Can't get my Galaxy Tab S 10.5 to connect to my WD Passport

[Ormsby15]

Hi everyone, I'm unable to connect my external hard drive to my Samsung Galaxy Tab S 10.5 tablet. I'm using the Nexus Media Importer app and can find the option to click on my WD Passport but when I do, it simply says "USB Device - Open Failed"

I have tried this in both exFAT and NTFS formatting, both returning the same message. Any advice??

Gadgets used:

Galaxy Tab S 10.5
Micro USB OTG cable
WD My Passport "0820"
Nexus Media Importer App

 

[WyomingKnott]

It may be possible that the tab can't put out enough power on the port to drive the hard drive.

 

[Ormsby15]

Thanks, I have considered that but I have also found that my Galaxy Note 3 will be able to see files on the passport. I wouldn't have thought the tablet would have been weaker in that respect but maybe?

Is there a way I can plug it in to the mains and have it plugged into my tablet at the same time?

 

[WyomingKnott]

What I've seen are Y cables where one end goes to the drive and two USB A plugs on the other go to the PC, one for power only. But you need OTG. The only way I can think of to do that requires buying some hardware, and I don't guarantee that it will work.

Get a powered hub and an OTG cable to connect the tablet to the powered hub as the controller. The hub will provide power to the USB drive. I have a powered hub and a Galaxy S Tab 10.5" sitting on this desk at the moment, but not the relevant OTG cable.

 

[Ormsby15]

So basically I'm after an OTG cable with 2 male plugs and 1 female? I have a battery pack for charging devices on the go so I can see where you're coming from... definitely worth a go. Thanks for your help

Something that has just dawned on me though is that my tablet is able to see the WD Passport (just not open) and the white light on it to show power is lighting up, both of those things would make it seem like it was receiving power?

 

[Emerald]

it might receive power but does not provide enough Amps to spin the drive.

 

[D_Know_WD]

Hi there Ormsby15,

The Galaxy device should supply 900mA through the USB port in order to power up(and work properly) WD My Passport.
Check this out: http://community.wd.com/t5/WD-Portable-Drives/Samsung-Galaxy-TAB-S-amp-WD-My-Passport-Ultra/td-p/813853

Cheers,
D_Know_WD

 

[WyomingKnott]

D_Know_WD

Many thanks! I read this: "The WD Passport Ultra is a USB 3.0 device. Unless your tablet can supply 900mA through the USB port then it will not be able to power the external hard drive. " So will the OP need an OTG cable that's USB 3.0 on the drive side?

OTG is awesome! I use it to improve the quality of music from my Samsungs. USB output to my combination DAC / headphone amp.

 

[D_Know_WD]

It will be a good idea to try connecting the drive with OTG cable and a powered hub. Though, I can't be really sure whether this will sort the issue out.

Cheers,
D_Know_WD

 

[DataMedic]

This is what you want right here:
http://www.amazon.com/SuperSpeed-External-Seagate-Toshiba-Hitachi/dp/B00K3GICEC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417446756&sr=8-1&keywords=usb+3.0+y+cable

 

[WyomingKnott]

DataMedic - That's the kind of thing I use with a PC as my primary, but here it's a tablet. No way to get a second port out of it for power; you'd have to have a PC or powered hub handy for the second plug! I could be wrong; it happens often.

 

[DataMedic]

DataMedic - That's the kind of thing I use with a PC as my primary, but here it's a tablet. No way to get a second port out of it for power; you'd have to have a PC or powered hub handy for the second plug! I could be wrong; it happens often.

Exactly, you'll need a secondary power source. There's no getting around that. I was just suggesting the cable to use for connecting to both the tablet (using an adapter) and the hub.

Edit: actually you wouldn't need a hub, just a wall charger with a USB port to supply power. You might actually find that it will charge the tablet at the same time as it powers the drive. (might)

 

[DataMedic]

I don't understand why you'd want to run a conventional HDD from a tablet in the first place. Just seems like a good way to kill the battery fast to me.

I'd just go with a nice big thumb drive or an SSD if you really need to add a lot of storage.