USB OTG & OEM Samsung MHL HDMI HDTV Adapter Review

[Lucidmike]

I bought a Cozy brand 5-pin USB OTG cable from the Samsung A/S Center in South Korea. Interesting enough, they didn't sell their own. So anyway, seems to work great. I made a video showing just how awesome a wireless keyboard and mouse works on the Note 2, particularly the split screen which can all be enabled and works so much better with a mouse.

Video Review:
USB OTG on Galaxy Note 2 (Wireless Keybard Mouse, External Storage Drive) - YouTube

I also bought an OEM MHL HDMI HDTV adapter (11-pin) from Samsung. I saw that they only had the one for the Galaxy S3, and I asked them if it was compatible with the Note 2 that I had. They said no, and that I should wait for the Note II one with a different model number. When I tried to buy it, they refused to sell it to me saying they didn't want to have to deal with a possible return. So knowing that I know more than who I was talking to having done my research, I came back a few hours later, saw a different person at the desk, and just told them I was going to buy the Galaxy S3 one. There are definitely some interesting things I learned with this cable. Seems to only want to do 1080i on my 1080p computer monitor over HDMI at 60Hz. But the upside is, 60Hz is very smooth. I keep hearing that on the S3, 1080p was choppy. I'm not sure if this is the case on our mighty fine Galaxy Note 2's with a faster processor and GPU.

Video Review:
HDTV HDMI MHL Cable for Galaxy Note 2 Review - YouTube

Additional Info:

• The Galaxy Note 2 supports both 11-pin and 5-pin micro USB connectors.
• The USB OTG (On-The-Go) adapters only come in 5-pin, and works fine with the Galaxy Note 2.
• I connected the OTG adapter to a USB hub, which was fine, and 2 different devices worked fine independently, but not both at the same time. My guess is, it is a power limitation that the Galaxy Note 2 provides through the micro USB jack.
• If you want to buy a HDTV (MHL HDMI) adapter for the Galaxy Note 2, it is the exact same adapter for that Galaxy S3 that is 11-pin, even though the model numbers are different. 5-pin MHL adapters don't work on the Galaxy Note 2.
• The HDTV adapter comes with a micro USB jack (5-pin), but although you may think it is a great idea to plug an OTG cable in there, it doesn't work that way. You MUST plug in your power cable. Why it was hard for me to find this info on the net or a youtube, I'm not sure. I guess I should have read the manual, but I think was more of a design thing. You wouldn't read a manual on how to plug in cables for plugging in HDMI cables and micro USB would you?
• I can only get 1080i working at 60Hz even though I know for sure my monitor does 1080p. If someone can get it working with 1080p I would like to know how smooth it is. 1080i@60Hz is actually pretty smooth (I think 60 fps).
• When outputting video, it only grabs the video stream, so it won't output overlayed subtitles on the TV monitor.
• The Galaxy Note 2 gets pretty warm, maybe hot, especially because it is charging through the MHL cable that is powered.

 

[Bonez]

Very informative videos. It's too bad you can't connect the USB keyboard/mouse through the MHL connector, but at least Bluetooth keyboard/mouse works when MHL is connected.

Also FYI, if you use a different launcher like Apex, Nova, etc., you can have your home screen in landscape.

Thank you for all of your informative videos.

 

[Lucidmike]

Very informative videos. It's too bad you can't connect the USB keyboard/mouse through the MHL connector, but at least Bluetooth keyboard/mouse works when MHL is connected.

Also FYI, if you use a different launcher like Apex, Nova, etc., you can have your home screen in landscape.

Thank you for all of your informative videos.

Yeah, I have used Apex and Nova in the past on a Galaxy SII and it was great. But to use that instead of Touchwiz UX specialized for S Pen...I don't know if I can make that transition just for landscape mode when doing HDTV out...Just hoping for a Touchwiz update...maybe in 4.1.2. Someone said it is coming, but where he's getting that info, I'm not sure.

 

[Elantric]

Great review. As a long time PDA user and having at one time or another carried a sharp Zaurus , Palm(TRG Pro, Handera, WinCE (Compaq Ipaq, Toshiba E800), IOS(iPhone 3G, 4), Archos 80 G9, and soon the Galaxy Note 2, I've experienced many different situations that rival the old TV shows Mission Impossible and McGiver.

Reviewing the Galaxy Note 2 Accessories, I'm looking forward to using the Smart Dock below. 3 USB Host ports, HDMI AV Out with 1080 and surround sound(will test), and dedicated 3.5mm Analog Audio Out. And it comes with a 2.1Amp charger.
The combo of Note2 and Smart Dock beats any other mobile device for multiple wired connections available -all at the same time. And makes for a simple grab & go dock to always take on road trips and be able to connect old school USB hardware, Keyboards, Mice, (must research printers).

