:58:13 -0600, t@toddh.net (Todd H.) wrote in
<84lk5ykonu.fsf@ripco.com>:

>John Navas <spamfilter1@navasgroup.com> writes:

>> There's nothing to prevent the phone from slow charging at 100 mA if
>> unable to switch into a higher power mode, and bus power may be limited
>> by other devices and/or the host, so I personally think this is at least
>> in part a Motorola handset implementation issue.
>
>Agreed. When I briefly looked into this, I vaguely recall something
>about the wiring of that connector that kept usb on windows from just
>working. I'm afraid I don't have time to chase that down, but I
>believe this discussion took place here or in the cingular newsgroup.

The problem is that not all Standard-A to Mini-B USB cables are the same
-- there are both 5-connection cables and 4-connection cables, and only
proper 5-connector cables will work without a special USB driver.

<http://pinouts.ru/CellularPhones-A-N/razrv3_charger_pinout.shtml>

Standard USB has only 4 connections. Mini USB has 5 connections, the
extra connection being the ID pin.

<http://pinouts.ru/Slots/USB_pinout.shtml>
<http://pinouts.ru/Devices/mini-USB_pinout.shtml>

>Windows must be also partly to blame as well because when I plug my
>Krzr or Razr into my mac iBook dual USB.... it starts charging. No
>driver required. I got the tip from another Mac user who wondered
>what the problem was when I reported my troubles charging on a Windows
>PC.

If anyone is to blame, I'd say it's Motorola for not getting its USB
Modem driver into the standard Windows Update process. Consider grief
and confusion could have been avoided that way.

--
Best regards, MOTOROLA WIKI:
John Navas <http://cell.wikia.com/wiki/Motorola>

On 06 Feb 2008 10:58:13 -0600, Todd H. <t@toddh.net> wrote:
>John Navas <spamfilter1@navasgroup.com> writes:
>>
>> There's nothing to prevent the phone from slow charging at 100 mA if
>> unable to switch into a higher power mode, and bus power may be limited
>> by other devices and/or the host, so I personally think this is at least
>> in part a Motorola handset implementation issue.
>
>Agreed. When I briefly looked into this, I vaguely recall something
>about the wiring of that connector that kept usb on windows from just
>working. I'm afraid I don't have time to chase that down, but I
>believe this discussion took place here or in the cingular newsgroup.
>
>Windows must be also partly to blame as well because when I plug my
>Krzr or Razr into my mac iBook dual USB.... it starts charging. No
>driver required. I got the tip from another Mac user who wondered
>what the problem was when I reported my troubles charging on a Windows
>PC.

Recent-ish Linux versions also work just fine, as when you plug in the
phone the kernel will auto-load the cdc-acm driver and give you a virtual
serial device to use the phone as a modem while you're at it.

Depending on the OP's particular phone, you might be able to switch the
handset into memory card mode for the USB (The L7 can do this). With
this, Windows will see the phone as a generic mass storage device like a
memory stick so you won't need any special drivers at all, unless you're
using Windows 98.

--
-- Michael "Soruk" McConnell Eridani Star System
MailStripper - http://www.MailStripper.eu/ - SMTP spam filter
Second Number - http://secondnumber.matrixnetwork.co.uk/

soruk@bitbucket.eridani.co.uk (Soruk) wrote:

> Depending on the OP's particular phone, you might be able to
> switch the handset into memory card mode for the USB (The L7 can
> do this). With this, Windows will see the phone as a generic mass
> storage device like a memory stick so you won't need any special
> drivers at all, unless you're using Windows 98.

That's great advice IF the OP isn't using anything other than charging
the phone but I think switching will stop MPT, BitPim, etc from working
until the phone is switched back.

Just personal opinion here: Since the current USB drivers are a free
download from Motorola with free registration (you need only provide an
email addy and user name) and since non-current ones are free from
multiple places it makes little sense not to download and install them.
If you don't run any phone software that needs the drivers you may
decide to do so in the future so there's really no reason not to
install the drivers that I can see.


--
XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project:
http://improve-usenet.org

On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:33:48 -0700, XS11E <xs11e@mailinator.com> wrote
in <Xns9A3C7FCD9C9D4xs11emailinatorcom@85.214.90.236> :

>soruk@bitbucket.eridani.co.uk (Soruk) wrote:
>
>> Depending on the OP's particular phone, you might be able to
>> switch the handset into memory card mode for the USB (The L7 can
>> do this). With this, Windows will see the phone as a generic mass
>> storage device like a memory stick so you won't need any special
>> drivers at all, unless you're using Windows 98.
>
>That's great advice IF the OP isn't using anything other than charging
>the phone but I think switching will stop MPT, BitPim, etc from working
>until the phone is switched back.
>
>Just personal opinion here: Since the current USB drivers are a free
>download from Motorola with free registration (you need only provide an
>email addy and user name) and since non-current ones are free from
>multiple places it makes little sense not to download and install them.
>If you don't run any phone software that needs the drivers you may
>decide to do so in the future so there's really no reason not to
>install the drivers that I can see.

A slightly older USB Driver is downloadable with no registration from
<http://direct.motorola.com/hellomoto/nss/driversNplugins.asp>

--
Best regards, MOTOROLA WIKI:
John Navas <http://cell.wikia.com/wiki/Motorola>

xs11e@mailinator.com (XS11E) wrote in
news:Xns9A3C7FCD9C9D4xs11emailinatorcom@85.214.90. 236:

> If you don't run any phone software that needs the drivers you may
> decide to do so in the future so there's really no reason not to
> install the drivers that I can see.

Unfortunately, this still means that you can't steal a charge from any
random USB port you can find.

Those cute cigarette-lighter plugs with powered USB sockets in them
for power and charging applications are out of the question too.

--
Bert Hyman | St. Paul, MN | bert@iphouse.com

On 06 Feb 2008 20:23:54 GMT, Bert Hyman <bert@iphouse.com> wrote in
<Xns9A3C9278CD0B9VeebleFetzer@127.0.0.1>:

>xs11e@mailinator.com (XS11E) wrote in
>news:Xns9A3C7FCD9C9D4xs11emailinatorcom@85.214.90 .236:
>
>> If you don't run any phone software that needs the drivers you may
>> decide to do so in the future so there's really no reason not to
>> install the drivers that I can see.
>
>Unfortunately, this still means that you can't steal a charge from any
>random USB port you can find.
>
>Those cute cigarette-lighter plugs with powered USB sockets in them
>for power and charging applications are out of the question too.

You should be able to in both cases if you have the correct cable, which
enables USB charging without a special port driver. See
<http://pinouts.ru/CellularPhones-A-N/razrv3_charger_pinout.shtml>

--
Best regards, MOTOROLA WIKI:
John Navas <http://cell.wikia.com/wiki/Motorola>

In article <6dojq3lpokdgc64ggviin512cmmpa8hqr7@4ax.com>, Dick
<w6ccd@k7yca.org> wrote:

> You could always go back to DOS or APPLESOFT and avoid all those nasty
> graphical user interfaces. Think how much fun it is to program in
> basic.

DOS I could handle.

But Windows sucks...OS X doesn't.