🇬🇧 🇩🇪 Magnetic USB cable recommended to avoid socket probs

Schroeda · November 13, 2016, 1:14am

(Deutsche Version unten)

After several attempts, I found a specialist the other day who succesfully inserted a working USB socket into my FP1. To avoid future USB stress, I decided to follow a recommendation from ‘explit’ and use a magnetic USB cable. This requires a tiny counterpart in the USB socket which is supposed to permanently stay in there. If required, the actual cable is magnetically coupled and this keeps the forces to the socket at a minimum level.
Currently (Nov 2016), such cables appear to be available mainly from online dealers.

After a succesful personal test of such a cable, I can herewith forward the recommendation to you.

Checked magnetic USB cables:

a) “WSKEN XCable” (Source)
at FP1:

probably hides the headphone socket
overall function not yet checked
at FP2:
I’m not sure concerning overall function; FP2 user ‘explit’ probably checked ‘c’ below.

b) “Elegiant” (Source) (smaller than ‘WSKEN’);
at FP1:

works perfectly for charging also with high current (2.1 A = 1.5 h charging time)
does not work for data transfer (at least at my FP1;
… Alternative: e.g. ‘MyPhoneExplorer’ (Source) + WLAN (or Bluetooth))
does NOT hide the headphone socket
keeps its promise of minimizing the forces to the socket
at FP2:
overall function not yet checked

c) “WSKEN XCable Mini 2nd Gen” (Source)
at FP1:

does NOT hide the headphone socket
overall function not yet checked
at FP2:
works well for both charging and data transfer (according to FP2 user ‘explit’).

Nachdem ich in einem Fachbetrieb endlich meine kaputte USB-Buchse repariert bekam, will ich kuenftig Aerger vermeiden und die mechanische Belastung der Buchse minimieren. Hierzu hat mir ‘explit’ die Verwendung eines magnetischen USB-Kabels empfohlen, bei dem man nur ein sehr kleines Gegenstueck in die USB-Buchse steckt und darin stecken laesst. Das eigentliche Kabel wird bei Bedarf magnetisch gekoppelt, so dass die Buchse beim An- und Abstecken kaum noch belastet wird.
Solche Kabel scheinen derzeit (Nov 2016) fast nur im Online-Handel erhaeltlich zu sein.

Nach einem erfolgreichen persoenlichen Test solch eines Kabels kann ich Euch die Empfehlung hiermit weitergeben.

Geteste magnetische USB-Kabel:

a) “WSKEN XCable” (Source)
am FP1:

verdeckt vermutlich Kopfhoererbuchse
Gesamtfunktion bisher nicht geprueft
am FP2:
bin unsicher bzgl Gesamtfunktion; FP2-Benutzer ‘explit’ hat vermutlich ‘c’ getestet.

b) “Elegiant” (Source) (kleiner als ‘WSKEN’);
am FP1:

funktioniert perfekt auch mit hohem Ladestrom (2.1 A = 1.5 h Ladezeit)
taugt nicht fuer Datenuebertragung (zumindest an meinem FP1;
… Alternative: z.B. ‘MyPhoneExplorer’ (Source) + WLAN (oder Bluetooth))
verdeckt NICHT die Kopfhoererbuchse
haelt sein Versprechen, die Kraefte auf die Buchse zu minimieren
am FP2:
Gesamtfunktion bisher nicht geprueft

c) “WSKEN XCable Mini 2nd Gen” (Source)
am FP1:

verdeckt NICHT die Kopfhoererbuchse
Gesamtfunktion bisher nicht geprueft
am FP2:
funktioniert fuer Laden und Datentransfer gut (laut FP2-Benutzer ‘explit’).

urs_lesse · November 13, 2016, 7:56am

Danke für deinen Testbericht Noch eine kleine Frage zu b), auch wenn ich die Antwort ahne: Du benutzt dein FP1 ohne die Originalhülle, oder? Falls doch: Ich vermute, der Magneteinsatz im USB-Port passt nicht in die existierende Aussparung der Originalhülle?

Just another question regarding b): You are using your FP1 without the original case, right? In case you do use the original case: The magnetic part in the USB port won’t fit the hole in the original case, will it?

Schroeda · November 13, 2016, 12:59pm

Hi Urs,

unfortunately I don’t have any experience with FP1’s original cases. However, after a glance at the cases offered on FP’s website (Source), I’d say the gap is wide enough for the tiny, permanent plug. But this is just a guess.

