[Q] MHL Adapter Charge issues - Galaxy S 4 Accessories

I have been researching this issue for a while, but I have never found someone that posted a resolution, so I figured I would just ask it on my own. I have the galaxy s4 with a MHL adapter to hook up to TV in my car. It's great for streaming Netflix, Hulu, Sunday Ticket, etc. However, the charging on the MHL cannot keep up with the phone, even when I am not using video. I have read some people that believe it is because the phone recognizes the MHL as a USB charger instead of AC (which is what is detects when plugged directly into my car adapter) so limits the input to 500mah. I have not been able to find an app that works on the s4 to measure charge input though, so I cannot determine what exactly it is charging as.
So, has anyone been able to use their phone in MHL while maintaining the battery level so it does not die 30 minutes in? The only thing I can think of is upgrading to a MHL 2.0, which apparently has better charging, so I ordered one of those..I am not too optimistic about it though.
Thanks for all tips and suggestions!

Related

Anyone tried MHL adapter from monoprice?

Has anyone with a Revolution 3.6.13 rooted Sensation 4G (T-Mobile USA) tried this MHL adapter for $10.20 from monoprice.com and how is the quality? I'm in need of an MHL hookup but not exactly sure which to get.
pfx
Tried it on the resound, and would lose internet when connected. I keep meaning to pick up the official 15 pin HTC unit. Costs more, but you get what you pay for. If this is useless, please ignore..
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA
Yeah those are the kinds of glitches I'm hoping to avoid, as having wifi dropout while it's connected would partly defeat the purpose. I found this one also on ebay which has the HDMI cable connected, so it only requires two separate pieces/cables, though I'm not sure if using my own HDMI cable might get better results.
Be careful. For example I'm in need of one too but I don't have HDMI, only DVI.
When using MHL with DVI, you only get a picture on the screen when it updates the screen. It's black the rest of the time unless scrolling, playing a movie, live wallpapers, etc.
So I'm a little SoL.
xhigh, not sure I get the point of your post.. are you saying your tv/monitor only has DVI input? I did mention HDMI specifically in my post, not DVI, so whatever DVI issues there may be aren't an issue.
pfx
HTC Sensation / Revolution 3.6.13 via XDA app
So what is a recommended MHL adapter? Or are we really to spend $30+ on the HTC one?
Looking to be able to play videos (x264) over dlna / samba or whatever to hdmi. Preferably outputting sound through the analog jack still for now.
I took a chance on the Monoprice one, and just received it this morning.. I haven't had time to test it extensively yet, but here's my experience so far...
Pros:
I was able to connect to my 1080P hidef tv without any problems.. connected to HDMI-4, plugged the usb into the side of the tv, and was up and running in literally under 60 seconds. No reboot was needed.
Picture quality is not 100% perfect, but it's nearly so... much more than adequate for viewing movies, previewing photos from the camera, etc. Audio quality via HDMI was also extremely good.
I did *not* lose wifi while connected, as some others have reported. Wifi signal remained strong. I was able to connect via SMB and CIFS and stream music and video, though I haven't tested this extensively yet.
Cons:
I'm not sure if this is normal with MHL connectors, but while the adapter was powered via USB on the side of the tv, the 500mA coming out of the tv was not enough to provide a charge.. During the 30 minutes I played with it, there was a gradual discharge of the phone, so it's not able to keep up with the rate of discharge of the phone, though technically it should prolong the battery life since it is providing some power to the phone. (Technically, the USB power connection to the MHL is to power the HDMI signal, so maybe what I observed is perfectly normal). While plugged in via USB, Minimalistic Text showed a status of 'USB Charging' which was to be expected...
Next I tried plugging the power directly into AC and not the television's USB port.. Interestingly enough, Minimalistic Text again showed a status of 'USB Charging' even though it was plugged into mains power, so it must have something to do with the fact that the mini-USB end of the AC charger isn't being plugged directly into the phone, but through the MHL dongle instead. In any case, and also interesting, the phone was again discharging faster than it accepted charge from AC, but it seemed to be a slower discharge than when plugged into the tv's USB port...
So, all in all, given my intended use which for now is mainly going to be for previewing photos, working with some documents via bluetooth keyboard, and playing P90 and Tapout workout videos, I think it's well worth the price.
