[ale] need 5" android tablet / phone for obd car instrumentation

[Alex Carver]

If a cheap tablet doesn't have Bluetooth then it likely won't have USB 
On-The-Go which is what you would need to run a wired USB dongle (i.e. 
host-mode USB that you normally find on a desktop).  This is a hardware 
limitation, it requires a very specific USB chipset inside the device. 
It's not something that can be added by using a simple cable (USB-OTG 
cables are just adapters to change the size and gender of the cable, no 
electronics exist in the cable.)

Not even all phones have USB-OTG.  Search Google for tablets with 
USB-OTG and you'll find a very small list.  The Samsung Galaxy and Note 
series have it.  The Google Nexus series have it, too, for some of the 
Nexus versions.  Beyond Samsung and Google, one Acer, one Asus, one 
Huawei, one Sony and one Toshiba have it, too.[1]

Additionally, not all of the devices will have the right USB stacks 
loaded to use the device (most do but some have limitations).

[1] from a quick Google search
http://www.lok-it.net/usb-otg-compatible-phones-tablets/



On 9/16/2013 17:25, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
> Hi Robert,
>
> Thanks for the note.  Yes.  Torque is very cool.  I have it on my 10" tablet and it works fine.  But, I take that tablet out of the car every time I get out.  Also, having it sit on the seat beside me and glancing at it is a bit dangerous.  I'm looking for a new small tablet / phone and wired usb obd solution that I can leave in there all the time.  I have some potential security issues with bluetooth for use on a permanent basis and many cheap tablets don't have bluetooth.  I would run torque on the small device.  I looked at some 7" tablets and they're just a bit too big.  I have very little room to mount anything that won't obscure my vision too much or cover some important other controls in the car.  That's why I was looking for something in the 5" range.  So, I'm trying to find a complete solution with the critical components I listed for less than the price of the $ 160 scanguage.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron