Helicon Soft Forum

Hello. I am new here, and new to Android phones. Interested in using Helicon Remote (for Android).
Searched for several threads that could be of help in connecting my camera (Nikon D700) to my new
< LG Optimus F5 (4G) phone > - Android 4.1.2 (Jelly Bean)

First of all, I got difficulties installing the app < as found at Google app website >
I got a message that my Phone is not compatible. Seems a message familiar to several other users to. However found an older message < at this forum > with a link where I could download the .apk file to my PC, and afterwards could install the app manually. (Older version however).

I could run the app, but no camera was found. Than found messages that I need a USB "OTG" adapter. Didn't know what it was, but seems it is needed to run the mobile as a host (master device).
More info found < at WiKi ---> USB On-The-Go >

So today I ordered an "OTG" adapter as found < HERE >
(The description is exclusively talking about connection for flash-drives to mobile devices etc.)
Tomorrow I hope I have the cable delivered, and can do some tests.
- first by connecting a USB memory stick
- and maybe a mouse
as suggested in several other treads for testing the USB port compatibility.

Hope the LG Phone do have enough possibilities for proper setting the USB connection.
At least I can choose for several options as seen at the next image.
(Phone normally is not set into English, so I changed language temporary to make a proper screen-shot).



Some suggestions, or other tips that could be of help?
When I know more results by testing, I come back and shall give report at this thread.

If Google Play says the app is incompatible with your phone - it won't work. The only requirement of Helicon Remote is USB support, so if Google states the app is incompatible, your phone doesn't have that. Which means the camera won't be detected.

Is it possible that the information about it can be faulty?
By what resources does Google Play make that statement?
How do they check with all those phones in the market what is faulty or not?

As Helicon Remote also do have WiFi as an option for communication, it has nothing to do with USB support. (However Nikon D700 doesn't have WiFi as default, only by an extra WiFi accessory).
So what are the reasons that it doesn't support it by forehand (not allowing it to choose for installing it by this Google website), not knowing by Google what external camera is used, or what connection mode (e.g. WiFi instead of USB)? Or has it more to do with protectionism policy of their markets as most of today's ITC companies like Google, Apple etc. seems to do?

Seems Android, their phones, USB and WiFi is much more unreliable for compatibility issues as I thought. Had in my mind that all is made by use of standardisations for proper working. But seems more like a gamble what is working or not.

It should be very pity, as I specially choose an Android mobile to use such apps.
(E.g. Windows Mobile has less apps for it, and no app from Helicon for this Windows Mobile OS).

The other device that I was looking for (but at the end didn't buy because it is much more expensive than the LG) was a Samsung Galaxy S4 mini.

I've got the OTG cable today. However no luck.
- Test with mouse failed.
- Test with USB-stick failed
- Test with Helicon Remote failed

To avoid power up problems from the tiny USB-port, to power up a PC mouse (red light at bottom ---> it didn't light up by direct connection to the mobile), I tried a connection bij a powered USB-hub between. But also no luck.

Tried the cheap "Samsung Fame" mobile of my daughter. Well, the Helicon Remote software was no problem for download and installing here. No rejection as with my LG.

But further, I had the same problems as with my LG Optimus F5 mobile.
No luck recognising a camera, USB-stick, or mouse. Even no possibilities to set USB in other connectivity modes as with the LG.

At least I know rejection to install the software (LG), or approved (Samsung) seems just a random luck, with no logical reason. As in both situations there is no workable work-around. Pity.

After the weekend I will call LG support for another solution (other mobile ???)

The information based on which Google Play rejects application cannot be faulty, and it's not random luck. Play asks the phone whether it supports a requested feature or not, so there's no need for Google Play to support a database of all the phone models in the world (wich would be impossible).
I'm not surprised LG failed the mouse test, I'm fairly sure this phone doesn't have USB host at all. However, Samsung S4 does, it should have at the very least detected a mouse. Which leads me to a conclusion that the adapter you've tried is actually not OTG.

P. S. It's true that Remote can work over wi-fi and USB support is no longer strictly required, but we haven't lifted that restriction yet.

Thanks to the extra information.

Stas Yatsenko wrote: I'm not surprised LG failed the mouse test, I'm fairly sure this phone doesn't have USB host at all. However, Samsung S4 does, it should have at the very least detected a mouse. Which leads me to a conclusion that the adapter you've tried is actually not OTG.

In meanwhile I found extra information, did tests, contacted LG support, that state my LG don't have USB host at all. As for the test with my daughters phone, it was not with a Samsung S4, but with a Samsung "Fame". A typical young girls phone, one of the cheapest models. Maybe it do have some hardware USB host possibilities, but is lacking USB-drivers ???

As for the USB OTG cable, it is from the brand < DeLock >
A brand of reputable state, so I guess the cable is not faulty.
But have no other possibilities for testing now. (My daughter with Samsung Fame is not with me now).

As for USB host possibilities I tried some apps that has several testing procedures.
The most useful I found is < USB Host Diagnostics >
It do some test to hardware possibilities, OS, ports, drivers etc. Afterwards you can send the report to a general website database where people can look if devices are supported. Very handy. See < HERE >

Screen-image of a device that do support USB host options:

Resource of the image < HERE >
This website has useful information in general as for USB OTG compatibility issues.

I also found extra USB-drivers that can be of help if the mobile device do have hardware capabilities
for USB hosting, but lacks drivers for it.
See freeware version < HERE >
See Donate version < HERE >
Specific website of those drivers with more useful information < HERE >
As a special note for users, do read the warnings as for power draining hooking up devices to the USB-port with the extended drivers, normally not used or connected. A separate powered USB-hub can be helpful (as I did in my first test already as written in my first message).

It would have been nice if my LG phone worked all through USB, but it is not my intention to exchange my phone for another type. (I purchased the phone separately). The devices that will work are usually more large and heavy as my LG phone. The handling as for a "mobile phone" then comes into question for me. That is the main application for me in using such a device. For shooting a camera tethered I can still use my laptop, only more clumsier.

By all those testing, I experienced a quite high draining of power of the battery of my mobile device. So the usefulness of using a mobile for tethered shooting do have their limits anyway.

Stas Yatsenko wrote: P. S. It's true that Remote can work over wi-fi and USB support is no longer strictly required, but we haven't lifted that restriction yet.

I could download DslrDashboard without restriction.
But of-course I met the same problems as for USB host compatibility as with Helicon remote.

Tested USB host compatible Android devices for tethered shooting, for another camera app < HERE >
I guess it can be a good guide which Android devices are compatible for use of Helicon Remote to.

It seems that USB OTG Helper is only meant for mounting mass storage devices. If that's the case, it's not applicable for cameras.

The whole thing intrigued me, so went on if there was a possibility to let it work.
As I am new to Android, maybe I went the wrong path and used the wrong drivers and apps ?
Within the forum is written that for testing you can use the method of connecting a USB-stick or mouse. If it works, it could be the base for connecting with a camera as well. That's why I went the route by that USB OTG Helper, to get extra USB OTG functionality.

But it took a long route to even let work that USB OTG Helper app, as my mobile has to be rooted.
I found some methods for that. < First method > (complex by Window OS route) didn't work.
The most easy one with a < small .apk app > did the trick without glitches, even as my mobile was updated by firmware already.

Had to install "BusyBox". (Don't know if it are extra files for USB connection?).
Tried this one first < BusyBox installer >. But the version by the implented files is out-dated (v1.20.2). Latest version should be v1.21.1 as by < BusyBox web-resource >
Than I installed this one < BusyBox > that did contain the latest version BusyBox files.

But at the end, camera didn't connect. As by message, still some resources are missing.
Had to do with extra files at kernel level (customized). That is out of my knowledge.
(There are some files for other Android mobiles however < HERE >)

So I keep my phone as a none camera connecting device.
(Maybe I un-root my phone back to factory settings).