If a colleague needs a file he could plug in his USB thumb drive. If I need to work in Google Docs or do heavy lifting updates to support the numerous guitar technology forums I run (www.vguitarforums.com or www.futureguitarnow.com) I can connect my external FAT32 USB HDD, mouse and keyboard and hookup a 23" HDMI Monitor and get to work. If Samsung offers extended desktop support with Dual Monitors in the future, then the Wacom digitizer can prove very useful.
While I'm a man who knows his own limitations, I rely on Tools that exceed the ordinary.

Rumor is USB Class Compliant USB MIDI Keyboards and USB DACs and MI USB Audio interfaces may work with future Android releases. Just need to work on low latency Audio ( where IOS still rules).

I'm a bit shocked to read comment from folks who can't see the purpose of such I/O docks. To me it opens up worlds of usefulness for my Galaxy Note 2.

In my mind the "Next Big Thing" marketing slogan truly applies to the combo of the Note2 and Smart Dock. That's really going to change my world.
Ill post a review after my Smart Dock arrives in a few weeks.
----

My favorite Note2 Accessory
Galaxy Note™ II Smart Dock
The Samsung Galaxy Smart Dock makes it easy to take advantage your phone’s high-speed internet connectivity and super-fast processor. Connect an HD monitor, external storage device, and USB keyboard and mouse to turn your smartphone into a productivity powerhouse. Make messaging, editing documents and accessing media files a breeze. Plug in your 3.5mm stereo audio components or speakers and you have the ultimate pocket-sized home theater and computer in one.
Galaxy Note

 

[Lucidmike]

Great review. As a long time PDA user and having at one time or another carried a sharp Zaurus , Palm(TRG Pro, Handera, WinCE (Compaq Ipaq, Toshiba E800), IOS(iPhone 3G, 4), Archos 80 G9, and soon the Galaxy Note 2, I've experienced many different situations that rival the old TV shows Mission Impossible and McGiver.

Reviewing the Galaxy Note 2 Accessories, I'm looking forward to using the Smart Dock below. 3 USB Host ports, HDMI AV Out with 1080 and surround sound(will test), and dedicated 3.5mm Analog Audio Out. And it comes with a 2.1Amp charger.
The combo of Note2 and Smart Dock beats any other mobile device for multiple wired connections available -all at the same time. And makes for a simple grab & go dock to always take on road trips and be able to connect old school USB hardware, Keyboards, Mice, (must research printers).

If a colleague needs a file he could plug in his USB thumb drive. If I need to work in Google Docs or do heavy lifting updates to support the numerous guitar technology forums I run (www.vguitarforums.com or www.futureguitarnow.com) I can connect my external FAT32 USB HDD, mouse and keyboard and hookup a 23" HDMI Monitor and get to work. If Samsung offers extended desktop support with Dual Monitors in the future, then the Wacom digitizer can prove very useful.
While I'm a man who knows his own limitations, I rely on Tools that exceed the ordinary.

Rumor is USB Class Compliant USB MIDI Keyboards and USB DACs and MI USB Audio interfaces may work with future Android releases. Just need to work on low latency Audio ( where IOS still rules).

I'm a bit shocked to read comment from folks who can't see the purpose of such I/O docks. To me it opens up worlds of usefulness for my Galaxy Note 2.

In my mind the "Next Big Thing" marketing slogan truly applies to the combo of the Note2 and Smart Dock. That's really going to change my world.
Ill post a review after my Smart Dock arrives in a few weeks.
----

My favorite Note2 Accessory
Galaxy Note™ II Smart Dock
The Samsung Galaxy Smart Dock makes it easy to take advantage your phone’s high-speed internet connectivity and super-fast processor. Connect an HD monitor, external storage device, and USB keyboard and mouse to turn your smartphone into a productivity powerhouse. Make messaging, editing documents and accessing media files a breeze. Plug in your 3.5mm stereo audio components or speakers and you have the ultimate pocket-sized home theater and computer in one.
Galaxy Note

I tried to get a smart dock yesterday. Wasn't in stock in Korea. But yes, I absolutely am looking forward to review this. Something already sticks out as a problem though. Obviously you'll want to use it in landscape mode. But it docks in portrait mode. Sure you can tilt it, disable screen rotation, then dock it. Something like that, but that seems like bad design. I'm hoping for a magical button on the smart dock that will rotate the device and keep it like that...