If anyone can comment on the USB charging and discharge rates on OEM MHL adapters, that would be helpful.. Is it normal that the phone discharges while connected to MHL, even though it's in a charging state? If so, then I'm more than happy with the one I got from monoprice.. If, however, OEM units do actually build charge while connected, then I might consider one down the road if I find I have more elaborate requirements than I do now...
Offtopic, can anyone recommend good affordable bluetooth keyboards for our phones?
Thanks. That definitely helps! My goal is to play hours of video through CIFS/SMB/DLNA (x264), so it sounds like power will definitely be an issue.
Is MHL/HDMI purely a clone of the phone's screen or what? Wondering if there's any apps out there that can have the phone function as a remote / file navigator, and have video output only go through hdmi.
MHL is a clone of the phone's screen, so you can use ES File Explorer to navigate your CIFS shares, touch your video file, select the appropriate viewer, and it will stream and clone to the tv..
I tried it and it works great
but, buy it in dx

SlimPort [USB to HDMI, DVI, VGA and DisplayPort]

The exciting features of the Nexus 4 just keep on coming. It seems it will support a technology called SlimPort which allows you to use the micro USB to connect the phone to a second display via HDMI, DVI, VGA and DisplayPort.
The only connector available at present is for HDMI, which also charges the device while connected. Other connectors are to be released in the future.
Info from Engadget.
EDIT: New review from AnandTech. See below:
In my Nexus 4 review, I noted that the device was the first shipping handset to include support for SlimPort via an Analogix ANX7808 SlimPort transmitter. When I wrote that review it wasn't immediately clear what advantages SlimPort offered over MHL, which has become relatively ubiquitous in the year or so since its introduction. Since then I've acquired the SlimPort microUSB to HDMI 1.4 SP1002 and VGA (D-SUB) SP2002 adapters from Analogix for testing out SlimPort on the Nexus 4.
SlimPort is a new video output standard which works over microUSB, and is effectively an MHL alternative based on the DisplayPort standard administered by VESA. SlimPort is offered both license and royalty free, and supports up to 1080p60 or 1080p30 with 3D content over HDMI 1.4 (up to 5.4 Gbps of bandwidth), in addition to support for DVI, VGA (up to 1366x768 and 720p at 60 Hz), and DisplayPort. What's different about SlimPort from a user-facing perspective is that external microUSB power is not required for the adapter to work and is instead only required for optional charging. At the same time, the adapters draw no power from the source to operate.
I've spent some time playing around with the SP1002 HDMI adapter, which I believe is based on ANX7730, and the SP2002 VGA adapter, which is likely based on ANX9832. As of this writing, the Analogix SP1002 adapter is available on Amazon for around $30 USD. I haven't seen the SP2002 available online anywhere yet, however.
When connected to the Nexus 4, the HDMI adapter rotates the UI into landscape and mirrors the display just as expected. Resolution is scaled to 1080p60 on the Nexus 4 up from the panel resolution of 1280x768, which results in some letterboxing. As expected there's no requirement to have microUSB power connected to the adapter, I tested it with and without external microUSB power, all this does is just enable charging.
I posted a video review (shot on the Samsung Galaxy Camera) demonstrating the Nexus 4 doing mirroring with the SlimPort SP1002 adapter and received a query about whether the combo enables multichannel audio over HDMI as well. I tested VLC for Android with some .MKVs I had laying around with 5.1 AAC tracks and found that VLC will decode the multichannel audio and ship it over as 5.1 PCM to my A/V Receiver, so this does work, surprisingly enough. There's no bitstreaming support as far as I can tell, however. As an aside I was able to playback a number of 720p MKVs with hardware decoding checked in VLC for Android and 5.1 audio out with no dropped frames. The Nexus 4 seems to be a passable platform if you're looking to play the occasional 720p video over HDMI — provided you have the free storage for it.
I also tested out the SP2002 microUSB SlimPort to VGA adapter, which has a longer cable and correspondingly beefier module for accommodating the D-SUB connector on the end. I tried with a Dell G2410 LCD display and XGA resolution DLP projector and saw an output resolution of VGA (640x480 at 60 Hz), which wasn't quite what I expected. The SP2002 should work just fine with 720p60 over VGA, and I know both monitors expose the proper EDID, it seems as though the Nexus 4 just defaults to this mode. Just like the HDMI adapter there's a microUSB port on the back for optional charging, though the dongle doesn't require external power to operate.
