How to connect an endoscope camera to an Android phone

Despite the presence of small connectors such as Micro-USB and USB-C, which are rarely found on computer motherboards, smartphones can also work with common USB devices, including mice, keyboards, external hard drives and other devices that everyone who works with a PC has person.

The only condition under which full operation with adapters is possible, and not just receiving power for the battery, is the smartphone’s support for the OTG function. In many devices it is enabled by default, but if you encounter any problems activating it, this article will help you solve them. Before moving on to the main part of the text, you should take into account that the function in question is present in many, but not all gadgets - inexpensive models do not have it. And if you still don’t understand how to enable OTG on Android and how it works, then you need to read this material completely.

What is OTG on Android?

The acronym OTG comes from On-The-Go. Devices that support this technology are compatible with a large number of USB devices, including gaming wheels and gamepads. Since the ports on smartphones and different flash drives, joysticks, and mice do not match, to use this function you must first purchase an adapter.

There is also a requirement for the adapter itself. It's simple - the cable must support data transmission, not just power supply. Such devices, needed in the context of the article, are marked with the words “Data Cable” or “Data Transfer” and are inexpensive. Of course, you also need to make sure that the ports used on the phone and the connected device are compatible with those on the cable.

The reasons why phones do not have a “computer” connector are simple:

• violation of the subtlety of the device;
• high level of energy consumption;
• prompting major changes in model design.

FAQ

Which endoscope is best for a smartphone?

It is impossible to unambiguously determine the leader, but there are many worthy models on sale. Thus, the most popular are: OT-SME03, Triton 1038, JCWHCAM, LESHP USB Endoscope and others.

How to connect an endoscope camera to a computer?

The best option for connecting the camera to a PC is via USB.
Additionally, you will need to install the program on your computer from the disk that is sold complete with the endoscope. It is recommended to carry out the remaining actions in accordance with the attached instructions, since each device has its own characteristics and can be connected in different ways. There are several options for connecting an endoscope to a smartphone or tablet based on Android OS. It all depends on the camera model, but none of the methods we listed are particularly difficult. Therefore, it is recommended that the instructions given in the article be used by anyone who is dealing with an endoscope for the first time. In addition, the advice of our specialists will not be superfluous for those who already have experience working with such a tool.

How to enable OTG Android

How to find out if your smartphone supports OTG

Search on the Internet

The easiest way: search the Internet for device characteristics. They are described in most detail on aggregator platforms like Yandex.Market. Simply enter the name of the model and go to its properties page, where information regarding OTG availability will likely be provided.

Easy OTG Checker

Another option is to use the Easy OTG Checker program. With the simplicity of its interface, this utility fully justifies its name. To work with the application, just follow the following instructions:

1. Go to the application page, click “Install”;

2. Open the software after the download is complete;

3. Read the warning that the program was created for an older version of Android and close this window;

4. Connect your USB device and click the question mark icon. The result will be displayed on the screen. Everything is simple here: if a checkmark appears, OTG is present, a cross - the device is not connected or not supported.

OTG?

In the comments under the above-mentioned program, there were reviews about the incorrect definition, although the number of positive ratings is still higher. However, for greater confidence in the information, you can additionally use the OTG application, which has more than one million downloads. Do the following:

1. Find the program in the Play Market and install it. The download will take almost one second;

2. Open the application;

3. Tap “Check now!”;

4. The result will be displayed instantly. You can view detailed information by clicking “Show details” if desired.

This program has a completely different operating principle. It checks the technical features of the device, as well as the presence of the model in the list of devices with guaranteed OTG availability.

USB OTG Checker

There is another method: the also popular USB OTG Checker software. It's easy to use:

1. On the application page in the Play Market, click “Install”;

2. Launch the program;

3. Give the software access to interact with the device’s storage;

4. Tap “Check USB OTG Compatibility”;

5. See what the program produces. To see a more detailed summary, click the corresponding button and connect the device that requires OTG to your smartphone.

This program combines the methods available in the previous software. Its disadvantage is the presence of advertising, but since this utility is needed only once, you won’t have to see ads too often.

Working with a Chinese camera

Users often pay attention to endoscopes from the AliExpress website due to the low cost of goods. But Chinese models can be difficult to connect even using specialized software. This is explained by the characteristics of the specialists who take part in the development of functions and assembly of devices.

Moqo Viwe will help you connect your Android phone to a Chinese endoscope . For it to work correctly and use the camera for its intended purpose, you will need to perform a number of actions:

1. Set the maximum number of megapixels in the utility settings.
2. Set the optimal FPS number, as well as the backlight and shooting mode.
3. Disable the "Vertical Sync" option (this will help ensure smooth video recording).
4. Activate the low contrast mode (will improve color rendition).
5. Disable autoloading of the program.

Moqo Viwe has its advantages. First of all, it is worth noting that this application is completely free. it does not require subsequent authorization and takes up little space in the device memory. In addition, this software is not too energy-consuming; it practically does not consume battery power. The interface here is clear, and the functionality is well expanded. Understanding the management of such a utility will not be difficult even for beginners. Therefore, immediately after purchasing an endoscope on the AliExpress website, you can safely contact her.

In some cases, Chinese cameras also work with the applications listed above, but the developers do not provide a 100% guarantee of successful synchronization.

How to enable OTG on Android

Connecting the cable

Everything is simple here - purchase a cable that meets the mentioned requirements. Availability of data transmission and OTG support not only by the smartphone, but also by the cable itself are mandatory. Don’t forget that the ports must also match, both in terms of form factor and type (“female”, “male”).