Btw, I’ve bee using now for years the following full protective cover for my FP1 which protects also the screen very well, has a useful bike connector - and allows to make phone calls with the FP1 remaining in the cover with only slightly reduced quality:
(‘Topeak SmartPhone DryBag’ ([Source] (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B009ZN63TA)); available also in shops)
It’s also compatibel with the magnetic plug.

leider hab ich keine Erfahrung mit Originalhuellen des FP1. Nach einem kurzen Blick auf die Huellen, die auf der Website angeboten werden (Source) wuerde ich sagen, dass die Aussparung breit genug fuer den kleinen, permanenten Steck-Einsatz sein muesste. Aber das ist nur eine Vermutung.

Uebrigens verwende ich seit Jahren folgenden “Schutzanzug” fuer mein FP1, der auch den Bildschirm schuetzt, einen sinnvollen Fahrradanschluss hat und Telefonate in der Huelle mit nur leicht verminderter Tonqualitaet erlaubt.
(‘Topeak SmartPhone DryBag’ ([Source] (https://www.amazon.de/dp/B009ZN63TA)); auch im Fachhandel erhaeltlich).
Er ist auch mit dem Magnetstecker kompatibel.

explit · November 13, 2016, 3:14pm

Hi. Change please the words: FP2-User Pawel to FP2-User: explit. Its my Nickname here on Forum, so users, who has questions about it can contact me directly.

Thanks

Schroeda · November 13, 2016, 4:41pm

Done!
Thanks and greez,
Rolf

Aypac · November 15, 2016, 5:59pm

Just ordered these for just 2.90€ from china. Hope they’ll fit (and be of usable quality). Guess we’ll see in a few weeks

Peter_Bandilla · November 18, 2016, 7:01am

…well, just my 2 cents: I’m currently using the cable from option “b)” (“Elegiant”) on my FP2 and it works perfectly for charging and data connections. The plug does protrude a little bit but not that much and it is really convenient to make a fast connection in the car or at home. Thanks a lot for that tip!

Peter

Heiner · November 18, 2016, 10:16am

It would be great, if FP could make this connection to a standard, not projecting one for the FP2!

schwager · November 18, 2016, 3:09pm

Danke für den Tip! Bestelle für mich und meine Frau, sie und ich haben jew.ein FP1U, jew. eins von den genannten USB Magnets. (viell. geht da eins oder beide auch mit Mediaübertragung am FP1U)
Frage zu dem MyPhone Explorer. Gibts das auxh für Linux kompatibel?

Beste Grüße

Schroeda · November 18, 2016, 3:40pm

[English version below]

Persoenlich hab ich keine aktuelle Erfahrung mit Linux.
Im Forum von MPE (MyPhoneExplorer) hat jemand im Sommer dieselbe Frage gestellt:
http://www.fjsoft.at/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26399

Demnach gibt es zwar keine Linux-Version des MPE, aber immerhin eine (englische) Anleitung, wie man MPE unter Linux nutzen kann:
http://www.fjsoft.at/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7617
(Liest sich ein wenig kompliziert, also “ohne Gewaehr”…)

Personally, I have no recent experience with Linux.
In the MPE (MyPhoneExplorer) forum, someone asked the same question some months ago.
http://www.fjsoft.at/forum/viewtopic.php?t=26399

According to that, there is no Linux version of MPE but at least an (english) tutorial how to use MPE with Linux:
http://www.fjsoft.at/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7617
(Reads somewhat complicated - thus “without engagement”…)

Schroeda · November 18, 2016, 3:42pm

You’re certainly right, Heiner, but I’m not sure if any FP2 developer reads this forum?!

explit · November 20, 2016, 9:50pm

Myphone Explorer geht nur mit Windows. Unter linux muss man alles manuell machen, oder Backupscripte schreiben.

schwager · December 4, 2016, 9:45am

Hab dieses Kabel jetzt für mein FP1U in Betrieb. Da gehen alle Funktionen! Und schont den schon etwas “weichen” Anschluß. Prädikat: Empfehlenswert.

explit · December 4, 2016, 12:54pm

WSKEN Xcable Mini 2nd Gen habe ich auch am FP2.
Laden / Danuebertragung geht

ChuckMorris · December 6, 2016, 9:48am

Does the compass still work reliably with a magnet attached to the phone?