Thus far I'm fairly impressed with SlimPort. I enjoyed discrete microHDMI connections on devices when that was the norm, though finding a microHDMI to HDMI cable was always the challenge. Later MHL seemed a step in the right direction, but requiring three cables to do display mirroring seemed like a bit much. With SlimPort I think we've finally arrived at something close to ideal with the standard not requiring external power to function. It will be interesting to see how SlimPort, MHL, and Miracast adoption fare in the coming year as mirroring to a larger display is in the cards as a convergence trend for smartphones and tablets.
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Click to collapse
Charges the device while it's connected? That's awesome!
I questioned that at first as well. If you follow the link to the adapter and look at the pics you'll notice that it has a USB input. I assume this has to be connected to charge the phone. As far as I'm aware HDMI doesn't carry power.
Only TVs with built in MHL HDMI Ports provide power.
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium
I read that the adapter has to have a power source to work... I assume then that this additional micro USB input is to enable use with TV's that dont support MHL.
Nothing like this exists now? Intriguing concept.
Will this work without having the charger connected? It seems nearly identical to Samsung MHL adapters.
I bought one. It seems like the packaging said something about the micro usb port being optional if you want it to charge, but I threw that stuff away and don't have an N4 to test with.
I think the "HDTV Cable" on the SlimPort site is going to be a cable that's micro usb (SlimPort) on one side, and HDMI on the other without any power input.
I ordered one as well
Cant wait to try it
FatalityBoyZahy said:
Charges the device while it's connected? That's awesome!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As funny as that sounds, that would actually be nice. I know it's not SlimPort, but I use a Monoprice MHL-HDMI adapter currently. It requires power to work. Unfortunately, it can't negotiate high current and the phone shows USB charge mode. But with the screen active, it ends up losing 10-100ma. I haven't researched the actual micro-usb pinout to see if video uses the usb data pins or what. If somehow it doesn't, I might be able to short them out and have it go into AC charge mode.
Or maybe the better MHL adapters actually do negotiation and do charge?
Either way, hopefully the initial feedback on the N4 is good enough that I can overlook the fixed battery and storage.
ziddey said:
As funny as that sounds, that would actually be nice. I know it's not SlimPort, but I use a Monoprice MHL-HDMI adapter currently. It requires power to work. Unfortunately, it can't negotiate high current and the phone shows USB charge mode. But with the screen active, it ends up losing 10-100ma. I haven't researched the actual micro-usb pinout to see if video uses the usb data pins or what. If somehow it doesn't, I might be able to short them out and have it go into AC charge mode.
Or maybe the better MHL adapters actually do negotiation and do charge?
Either way, hopefully the initial feedback on the N4 is good enough that I can overlook the fixed battery and storage.
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Click to collapse
My MHL adapter charged my GS3 charged when watching the Avengers movie Samsung gave T-Mobile GS3 customers. It was a pretty slow charge, but prevented my battery from dying like it should have.
I think this would be a lot more appealing in dock form.
The cable+block adapters are always a bit awkward to connect up and actually use in my opinion.
Will an MHL adapter work? I was using one on my GS2 and want to know if I will be able to use it on my N4
the video on this page specifically says that no external power source is needed.
http://www.analogix.com/products/slimport.html
I tried mine yesterday
I works with no power at all
Although I must say the phone got pretty hot when watching a YouTube video
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium HD app
Just ordered one of these Slimport adapters from Amazon since my Google order has just shipped. Reasonably priced and power is optional unlike MHL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK6HttbgTaI&feature=plcp
sitnlow4life said:
I tried mine yesterday
I works with no power at all
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Click to collapse
Mine arrived from Amazon yesterday but I can't get a picture on the TV, when I plug everything in the screen on the N4 rotates to landscape and the phone loses sound, all good so far. But when I select HDMI source on the TV I just get a black screen.
This is annoying because the S3 worked perfectly with the Samsung adaptor.
p5f said:
Mine arrived from Amazon yesterday but I can't get a picture on the TV, when I plug everything in the screen on the N4 rotates to landscape and the phone loses sound, all good so far. But when I select HDMI source on the TV I just get a black screen.
This is annoying because the S3 worked perfectly with the Samsung adaptor.
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Is your TV set to the correct HDMI port?