Insert USB OTG into the corresponding connectors on both devices. Depending on the firmware, a window may appear with a choice of actions, where you need to click “OTG”, but in most cases this function starts working immediately, without additional configuration. Try connecting a mouse and check if the cursor appears on the screen (appears automatically since Android 4.x).

Selecting an application to work with

To use OTG it is not necessary to download any third-party software. It will not help to unlock On-The-Go if this feature is not provided at the hardware level. However, there are programs that are created specifically to improve the interaction of Android with peripherals connected to smartphones and tablets.

EZ File Manager

Despite the similarity of the name with ES File Manager, this is a completely different utility. The program is perfect for interacting with external hard drives connected via OTG and is available not only for regular Android, but also for Wear OS, Android TV. This is indicated in the software description in the Play Market.

Working with this utility is very easy:

1. Install the utility from Google Play;

2. Open the program after downloading is complete;

3. Grant read access to all files. For unclear reasons, here and in the next step the program is called AnExplorer, but this does not matter much;

4. Select storage from the side menu. Depending on the number of connected devices, such as flash drives and MicroSD cards, the number of buttons here will differ.

Gamepad Tester

If a gamepad is connected to your smartphone, you can find out information about it using this program:

1. Download the application;

2. Run the program until the installation is complete;

3. Go to the section of the software you are interested in to look at the available functionality.

OTG View

Using OTG, you can connect a webcam, but instead of it, the system shooting application displays the one present by default. The OTG View application, which has over 1 million downloads, corrects this shortcoming of Android:

1. Download the software from the Play Store. If it doesn't work, look how to update Play Market on Android;

2. Open the software after the download is complete;

3. Turn the device into a horizontal position (it simply does not work in a vertical position). If you are using a new version of Android, you must provide permission to film;

4. Grant access if it was requested in the previous step;

5. Review the need to provide access to work with the file system. Click "Ok" to continue working with the program;

6. In the system window that appears, click “Allow”.

Then all that remains is to connect the webcam or endoscope via USB. The image will be transmitted in high quality and with low delays.

Games

Since most users play using touch input, having a mouse and keyboard will provide a significant advantage. If the latter is not supported by all applications, then the ability to use a gamepad will definitely please every fan of mobile gaming. To connect both devices at the same time, you should look at combination products in the form of sets of wireless keyboards and mice connected via one port.

In addition, some games even support steering wheel controls. This, as is clear, is only a few races, but the very fact that such devices exist on regular phones is surprising.

USB Camera

This software is already somewhat different from all of the above, since it is focused not exclusively on endoscopes, but more on external UVC-compatible devices (web and IP cameras, video grabbers and recorders), which is why it has a very advanced mode of not only viewing, but also recordings of what is happening on the screen. The photo mode is primitive - there are no additional settings in it.

An interesting feature is the ability to connect to wireless video devices, for which there is a whole settings section. The USB Camera was created by an enthusiast with no desire to make money, so it is available completely free of charge and does not have built-in monetization tools. The only drawback of this program can only be called the lack of Russian language.

What devices can be connected via OTG on the phone?

The answer is simple: almost any. The exception applies to highly specialized gadgets for which Android simply does not have the necessary software. You should also pay attention to the fact that hard drives require a lot of power, so they may work slowly or not connect at all if the connection scenario with phones was not calculated when they were created. If this is critical, it is better to pay attention to the option in the form of SSD drives, which are superior to HDDs in speed, weight and power consumption. It may be useful to buy NAS storage for your home.

Examples of some devices available via OTG:

1. Trackballs . Mouse analogs that have regained lost popularity, despite their unusual designs, have many positive reviews, mainly regarding the ability to accurately move the pointer.
2. Vertical mice . Another rather unusual type of pointer is compatible with Android gadgets if the latest ones have OTG.
3. Gaming wheels . Such devices have already been mentioned in this article. They do not always require OTG: there are also solutions specialized for mobile gadgets, with the necessary ports and often the important ability to place the smartphone in the center of the device itself.
4. Keyboards . There is nothing unusual about them, but connecting such devices is highly recommended for users whose typing speed on physical keyboards is much higher than on virtual ones. This will also allow you to abandon the automatic correction of words, which is necessary due to frequent typos due to the small screen size.
5. Endoscopes are cameras for places where a phone cannot fit due to its dimensions. We already have an article with a detailed analysis of the types of these devices and how to connect them. It is very convenient to use endoscopes to diagnose technically complex devices: from washing machines to cars.
6. Bluetooth, Wi- Fi adapters . If problems arise with conventional wireless communication modules or they do not live up to expectations in terms of operating range and communication quality, you should pay attention to the option of purchasing these products. The situation is similar with USB modems.

AN98

This software is very similar to the above-mentioned OTG View - it is intended primarily for endoscopes, is compatible with most variants of them, and works in both photo and video modes. Like the competing app, there are options to rotate and flip the image.

The features are the same, except that there are even fewer settings, plus the picture changing functions work exclusively in photo mode. The advantages and disadvantages are similar, but the developers of AN98 did not bother to warn about incompatibility with Android 10.

Problems and solutions

There is little free space on your hard drive

Android has limits on the maximum sizes of connected media. They can only be removed by purchasing another device.

Hard drive is not detected

Set the drive to FAT32 mode rather than NTFS. To do this, you will have to format it using Windows, which will take about a minute and will lead to the complete disappearance of files previously located in the storage. It is recommended to first move them to the cloud like OneDrive or Google Drive, and then upload them back after the process is completed.