USB/OTG-support?

Former Member over 7 years ago

I tried to use the search function, but "OTG" is too short to be included in search terms... Perhaps this issue has already been answered, but after scrolling back 10s of pages in the forum, I couldn't find a thread for this question.
Long intro, but: does anyone know, how to connect the fenix 5x through OTG to a mobile phone, i.e. by using an USB-cable? Isn't it supposed to go into mass storage? (The rationale being to be able to transfer large custom maps while doing an upcoming multi-week hike, covering an area which exceeds the limits for custom kmz-maps; max 1MB per image, max 80-100 images per kmz-file, max 8 kmz-files on watch, before I am unable to add more).

I can physically connect the watch to my Samsung S7 Edge and the watch starts charging and displays the USB-icon, indicating that it recognises the connection ? and that the phone at least recognises that there is something to be powered.

However, the S7 Edge does in no other way react to it. It does not mount the mass storage or does indicate any errors. I did try with different OTG-adapters, of which one was powered. All adapters were working and were recognised by the phone when using thumbdrives etc.
I even tried with my wife's S6 with the same (non-)results.

<Nerd alert>
When debugging the usb connection in a terminal on the phone, using lsusb, the watch is recognised as a connected USB-unit, with the same ID as when connected to other devices. So no problem there. Neither the system log nor dmesg show anything suspicious.
</Nerd alert>

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I've wondered about this too. Being able to access files through OTG. Have not come as far as actually trying yet. Your findings are discouraging. However, this should be very much technically possible. I see no reason why not at least. Please do tell if you figure out anything more!

0 unhombrecualquiera over 7 years ago

When connected to my Sony Xperia Z2 tablet via a normal OTG adapter cable the watch goes into mass storage mode and I can access (copy/delete) files on it. I use ES file explorer. Haven't tried copying anything to the watch though and can't really tell you anything helpful as this just worked for me.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Thanks! Yeah, that's how its supposed to be. Basically the same as when connecting to a "proper" computer. :/

After some additional searching on other forums, it seems not to be a Garmin problem but actually due to Samsung's policy of denying unknown units in their USB-host. Will keep you updated on my findings.

0 thigger over 7 years ago

Not a direct answer to your question, but it's worth being aware that the 5X can handle more than 100 images in a .kmz (as can some other Garmin units) - I don't know the exact limit but I have one with 207 images, each 1024x1024 pixels. I think that at least one of the Garmin units has a limit of 400 so it may be that that's what the 5X will permit.

0 gasteropod over 7 years ago

After some additional searching on other forums, it seems not to be a Garmin problem but actually due to Samsung's policy of denying unknown units in their USB-host. Will keep you updated on my findings.

In case this helps, I have never had any problems connecting my Garmin devices to my Samsung phones using an OTG cable. I first started using an Ant stick to communicate with my 910XT with my S2, then a direct connection with my fenix 3 to my S5, and I just tested my fenix 5X connecting it to my S7 running Nougat without problem. It shows up as a USB storage device, and when I unmount it before disconnecting it flashes up GARMIN disconnected briefly. So, to me the problem would not appear to be Samsung denying the watch as an unknown unit.