Nexus4, Tapatalk
There are apparently 3 dongles out there being marketed with a male microusb and female hdmi output:
Can someone please provide clarity on which ones will work with the nexus 4? Specifically looking for someone to post results for example 1
1. Generic MicroUSB MHL dongle cable : these are sold on ebay and optionally have an extra female microusb on them for OTG or power. This one will NOT work on Galaxy S3 bc of pin change. Can someone report if this type works on Nexus 4? It would be the most affordable solution if so
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MHL-Micro-U...748540?pt=PDA_Accessories&hash=item1e74de5c3c
2. Samsung SGS3 MHL dongle cable: bc of samsung pin change, this cable was specifically required for SGS3. - Reported not working on Nexus 4
http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/09/galaxy-s-iii-incompatible-with-previous-mhl-dongles/
3. Slimport microUSB cable - Reported working on Nexus 4, but pricey
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009UZBLSG?tag=5336653508-20

Can anybody recommend a good mhl adapter?

Just thought I ask if anyone knows of a good quality mhl adapter to mirror to t.v.
Please let me know thanks!
ihateu said:
Just thought I ask if anyone knows of a good quality mhl adapter to mirror to t.v.
Please let me know thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The one you can buy from Samsung works. Keep your eyes open for a 50% off coupon.
you can probably get one from Monoprice.com pretty cheap. Just check to see if the microUSB end is a 5pin or 11pin. You may need to get a 5pin to 11pin adapter.
Confirmed a generic mhl adaptor will work with a 5 to 11pin adaptor. With or with out power cable. I keep a power cable on it because it drains more battery while playing
I had one that worked with my Note II and it works just fine with my note IV
So it looks like Samsung didn't mess with it this time.
I read some of the reviews for the Samsung mhl adapter ,lots of complaints about it not charging the phone fast enough and it stop working after a while. Guess I'll have to try it out thanks for the responses .
Do you need the 5 to 11 pin adapter with the Samsung mhl adapter?
I have the Samsung one and it's working great. It charges the phone enough so that the battery doesn't drain while the phone's connected. Don't get me wrong, the percentage may go up, but of course not as fast as if it were charging normally. And it certainly doesn't go down. So all in all, a worthy investment.
Sent from my SM-P600 using Tapatalk
I just ordered the MHL 3.0 HDTV Adapter from Samsung's store and I think that may be what you're looking for. Unfortunately, I can't provide any user feedback for it myself because I haven't received it yet. Probably will once I do.
I think the reason why the Samsung MHL adapter has been getting bad reviews, particularly for the Note 4, is because they're using the MHL 2.0 adapter, which supports everything from the Galaxy S5 and older.
The MHL 3.0 adapter supports higher power charging and should be able to support the Note 4's power demands, as well as display out 1440p video, something the MHL 2.0 adapter can't do.
I'll report back on the Samsung MHL 3.0 adapter after I receive it (hopefully Monday, ordered it just this morning).
I'd post a link to the adapter but I haven't posted enough to have the permission to.
Also, like previously mentioned, there is a 50% coupon code out there. Apparently you were supposed to receive this when you registered your phone. I called Samsung's store support phone number about this and they confirmed the 50% off coupon does exist and that it may have gone to my Spam folder. After I told her that I may have accidentally deleted it (I try to review my spam folder before deleting but it is HARD when you receive hundreds), she was happy to do the order for me with the 50% off over the phone. I guess YMMV but just throwing it out there because it's possible. People from New York City interested in this, your total would amount to $31.51 after tax and shipping charges (via UPS 3Day/$3.95)
Edit: If you haven't registered your Note 4 with Samsung, do it and you will receive the 50% coupon code minutes after registering it. My coworker just did it for his Note 4 and got the coupon code via email.
Have you considered getting a Chromecast? You can mirror you phone to your tv wirelessly. Best thing about it is it only costs $35.00. I've got 3 of em and use them regularly for my Note 4 and other devices I have...highly recommended
Do you need wifi in order for chromecast to work??
jdizzle316 said:
Have you considered getting a Chromecast? You can mirror you phone to your tv wirelessly. Best thing about it is it only costs $35.00. I've got 3 of em and use them regularly for my Note 4 and other devices I have...highly recommended
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
art90262 said:
Do you need wifi in order for chromecast to work??
Sent from my SM-N910V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, you need wifi, but its a really good solution, I love mine, I got 3 as well and they are very good and reliable.