 

[wyndslash]

browsing OTG USB cables on amazon and can't really decide what to get...they all seem the same to me, lol

 

[acrbill]

That is pretty cool stuff. I like that stand too since I am so used to the kickstand on my Evo. It would be sweet if they came out with a wireless charger that held the phone in landscape mode so you could just toss it on there. Is there any way to use the HDMI out and turn the screen on the phone off?

 

[HighCaliber]

I bought these two for $20 shipped a couple weeks ago and have not tested them yet:

Cable Matters USB to HDMI MHL Cable
Amazon.com: Cable Matters Gold Plated Premium Micro USB to HDMI MHL Cable in Black 6 ft: Electronics

Samsung 5 to 11 pin converter
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083FYL0O/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00

I have tested my bluetooth keyboard and mouse with it and they are both fully functional. So I can just leave the GN2 behind my wall mounted 52" LCD TV and control everything from across the room.

I will post up my findings hopefully tonight.

 

[Lucidmike]

That is pretty cool stuff. I like that stand too since I am so used to the kickstand on my Evo. It would be sweet if they came out with a wireless charger that held the phone in landscape mode so you could just toss it on there. Is there any way to use the HDMI out and turn the screen on the phone off?

I see apps that you turn off the screen if you are rooted, but the capacitive touch remains active. You can't do it not rooted, as far as I can tell. Just turn the brightness all the way down and flip it over, close the case if needed I guess.

 

[Lucidmike]

I bought these two for $20 shipped a couple weeks ago and have not tested them yet:

Cable Matters USB to HDMI MHL Cable
Amazon.com: Cable Matters Gold Plated Premium Micro USB to HDMI MHL Cable in Black 6 ft: Electronics

Samsung 5 to 11 pin converter
Amazon.com: Original Samsung HDTV Adapter TIP (5 to 11 Pin Converter) EPL-FU10BEBSTD for Galaxy S3 (9300): Cell Phones & Accessories

I have tested my bluetooth keyboard and mouse with it and they are both fully functional. So I can just leave the GN2 behind my wall mounted 52" LCD TV and control everything from across the room.

I will post up my findings hopefully tonight.

Looking forward to it! Sweet!

 

[SilverGS]

I bought these two for $20 shipped a couple weeks ago and have not tested them yet:

Cable Matters USB to HDMI MHL Cable
Amazon.com: Cable Matters Gold Plated Premium Micro USB to HDMI MHL Cable in Black 6 ft: Electronics

Samsung 5 to 11 pin converter
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0083FYL0O/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00

I have tested my bluetooth keyboard and mouse with it and they are both fully functional. So I can just leave the GN2 behind my wall mounted 52" LCD TV and control everything from across the room.

I will post up my findings hopefully tonight.

Which bluetooth keyboard and mouse do you have?

 

[HighCaliber]

Which bluetooth keyboard and mouse do you have?

ZAGGeys FLEX Keyboard and a Logitech Tablet Mouse for Android 3.1.

So I tested everything out last night. I kind of have mixed feelings on this whole thing. I have seen a lot of videos where the homescreen goes into landscape mode when hooked up to the tv. I figure they are rooted and have a custom rom for that. Mine does not rotate to landscape so I am looking at a skinny portrait homescreen strip on my 52" tv...it looks weird.

So I went into a few apps/games and the bluetooth mouse does not control the games like your finger would. I thought I could play them from a distance but I was wrong. The typing and mousing from a distance were fine and worked effortlessly but I lost interest because of the portrait view of homescreens and no mouse input while in games.

I started to mess with video playback, in 1080p I was getting a noticeable chop/stutter. So I went into the RAM manager and cleared everything and replayed the same movie scene. It played without stuttering but did not have the quality of playing that same movie / micro card directly from my playstation3's usb port.

Also the sound was coming from my phone, I don't know why since the tv and my surround sound are all connected to each other. The phone was directly plugged into the tv via the hdmi hml cable but no audio.

I only messed around with it for a few minutes and didn't really get to try a lot of apps. I will repost any other findings as soon as I can.

Have a good day all.

 

[SilverGS]

Thanks.

So the mouse works fine on web pages , clicking links , when typing text in an email and clicking buttons etc?

 

[screech113]

I use Ultimate Rotation Control app to force my galaxy note II into landscape mode when I need it to be, and you don't need to be rooted to use the app. You might try and download that app, when using with the mhl adapter.

 

[Breakdaspell]

Thank you for the information. I just look that is some hdtv adapter for samsung galaxy s2 or note, and the other is for samsung galaxy s3 or note 2. What is the differences? Can i use the hdtv adapter for note to note 2?