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Windows 8.1 tablet power

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Windows 8.1 tablet power

I bought a win 8.1 (not RT) tablet from Cowboom for $59, hoping to interface it using its
micro USB port. However the USB port is the only way to provide power to the thing,
and battery life is such I'd like to leave it on charge while operating, while not losing the
USB port data functionality.

The unit is sold by Best Buy under the Unbranded name.

Anyone have luck powering such a tablet without losing the USB data capability?

Mark. N2QT
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tomb18

Re: Windows 8.1 tablet power

Hmm, that's interesting. Have you tried a powered USB hub? I would think that should work.
73 Tom
va2fsq.com

Sent from BlueMail

On Jul 7, 2015, 10:57 AM, at 10:57 AM, Mark N2QT via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:

>I bought a win 8.1 (not RT) tablet from Cowboom for $59, hoping to
>interface it using its
>micro USB port. However the USB port is the only way to provide power
>to the thing,
>and battery life is such I'd like to leave it on charge while
>operating, while not losing the
>USB port data functionality.
>
>The unit is sold by Best Buy under the Unbranded name.
>
>Anyone have luck powering such a tablet without losing the USB data
>capability?
>
>Mark. N2QT
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>Message delivered to [hidden email]

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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Windows 8.1 tablet power

Actually the issue is the tablet is able to supply power to external devices, which must be
disabled when the unit is being charged from an external source. Best I can tell in some
devices The direction of power is either negotiated by a digital message upon connection
of an external device or by shorting or opening the data lines when the unit is to be
charged. It looks like Dell tablets can operate with specific adapters but there is no
guarantee this would work on another brand (and lots of review comments saying it doesn't).

This was all a surprise to me, I just figured I could hook things up and go.

Mark. N2QT

> On Jul 7, 2015, at 11:50 AM, Tom <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hmm, that's interesting. Have you tried a powered USB hub? I would think that should work.
> 73 Tom
> va2fsq.com
>
> Sent from BlueMail
>
>> On Jul 7, 2015, at 10:57 AM, Mark N2QT via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> I bought a win 8.1 (not RT) tablet from Cowboom for $59, hoping to interface it using its
>> micro USB port. However the USB port is the only way to provide power to the thing,
>> and battery life is such I'd like to leave it on charge while operating, while not losing the
>> USB port data functionality.
>>
>> The unit is sold by Best Buy under the Unbranded name.
>>
>> Anyone have luck powering such a tablet without losing the USB data capability?
>>
>> Mark. N2QT
>>
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered
>> to [hidden email]

Warren Merkel

Re: Windows 8.1 tablet power

Mark,

I would think the powered USB hub could work as it would provide power
to devices downstream of the hub. They are not to be confused with a
passive USB hub, which only passes on the power available from the
tablet's USB port.

Powered hubs are easy to identify as they are usually provided with a
wall-wart power supply. I use one to relieve the power duties to
devices connected to Raspberry Pi boards.

A few catches here: One is the wall-wart is usually a switching supply
which may cause harmful hash on it's own. You could replace it with an
older linear regulator wall-wart in that case.

The other is you might have to split out the power lines from the data
lines and craft up a "Y" cable to allow you to provide 5V power to the
tablet, and also bring out the two data lines to a cable going to the
active USB hub.

I'm not sure this will even work as (you are correct in that) sometimes
the data lines are shorted together in "USB Power Charger" devices, and
that is used by the connected device, to detect that the port is to be
configured to accept a charging current as opposed to "data mode" If
you can find a way to test that the tablet will charge with a wall-wort
that only has two pins connected, you should be in good shape to make
the Y cable.

In the case of the Raspberry Pi, I have had luck with some powered hubs
being able to back feed 5V on the USB data connection and actually power
the Pi via it's USB dataport. This also may work for your tablet if
luck is with you :)

Looks like a bit of breadboarding is in your future Mark.

Warren, KD4Z

On 7/7/2015 11:57 AM, Mark N2QT via Elecraft wrote:

> Actually the issue is the tablet is able to supply power to external devices, which must be
> disabled when the unit is being charged from an external source. Best I can tell in some
> devices The direction of power is either negotiated by a digital message upon connection
> of an external device or by shorting or opening the data lines when the unit is to be
> charged. It looks like Dell tablets can operate with specific adapters but there is no
> guarantee this would work on another brand (and lots of review comments saying it doesn't).
>
> This was all a surprise to me, I just figured I could hook things up and go.
>
> Mark. N2QT
>

tomb18

Re: Windows 8.1 tablet power

Hi Warren,
Another option would be either a Bluetooth or WiFi to serial port adapter. That way you could connect wirelessly to the elecraft and still power your tablet.
Tom
va2fsq.com

Sent from BlueMail

On Jul 7, 2015, 12:31 PM, at 12:31 PM, Warren Merkel <[hidden email]> wrote:

>Mark,
>
>I would think the powered USB hub could work as it would provide power
>to devices downstream of the hub. They are not to be confused with a
>passive USB hub, which only passes on the power available from the
>tablet's USB port.
>
>Powered hubs are easy to identify as they are usually provided with a
>wall-wart power supply. I use one to relieve the power duties to
>devices connected to Raspberry Pi boards.
>
>A few catches here: One is the wall-wart is usually a switching supply
>which may cause harmful hash on it's own. You could replace it with an
>older linear regulator wall-wart in that case.
>
>The other is you might have to split out the power lines from the data
>lines and craft up a "Y" cable to allow you to provide 5V power to the
>tablet, and also bring out the two data lines to a cable going to the
>active USB hub.
>
>I'm not sure this will even work as (you are correct in that) sometimes
>the data lines are shorted together in "USB Power Charger" devices, and
>that is used by the connected device, to detect that the port is to be
>configured to accept a charging current as opposed to "data mode" If
>you can find a way to test that the tablet will charge with a wall-wort
>that only has two pins connected, you should be in good shape to make
>the Y cable.
>
>In the case of the Raspberry Pi, I have had luck with some powered hubs
>being able to back feed 5V on the USB data connection and actually
>power
>the Pi via it's USB dataport. This also may work for your tablet if
>luck is with you :)
>
>Looks like a bit of breadboarding is in your future Mark.
>
>Warren, KD4Z
>
>
>On 7/7/2015 11:57 AM, Mark N2QT via Elecraft wrote:
>> Actually the issue is the tablet is able to supply power to external
>devices, which must be
>> disabled when the unit is being charged from an external source.
>Best I can tell in some
>> devices The direction of power is either negotiated by a digital
>message upon connection
>> of an external device or by shorting or opening the data lines when
>the unit is to be
>> charged. It looks like Dell tablets can operate with specific
>adapters but there is no
>> guarantee this would work on another brand (and lots of review
>comments saying it doesn't).
>>
>> This was all a surprise to me, I just figured I could hook things up
>and go.
>>
>> Mark. N2QT
>>
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>Message delivered to [hidden email]

Jack Brindle-2

Re: Windows 8.1 tablet power

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

You should be looking for a USB-C docking adapter. It supplies power for charging and extends the USB for devices to connect.
They are relatively new - there aren’t that many USB-C systems out so far, so you should expect them to be somewhat expensive.
But, the adapters are available. I know that Apple sells one for their MacBook, which uses USB-C. Might be a good starting point,
but keep looking to find what you really want.

A standard USB hub will not provide what you need...

73,

Jack, W6FB

> On Jul 7, 2015, at 8:57 AM, Mark N2QT via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Actually the issue is the tablet is able to supply power to external devices, which must be
> disabled when the unit is being charged from an external source. Best I can tell in some
> devices The direction of power is either negotiated by a digital message upon connection
> of an external device or by shorting or opening the data lines when the unit is to be
> charged. It looks like Dell tablets can operate with specific adapters but there is no
> guarantee this would work on another brand (and lots of review comments saying it doesn't).
>
> This was all a surprise to me, I just figured I could hook things up and go.
>
> Mark. N2QT
>
>> On Jul 7, 2015, at 11:50 AM, Tom <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Hmm, that's interesting. Have you tried a powered USB hub? I would think that should work.
>> 73 Tom
>> va2fsq.com
>>
>> Sent from BlueMail
>>
>>> On Jul 7, 2015, at 10:57 AM, Mark N2QT via Elecraft <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>> I bought a win 8.1 (not RT) tablet from Cowboom for $59, hoping to interface it using its
>>> micro USB port. However the USB port is the only way to provide power to the thing,
>>> and battery life is such I'd like to leave it on charge while operating, while not losing the
>>> USB port data functionality.
>>>
>>> The unit is sold by Best Buy under the Unbranded name.
>>>
>>> Anyone have luck powering such a tablet without losing the USB data capability?
>>>
>>> Mark. N2QT
>>>
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered
>>> to [hidden email]
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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Bill Frantz

Re: Windows 8.1 tablet power

In reply to this post by Warren Merkel

Back feeding a Raspberry Pi from USB bypasses the fuse in the
Pi. It is probably a good idea to include one in the power
supply to the hub. That is how I powered my Pi.

When I changed to a Beaglebone Black, the USB wouldn't work. I
had to remove power to the hub and power it from the Beaglebone
before I could connect USB devices.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 7/7/15 at 9:29 AM, [hidden email] (Warren Merkel) wrote:

>In the case of the Raspberry Pi, I have had luck with some powered hubs
>being able to back feed 5V on the USB data connection and actually power
>the Pi via it's USB dataport. This also may work for your tablet if
>luck is with you :)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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(408)356-8506 | over lies and hate. | 16345
Englewood Ave
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CA 95032

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John Payne

Re: Windows 8.1 tablet power

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

I use a Dell Venue 8 Pro and like many new tablets and phones it uses
USB On The Go for connectivity. Dell sells this:

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=470-ABES#Overview

and it allows what you need. USB OTG negotiates charging and data
according to a set of rules which I have not figured out yet, need to
research that sometime! No connection to Dell other than a satisfied
user. I'm sure this is available other places as well.