KusMoG said:
I just ordered the MHL 3.0 HDTV Adapter from Samsung's store and I think that may be what you're looking for. Unfortunately, I can't provide any user feedback for it myself because I haven't received it yet. Probably will once I do.
I think the reason why the Samsung MHL adapter has been getting bad reviews, particularly for the Note 4, is because they're using the MHL 2.0 adapter, which supports everything from the Galaxy S5 and older.
The MHL 3.0 adapter supports higher power charging and should be able to support the Note 4's power demands, as well as display out 1440p video, something the MHL 2.0 adapter can't do.
I'll report back on the Samsung MHL 3.0 adapter after I receive it (hopefully Monday, ordered it just this morning).
I'd post a link to the adapter but I haven't posted enough to have the permission to.
Also, like previously mentioned, there is a 50% coupon code out there. Apparently you were supposed to receive this when you registered your phone. I called Samsung's store support phone number about this and they confirmed the 50% off coupon does exist and that it may have gone to my Spam folder. After I told her that I may have accidentally deleted it (I try to review my spam folder before deleting but it is HARD when you receive hundreds), she was happy to do the order for me with the 50% off over the phone. I guess YMMV but just throwing it out there because it's possible. People from New York City interested in this, your total would amount to $31.51 after tax and shipping charges (via UPS 3Day/$3.95)
Edit: If you haven't registered your Note 4 with Samsung, do it and you will receive the 50% coupon code minutes after registering it. My coworker just did it for his Note 4 and got the coupon code via email.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried setting up chromecast using fox fi ( I don't have a home isp ) don't think its possible to set up without wifi.looks like a hard wired connection is the way to go.
Anybody use one of those HDTV adapters that have usb, sdcard spot and power area. It looks really cool.
Okay, so I finally got the official Samsung MHL 3.0 but I had to wait til I got back from work to test it out.
*********
Only tried it briefly, and it's exactly what I expected and yet kinda floored with the results after testing several wireless mirroring with my Note 4 lately.
If you need a video out display for gaming, where input lag needs to be non-existent, accept no substitutes, the MHL 3.0 adapter does the job like it's supposed to. I tried playing Secret of Mana with it and it feels just like normal console gaming. I don't have to play mind games with myself to convince myself that it's good because it is. Press left, you move left, right there and then.
*********
EDIT: I wrote the above earlier but I need to change my opinion on that after trying the adapter for a longer period of time. There *IS* STILL lag with the MHL 3 adapter. It's much shorter lag than any wireless solution for sure though... I'm talking in the microseconds BUT it's still noticeable enough to affect your experience. This was evident to me when I was playing Sonic The Hedgehog and depended on precision input to make jumps and avoid spikes and pits. At first I thought I was just playing real bad, but when I was playing while looking at the phone's screen instead of the TV I did just fine. I think it might be a framerate issue when projected to the TV. The gameplay just feels slower, inputs feel heavier. If you have a Game mode on your TV it will definitely help this issue and does lessen the lag, but the lag is still there. That said it's playable unlike with wireless streaming, although it's really compromised gaming. I don't recommend playing this way.
I can also confirm that Samsung's MHL 3.0 adapter *WILL* power up and charge the Note 4 while gaming (and I'm using a Dualshock 4 bluetooth controller too) when used with the stock charger. No charger is included with the adapter. No HDMI cable is included with the adapter either. You'll need to supply both on your own. If your TV has a 1.0A USB port or higher, it will also be able to charge your phone. 0.5A USB ports though (on older TVs) will NOT have enough power to keep up with the Note 4.
I was worried about the width of the adapter's USB connector since I use a case for my Note 4, but I'm happy to report that it will still be able to connect without the need to remove the case. I did have to wedge it in to get a secure connection to the microUSB port but it will fit. For reference, I'm using a Tech21 Classic Mesh case.
If you want to stream video, don't want to worry about dropped signal connections, and do not mind a (what frankly feels ancient now) tethered setup, this adapter will also do the job for you. Just be careful to get the MHL 3.0 adapter and NOT the MHL 2.0 adapter. The 2.0 adapter won't be able to keep up with the Note 4's battery discharge even when it's connected to a power adapter.
Beware though, if you're powering the adapter using the TV's USB port, it will NOT keep up with the Note 4's discharge it is an old tv because it most likely has a 0.5A USB port. If you use the charger included with your phone though you will be fine. It's not fast charging but it will charge your phone.
I can post up a YouTube video a bit later or maybe tomorrow.