Schroeda · December 7, 2016, 10:06am

(Deutsch unten)

Until today I was not aware that the FPs include a compass - but both types really seem to have one inside. So, I’m afraid a permanent magnet in the USB socket will in fact heavily influence these magnetic sensors and even make them completely useless as long as the tiny thing is plugged in

In the past years, I occasionally used my FP1 succesfully for navigation with ‘OsmAnd+’ (based on Open Street Map). Long before I bought the magnetic connector I noticed that the phone was unable to detect its real orientation when I was standing still. Only after I had started moving it showed the proper direction. Thus I’d conclude at least OsmAnd does not (necessarily) evaluate the compass sensor but can also determine the orientation via GPS - as long as you keep moving. Which might be another explanation for the slogan that my FP displays during startup…

Wusste bisher gar nicht, dass FPs einen Kompass haben. Scheint aber wirklich so zu sein. Und tatsaechlich duerfte ein Kompass vollstaendig nutzlos sein, so lange ein Magnet in der USB-Buchse steckt

In den vergangenen Jahren habe ich mein FP1 gelegentlich erfolgreich fuer die Navigation mit OsmAnd+(basiert auf OpenStreetMap) genutzt; lange bevor ich den Magnetverbinder gekauft habe. Dabei fiel mir auf, dass meine tatsaechliche (Aus)richtung immer erst angezeigt wird, wenn ich mich bewege. Hieraus schliesse ich, dass zumindest OsmAnd den Kompass nicht (unbedingt) verwendet, sondern die Richtung ggf aus den GPS-Infos errechnen kann - so lange man sich bewegt (vgl hierzu auch das Motto des FP1…)

Patrick1 · December 9, 2016, 2:04am

I have backed this project on Indigogo and got my pledge recently.
“https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/muconnect-faster-safer-and-magnetic-charging-apple-android/x/12842391#/” It is a swedish company. The µconnect pro version I am relying on

Generally it works and also it is quite slim in format. It should fit just as good for FP1 as it does for FP2 leaving enough space for the headphone jack.
It snaps on easily and works in both directions.
Although both parts are magnetic, I think the magnets are a bit to weak which makes it necessary not to move the phone when attached or the cable will loosen/fall off interrupting charging or more severe interrupting data transfer.
Synching works fine if the slide-switch is positioned correctly.
There is a difference in charge current/speed between the two switch positions.
One for synching the other for fast charge.
But nevertheless if in fast charge position you still loose a bit of current through the adapter itself compared to connecting directly without µconnect.
Maybe the pins can´t handle more current or the cause is the internal design.
From about 1350mAH charging current without adapter I´m loosing about 300mAH with it leaving some about 1050mAH to charge. Actually it is only a small adapter being attached no entire cable.
I think if it comes to size there is not much choice. But I do believe some others are having stronger magnets and a more reliable hold.
Considering current it would be interesting to have a comparison with other types.
µconnect was about 16$ for backers and is now after about 20$.
I guess in this prize range there is even more selection.

Around christmas I also ordered the cable of “GOOBAY” at the electronics dealer Reichelt. Order No. is GOOBAY 40912 - 8,95€.

I think it is even better than the one I had first and it does not have any switch for synching and fast charging, it just does both without loss of current through the circuitry. It is about 1,2 meters long and the connector is directly attached to the usb cable. The cable is coated with textile and very flexible. The hold of the magnet is slightly better than with µconnect as the plug is a bit shorter, as it is no generic µusb-B adaptor but directly fixed to the cable.

Both designs are quite similar, so I wonder who had the idea first and who done a “benchmark” and build his own version. Even the magnetic plugs match and can be exchanged. There is no difference in operation. I now prefer the Goobay version as you don´t need switching and the hold is slightly better. One drawback there seems to be. But I guess this relies to all magnetic connectors.
The maximum current the contacting pins can take. Goobay states
Assumable most devices draw more than 1A continuously (FP2 ~1,4A). So it may be a matter of time until the pins are spent and the entire cable turns useless.

Aypac · January 4, 2017, 2:18pm

The super-cheap China-magnetic-usb-cables arrived a few weeks back and I’m very happy to report that they are awesome - charging and data transfer are both working fine. If the link is not working anymore, look around ebay a little, I found them for 2.89€ (I just ordered another 5). Just be careful to order the same kind (there are plenty others around - some with larger adapters).

As you can see, you can snap the according USB cable on both ways. No more three-turns-til-you’re-connected

Stefan · June 9, 2017, 9:42am

A simple, yet far more environmentally friendly, imo, idea struck me and I was surprised that something like this actually already exists: A magnetic MicroUSB adapter!

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/713nFmgvsVL._SL1500_.jpg

Source: Amazon (alternative)

The advantage would be that you could use any microUSB cable and that, if the cable breaks, you would be able to continue to use the magnetic microUSB adapter with a different cable.

AnotherElk · June 11, 2017, 2:35pm

Interesting. Based on the reviews at Amazon I just ordered the esorio adapter, I’ll check what using this means for the compass and for the microphone right next to the micro USB socket.