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  1. #1
    species8350
    Guest
    ref. data vs flash cables

    Hi,

    Is there a difference between these two types of cable.

    I thought that a USB cable was simply a cable with USB connections?

    Thanks



    See More: data cable vs flash cable




  2. #2
    Theo Markettos
    Guest

    Re: data cable vs flash cable

    species8350 <[email protected]> wrote:
    > Is there a difference between these two types of cable.
    >
    > I thought that a USB cable was simply a cable with USB connections?


    It depends on the phone. For example, Nokias may have two of three buses
    available: USB, MBUS and FBUS. USB is used for the usual file copying etc
    operations, while FBUS is a system management bus. On earlier phones FBUS
    can be used for modem data, sending SMS etc and MBUS is the system
    management bus. Typically FBUS or MBUS would be used to flash the phone as
    they have lower-level access to the hardware (you probably need a full OS
    running before it can understand USB).

    Sometimes one of these comes out on some pads under the battery. On other
    phones the USB pins can be switched to FBUS by a signal on another pin.

    Usually FBUS or MBUS are bit serial, similar to RS232. You can get
    FBUS-RS232 cables, which are basically just a voltage converter. But if you
    don't have an RS232 port, you can also get FBUS cables with a serial-USB
    converter. While they have the same connectors as a plain USB cable,
    they're driving a different bus inside.

    So in the Nokia case typically a flash cable is actually a data cable for
    another model of phone. IIRC a DKU-2 is the USB cable for an N70 while a
    DKU-5 is an FBUS cable that will unlock it as well as working as a data
    cable for a 6820. Beware that clone cables with the same part numbers are
    sometimes quite different internally.

    Theo



  3. #3
    Jon
    Guest

    Re: data cable vs flash cable

    In article <3c0df471-e9c4-43cb-8b67-
    [email protected]>, not_here.5.species8350
    @xoxy.net says...

    > Is there a difference between these two types of cable.


    Yes.

    > I thought that a USB cable was simply a cable with USB connections?


    It's a common misconception. Don't beat yourself up about it.
    --
    Regards
    Jon



  4. #4
    species8350
    Guest

    Re: data cable vs flash cable

    On Aug 22, 1:25*pm, Jon <[email protected]> wrote:
    > In article <3c0df471-e9c4-43cb-8b67-
    > [email protected]>, not_here.5.species8350
    > @xoxy.net says...
    >
    > > Is there a difference between these two types of cable.

    >
    > Yes.
    >
    > > I thought that a USB cable was simply a cable with USB connections?

    >
    > It's a common misconception. Don't beat yourself up about it.
    > --
    > Regards
    > Jon


    Jon,

    Can you give some detail.

    Thanks



  5. #5
    species8350
    Guest

    Re: data cable vs flash cable

    On Aug 23, 12:15*am, species8350 <[email protected]>
    wrote:
    > On Aug 22, 1:25*pm, Jon <[email protected]> wrote:
    >
    > > In article <3c0df471-e9c4-43cb-8b67-
    > > [email protected]>, not_here.5.species8350
    > > @xoxy.net says...

    >
    > > > Is there a difference between these two types of cable.

    >
    > > Yes.

    >
    > > > I thought that a USB cable was simply a cable with USB connections?

    >
    > > It's a common misconception. Don't beat yourself up about it.
    > > --
    > > Regards
    > > Jon

    >
    > Jon,
    >
    > Can you give some detail.
    >
    > Thanks


    Just to check my understanding.

    My phone has one USB connection. I can connect either a charger, or a
    USB cable.

    A data and flash cable may look the same, but the pin connections may
    be different.

    So I should use the correct cable depending on whether I am flashing
    the firmware, or transferring data.

    Have I got this about right?

    Thanks

    ps I also have a microsd port, but this is for a memory card. I don't
    think it has other functions



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