---------- Post added at 03:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:13 AM ----------
If you're in the market for just video streaming, like previous users suggested, the Chromecast is a pretty good bet for now. Its specs are getting long in the tooth and there's rumors of a new version coming out in the relatively near future, but it still does an admirable and versatile for cross-platforming between Android and iOS if you own both types of devices. Since the Chromecast is dependent on a wifi connection (it won't work on a wired-only environment) its reliability will vary from user to user. For example, the Chromecast uses only single band wifi- the 2.4 range. I live in an apartment with TONS of wifi connections and the 2.4 is congested enough to take a performance hit. Wifi connections perform way better on 5.0 for me. That's why I experience disconnects sometimes on the Chromecast.
For gaming, the Chromecast does an impressive job when screen mirroring, but that 0.5 to 1 second lag is still noticeable and just not good enough for action gaming. It WILL leave you frustrated if you attempt to try it, and you will play like you totally suck at the game too if it's an action game. For slower games or turn based games, it will just test your patience and tolerance lol...
Chromecast's screen mirroring for gaming still performs better than a miracast connection with a Netgear PTV2000. The lag on the Netgear was just a lot more noticeable... maybe a 1.5 to 2 second lag?
For wireless video streaming, I recommend the Chromecast over standard miracast from a miracast receiver like the PTV2000 because on apps that support Chromecast, you can sling the video over to the Chromecast and still use your phone to do other stuff, and use other apps simultaneously. It may be the closest experience you can get to Apple's AirPlay on an Android device like the Galaxy Note 4. With a standard miracast connection, it's strictly screen mirroring. You can't multitask. If you close the video player on the phone, it closes on the wireless display/TV.
If you have a reliable local wifi connection and just mainly do video streaming not gaming, I recommend a Chromecast over the MHL 3.0 adapter solution. Going wireless is just so much better than having your phone tethered to the tv.
But if you are gonna go for the official MHL 3.0 adapter remember to get the 50% discount from Samsung's store. I think that would make it the best going price out there (24.99+ tax&shipping) for the official brand adapter. I don't recommend getting it for the full $50 though. That's overpriced as hell.
With the 3.0 mhl you can mirror correct? I want to watch xbmc lol
KusMoG said:
Okay, so I finally got the official Samsung MHL 3.0 but I had to wait til I got back from work to test it out. Only tried it briefly, and it's exactly what I expected and yet kinda floored with the results after testing several wireless mirroring with my Note 4 lately.
If you need a video out display for gaming, where input lag needs to be non-existent, accept no substitutes, the MHL 3.0 adapter does the job like it's supposed to. I tried playing Secret of Mana with it and it feels just like normal console gaming. I don't have to play mind games with myself to convince myself that it's good because it is. Press left, you move left, right there and then.
I can also confirm that Samsung's MHL 3.0 adapter *WILL* power up and charge the Note 4 while gaming (and I'm using a Dualshock 4 bluetooth controller too) when used with the stock charger. No charger is included with the adapter. No HDMI cable is included with the adapter either. You'll need to supply both on your own.
I was worried about the width of the adapter's USB connector since I use a case for my Note 4, but I'm happy to report that it will still be able to connect without the need to remove the case. I did have to wedge it in to get a secure connection to the microUSB port but it will fit. For reference, I'm using a Tech21 Classic Mesh case.
With all that said, I can only wholeheartedly recommend the MHL 3.0 adapter for gaming-use only. If you want to stream video, don't want to worry about dropped signal connections, and do not mind a (what frankly feels ancient now) tethered setup, this adapter will also do the job for you. Just be careful to get the MHL 3.0 adapter and NOT the MHL 2.0 adapter. The 2.0 adapter won't be able to keep up with the Note 4's battery discharge even when it's connected to a power adapter.
Beware though, if you're powering the adapter using the TV's USB port, it will NOT keep up with the Note 4's discharge it is an old tv because it most likely has a 0.5A USB port. If you use the charger included with your phone though you will be fine. It's not fast charging but it will charge your phone.
I can post up a YouTube video a bit later or maybe tomorrow.