73,

John Payne W4CWZ

On 7/7/2015 10:55 AM, Mark N2QT via Elecraft wrote:

> I bought a win 8.1 (not RT) tablet from Cowboom for $59, hoping to interface it using its
> micro USB port. However the USB port is the only way to provide power to the thing,
> and battery life is such I'd like to leave it on charge while operating, while not losing the
> USB port data functionality.
>
> The unit is sold by Best Buy under the Unbranded name.
>
> Anyone have luck powering such a tablet without losing the USB data capability?
>
> Mark. N2QT
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

alsopb

Re: Windows 8.1 tablet power

Why have such seemingly simple things gotten so hard?
Like nobody ever figured one would want to use and charge a device at
the same time?
This capability should be part of the tablet.

I'd comment on how hard it is to key a radio via a computer these days
but won't.

73 de Brian/K3KO
On 7/8/2015 15:28 PM, John Payne wrote:

> I use a Dell Venue 8 Pro and like many new tablets and phones it uses
> USB On The Go for connectivity. Dell sells this:
>
> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=470-ABES#Overview
>
>
> and it allows what you need. USB OTG negotiates charging and data
> according to a set of rules which I have not figured out yet, need to
> research that sometime! No connection to Dell other than a satisfied
> user. I'm sure this is available other places as well.
>
> 73,
>
> John Payne W4CWZ
>
> On 7/7/2015 10:55 AM, Mark N2QT via Elecraft wrote:
>> I bought a win 8.1 (not RT) tablet from Cowboom for $59, hoping to
>> interface it using its
>> micro USB port. However the USB port is the only way to provide
>> power to the thing,
>> and battery life is such I'd like to leave it on charge while
>> operating, while not losing the
>> USB port data functionality.
>>
>> The unit is sold by Best Buy under the Unbranded name.
>>
>> Anyone have luck powering such a tablet without losing the USB data
>> capability?
>>
>> Mark. N2QT
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>
> -----
> No virus found in this message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 2015.0.6081 / Virus Database: 4392/10187 - Release Date:
> 07/08/15
>
>

W1KSZ

Re: Windows 8.1 tablet power

For $59 you must expect to not have all the bells & whistles that a $300
tablet
would have. They have to cut cost somewhere.

73, Dick, W1KSZ

On 7/8/2015 8:37 AM, brian wrote:

> Why have such seemingly simple things gotten so hard?
> Like nobody ever figured one would want to use and charge a device at
> the same time?
> This capability should be part of the tablet.
>
> I'd comment on how hard it is to key a radio via a computer these days
> but won't.
>
> 73 de Brian/K3KO
> On 7/8/2015 15:28 PM, John Payne wrote:
>> I use a Dell Venue 8 Pro and like many new tablets and phones it uses
>> USB On The Go for connectivity. Dell sells this:
>>
>> http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=470-ABES#Overview
>>
>>
>> and it allows what you need. USB OTG negotiates charging and data
>> according to a set of rules which I have not figured out yet, need to
>> research that sometime! No connection to Dell other than a satisfied
>> user. I'm sure this is available other places as well.
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> John Payne W4CWZ
>>
>> On 7/7/2015 10:55 AM, Mark N2QT via Elecraft wrote:
>>> I bought a win 8.1 (not RT) tablet from Cowboom for $59, hoping to
>>> interface it using its
>>> micro USB port. However the USB port is the only way to provide
>>> power to the thing,
>>> and battery life is such I'd like to leave it on charge while
>>> operating, while not losing the
>>> USB port data functionality.
>>>
>>> The unit is sold by Best Buy under the Unbranded name.
>>>
>>> Anyone have luck powering such a tablet without losing the USB data
>>> capability?
>>>
>>> Mark. N2QT
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> Elecraft mailing list
>>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>>
>>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>>
>> -----
>> No virus found in this message.
>> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
>> Version: 2015.0.6081 / Virus Database: 4392/10187 - Release Date:
>> 07/08/15
>>
>>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
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>
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>

Gerry Hull

Fwd: Windows 8.1 tablet power

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Hi Mark,

Get the following Dell Cable:

470-ABESDell Adapter - Micro USB for Data and Charging

It has microUSB to tablet, microusb for power, and then microusb to power
external device.

Inexpensive, works. I use it on my Dell Venue8 Win8.1 tablet.

Gerry Hull, W1VE | Hancock, NH USA
AKA: VE1RM | VY2CDX | VO1CDX | 6Y6C | 8P9RM <http://www.yccc.org>
<http://www.yccc.org/>
<http://www.facebook.com/gerryhull>
<https://plus.google.com/+GerryHull/posts> <http://www.twitter.com/w1ve>
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