Sky+ USB port

tonyyeb · 17 Feb 2010 at 19:45

Hi all

Was wondering if anyone knows if the USB port on the front of my Sky+ box can be used for charging devices like mobile phones, MP3 players etc...?

Cheers

PhillyDee · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:02

I would assume so, all it needs to do is supply +5v.

kylew · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:04

Surely trying it out would have been quicker?

Locke · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:05

kylew said:
Surely trying it out would have been quicker?

In some scenario's, maybe it's not!

kylew · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:13

Locke said:
In some scenario's, maybe it's not!

*wince*

Nymins · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:14

Doesn't charge my iPod Touch. Neither does the one on the HD box.

tonyyeb · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:15

kylew said:
Surely trying it out would have been quicker?

Not if it killed my phone by trying it wouldn't.

PhillyDee · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:16

I know some devices need an active USB connection. PS3 pads cannot be charged with 5v alone. I have tried.

kylew · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:26

tonyyeb said:
Not if it killed my phone by trying it wouldn't.

If it's USB then it's not going to output more than 5v on the power wires. :confused:

tonyyeb · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:28

kylew said:
If it's USB then it's not going to output more than 5v on the power wires.

Yes the port is a USB port but if might not be using the USB standard for wiring/voltages etc...

kylew · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:35

tonyyeb said:
Yes the port is a USB port but if might not be using the USB standard for wiring/voltages etc...

In which case it isn't really "usb" and they wouldn't put a USB port on it that was non-standard.

If it's a USB port then it's got to abide by the USB standards.

Doohickey · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:41

tonyyeb said:
Yes the port is a USB port but if might not be using the USB standard for wiring/voltages etc...

What else is it going to use? USB is a standard in itself

tonyyeb · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:42

kylew said:
In which case it isn't really "usb" and they wouldn't put a USB port on it that was non-standard.

If it's a USB port then it's got to abide by the USB standards.

I only think manufacturers have to abide by the USB standard if they display the USB symbol.

tonyyeb · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:48

From what I have read on other forums is that some people find their make of Sky box charges some devices (phone) and not others (PS3 pad and iPod), some don't do anything with any device and some work with different devices.

So whatever the 'standard' states, these boxes adhere to different versions of it.

csmager · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:50

tonyyeb said:
So whatever the 'standard' states, these boxes adhere to different versions of it.

They don't, they're just not enabled. All that's on the USB ports is the +5V. The actual data is disabled. PS3 controllers etc require active USB ports.

tonyyeb · 17 Feb 2010 at 20:53

csmager said:
They don't, they're just not enabled. All that's on the USB ports is the +5V. The actual data is disabled. PS3 controllers etc require active USB ports.

So I guess it is a case of trial and error then.

dandos23 · 17 Feb 2010 at 22:03

You can use it to charge things up, it will output 5v and I use it regularly to charge up my phone.

PhillyDee · 18 Feb 2010 at 00:02

As said, depends on the device.
I can charge my 5800 on anything with 5v.

Apple however, are well know for only allowing you to do whatever they want you to do, oops, i mean pay for their overpriced carp.

tonyyeb · 18 Feb 2010 at 08:27

dandos23 said:
You can use it to charge things up, it will output 5v and I use it regularly to charge up my phone.

It appears that the USB ports on my Sky box are not wired up, nothing worked at all charged and the multimeter showed nothing.

Liquidfox · 19 Feb 2010 at 09:39

The ports are wired up, just i'm guessing they've been turned off in firmware.