---------- Post added at 03:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:13 AM ----------
If you're in the market for just video streaming, like previous users suggested, the Chromecast is a pretty good bet for now. Its specs are getting long in the tooth and there's rumors of a new version coming out in the relatively near future, but it still does an admirable and versatile for cross-platforming between Android and iOS if you own both types of devices. Since the Chromecast is dependent on a wifi connection (it won't work on a wired-only environment) its reliability will vary from user to user. For example, the Chromecast uses only single band wifi- the 2.4 range. I live in an apartment with TONS of wifi connections and the 2.4 is congested enough to take a performance hit. Wifi connections perform way better on 5.0 for me. That's why I experience disconnects sometimes on the Chromecast.
For gaming, the Chromecast does an impressive job when screen mirroring, but that 0.5 to 1 second lag is still noticeable and just not good enough for action gaming. It WILL leave you frustrated if you attempt to try it, and you will play like you totally suck at the game too if it's an action game. For slower games or turn based games, it will just test your patience and tolerance lol...
Chromecast's screen mirroring for gaming still performs better than a miracast connection with a Netgear PTV2000. The lag on the Netgear was just a lot more noticeable... maybe a 1.5 to 2 second lag?
For wireless video streaming, I recommend the Chromecast over standard miracast from a miracast receiver like the PTV2000 because on apps that support Chromecast, you can sling the video over to the Chromecast and still use your phone to do other stuff, and use other apps simultaneously. It may be the closest experience you can get to Apple's AirPlay on an Android device like the Galaxy Note 4. With a standard miracast connection, it's strictly screen mirroring. You can't multitask. If you close the video player on the phone, it closes on the wireless display/TV.
If you have a reliable local wifi connection and just mainly do video streaming not gaming, I recommend a Chromecast over the MHL 3.0 adapter solution. Going wireless is just so much better than having your phone tethered to the tv.
But if you are gonna go for the official MHL 3.0 adapter remember to get the 50% discount from Samsung's store. I think that would make it the best going price out there (24.99+ tax&shipping) for the official brand adapter. I don't recommend getting it for the full $50 though. That's overpriced as hell.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude great review!
ihateu said:
With the 3.0 mhl you can mirror correct? I want to watch xbmc lol
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Yeah it can mirror. It's the only type of display out it can do. So your phone and your TV will be playing the same thing at all times. It's probably the most reliable screen mirroring option out there. But ask yourself this: Do you really want a wired solution?
For video streaming I actually prefer the Chromecast. It chokes up every now and then but the freedom of a wireless connection is so much better.
---------- Post added at 07:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:48 PM ----------
I can see where the MHL 3 adapter has its uses.
If you need a portable HDMI adapter solution for on-the-go presentations or video-out to an HDMI display, it's for you. It's more reliable than a Chromecast/Roku Stick/Fire Stick because it doesn't need wifi to work. You'll just need to supply the HDMI cable. It can also run on the phone's battery without a USB wall charger and display-out for as long as your Note 4's battery can hold.
I DON'T recommend the adapter for gaming though. It's a shame. It's so close but it just comes up short to fulfilling expectations.
In the end, for me, I DON'T think the MHL 3 adapter is worth it. Its original price is expensive and my Chromecast can do the same things wirelessly and better, and it's cheaper.
Buy a Genuine Samsung one. No doubt, that works 99% of the time.
Can confirm, just registered my phone even though I purchased it on 11/17/2014. Immediately recieved my 50% off coupon for an item less thn 50 dollars. Convienently enough, the MHL 3.0 adapter is 49.99 Out the door for $30.78. Thanks you guys for the heads up about registering. Now to find a coupon for a discount on the VR headset, lol.

MHL + Power Adapter not Charging Device

So I recently got a MHL/OTG adapter off of ebay. The HDMI out and usb ports seem to work no problem. My problem is that when connecting my charging cable to the MHL hub my device isn't getting any power. I have no indications of my battery % going up. That means if I were to stream a movie onto my TV it would work fine but I would run out of battery fast. Does this seem like there's something wrong with the MHL adapter? Is my samsung battery charger not strong enough? Any help with this is greatly appreciated. I have done a bit of research on this and found mixed answers.
Actually... That's normal... An otg adapter puts your device into "power output" mode so it can power a flashdrive or other storage device... So the input/charging mode gets turned off.
Plugging your charger into the hub helps power the external devices so they don't kill your battery so quickly...
No. MHL 3 is meant to charge in parallel. Works on mine. It charges at 700mA only though, pretty slow. You can check the current by Synapse App + Skyhigh Kernel. I think you can configure higher charging rates as well(didn't try). MHL 3 is speced for 2A current.
Yeah... MHL works that way... But the OP says it's also an "OTG hub off ebay" .... So were not just talking about a straight MHL adapter... If it's an OTG hub triggering OTG mode on the tablet... Then it won't charge and it's not suppposed to.
xmilar said:
So I recently got a MHL/OTG adapter off of ebay. The HDMI out and usb ports seem to work no problem. My problem is that when connecting my charging cable to the MHL hub my device isn't getting any power. I have no indications of my battery % going up. That means if I were to stream a movie onto my TV it would work fine but I would run out of battery fast. Does this seem like there's something wrong with the MHL adapter? Is my samsung battery charger not strong enough? Any help with this is greatly appreciated. I have done a bit of research on this and found mixed answers.
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Hi, I also have a MHL/OTG adapter like yours (MHL/OTG/Card Reader) MHL-HDMI works flawless but OTG doesn't.
A USB pendrive that works flawless with an OTG cable it doesn't recognized in the hub while MHL>HDMI it's working.
@xmilar can you please post the link to the MHL/OTG adapter you bought and while yours not charge, are MHL+OTG working simultaniusly?
Thanks!
I've looked into MHL adapters for my Tab S 10.5 and LG G3 but it would require multiple cables and if I replace either or both items and the new item uses a different MHL, I would have to spend more money. I ended up just buying a Chromecast that does the same thing and wirelessly. Best $30 I spent
Hello, I ve bought an MHL adapter, the one with usb connector to charge the tablet when using the mhl, anyway nothing is working. The tablet doesnt charge, and shows 2 times the following : HDMI Connected, then after one second HDMI disconnected, two times. On my Sony phone works with no problems. I have skyhigh kernel and stock rom.
Probably it's not MHL 3?
Sorry for the late reply, if is not MHL 3 why is it working on my Sony Z1 compact with 4.4.4 rooted also.
If the adapter works on a Sony device then its probably based on a standard micro USB connector. According to the wikipedia entry for MHL newer samsung devices use a propriety 11 pin micro USB connector for MHL. There is mention of a "tip" to adapt between 11 pin and 5 pin, perhaps you could buy one of these?

A71 5G no hdmi only with MHL adaptor

AH man what disappointment tried my USB C hub with HDMI and nothing quick google search and you need a MHL adaptor what a step back
do they even make USB C MHL adaptor adapters
takes me back to my note 3 - 4 days those adapter can't even keep phone charging while consuming power as far as I remember it was and issue back then they only charge in "USB charging" mode speed 500 ma or less
have they advance with USB C ??
https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Other-Mobile-Devices/Samsung-Galaxy-A71-5g/td-p/1348322
I do see MHL to HDMI cables on Amazon. But I am not sure if any of them work. I am personally looking for one so I can use it in the car so my kids can watch what I mirror off my A71 5g.
If anyone comes across a cable that works, please let me know. TIA
ATT-Half said:
AH man what disappointment tried my USB C hub with HDMI and nothing quick google search and you need a MHL adaptor what a step back
do they even make USB C MHL adaptor adapters
takes me back to my note 3 - 4 days those adapter can't even keep phone charging while consuming power as far as I remember it was and issue back then they only charge in "USB charging" mode speed 500 ma or less
have they advance with USB C ??
https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Other-Mobile-Devices/Samsung-Galaxy-A71-5g/td-p/1348322
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Click to collapse
You shouldn't be too surprised if you're looking for old technology and get flashbacks of your old devices, what do you expect? I remember cables was a thing on my S3..
Its 2020, not 2012, who uses wires when we can easily go wireless? Spend that money you're wanting to buy wires with on a cheap Chromecast if your TV doesn't already have it built in. You can get a used one for like under $10, $5 probably.. I can sell you my 1st gen CC, for $5 if you want..
Then look for the "cast" feature in settings and there you go. That let's you cast a video on your TV screen while you can be doing something totally different on your phone, like browsing the web or something. Now if you want to mirror your phone screen so the exact image appears on the TV, thats possible too..
This may not help the individual question, however, it may provide info for someone.
I have casted my Note 8 using a Chrome Cast and Roku. The Roku Ultra worked much better as there was no lag.
I also cast movies from my PC Windows 10 to my Smart TV via Web/Internet and that works great. Problem with Roku is that Roku does not support AVI format movies. So, I can play AVI movies from my Note 8 or PC to the TV.

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