Seek Compact XR thermal camera not recognized by Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

[Rixter]

About 10 years ago, I bought a Seek Compact XR thermal camera when the price dropped below my "toy limit". At the time, my phone was a Samsung Galaxy S4. I loaded the Seek thermal app and all was good.
Now I have upgraded to a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, and the app doesn't recognize the camera.
I contacted Seek and they suggested a number of usb micro to usb c adapters that support OTG that should work, none of which made any difference. All I accomplished is to get my phone type added to the incompatible list.
Now, here's the wierd part... I plugged the thermal camera into the S4, and of course, it worked. I then removed it and plugged it into the S9 Plus phone and it worked there also! I've repeated this many times and it works every time. The camera can be disconnected up to about 30 seconds and it will work in the S9 Plus.
So my question is, "What is going on here?". (Almost working is more frustrating than not working at all.) Has anybody seen this and know of a workaround?

[Lord of nothing]

What connector did the cam use?

[Rixter]

"What connector did the cam use?"

Thanks for your reply...
The Seek Compact XR camera has a micro-usb male connector. The Galaxy S9 Plus has a usb-c female.
I purchased the following adapters to connect the two, looking for one that would work:

1- YCS Basics OTG Compatible USB 2.0 Type C Male To Micro B Female Adapter with Aluminium Alloy Shell

2- [3 in 1 Pack] Tronsmart USB-C to Micro USB Adapter

3- Weduda Micro USB to USB C Adapter, 3-Pack Fast Charging USB Type C to Micro USB Converter (Male to Female)

4- Adapter,Micro USB to USB C Adapter,[3Pack],by Ailun,Data Sync and Charging

[Lord of nothing]

You mean that:
https://www.handyflash.de/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/micro-usb-500x375.jpeg ?
Let me say it so I know it sucks but going from one to another Standard maybe not work.
That Smartphone think sucks a lot! I have a USB-C Camera and bought a USB-C extension Cable (one Male and one Female connector) and that not work. Why? Nobody could tell me.

Well I would say it will not work because its far from a standard.

OMG I found a Cable. I guess the will not work!
https://www.delock.de/produkte/995_USB/65578/merkmale.html

[wraper]

Probably has something to do with ID pin on micro usb or CC1, CC2 on type C (A5, B5 on following schematic).

[Klaus]

Hi, I had a problem also with my s9+ and a te-q1.
My solution is:
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B081YJBCMQ?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

or

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07M9Q8C9Q?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

and then an adapter from usb to micro usb.
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B018ACIWTK?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Important is, first to plug in the usb-c adapter in the s9+ and then the camera. When I plug it in directly it doesn't work. I think the start current is too high.

[Rixter]

I have done a little more research, and it seems there are two types of Galaxy S9 Plus, one sold in the USA and China (snapdragon-845 chipset), and the other sold globally (exynos-9810 chipset). I'm in the USA and have the snapdragon.

https://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-s9-tested-exynos-9810-vs-snapdragon-845

Also, there have been reports of FLIR 1 Gen 3, which also plugs into usb port on android phones, having compatibility issues with snapdragon 835/845 chipsets.

https://flir.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/2897/~/flir-one-for-android%2C-snapdragon-chipset-compatibility-information

So, maybe what works in Europe may not work for my phone...

Thanks for all the replies. I'll let you all know if I find anything that works.

[Mechatrommer]

me and swmbo upgraded phones a while a go, what i did is take the swmbo's S4 and made it a permanent resident next to the Seek Compact... i tried not to upgrade the OS whatsoever to avoid any incompatibility in the future... i even purchased another S4 used @ $50 for my kid, in case they dont want it, i can still make it as a backup for my now currently seek-compact-with-built-in-sp-lcd

[Rixter]

Thanks.
I tried plugging my transmart adapter into the phone first, but unfortunately it doesn't work. I think you may be lucky to have the European version of the Galaxy S9+.

[worm6666]

Can confirm solution - adapter first - camera second !

Thank You guys You saved My life

Seek Thermal PRO Camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G
SM-N981B/DS
Android 11

[jfischer70]

WORM6666
please let me know what USB adapter you are using with the seek compactpro and the Note20
jaime

[SilverSolder]

I wish the Seek Compact would work with a PC...

[badbit]

Thank you for leading me to try to plug it in a S4 right before plugging it into my S9: works like a charm!

After experimenting a little bit, the 30 seconds delay you are talking about doesn't seem to be dependent on the host OS.  I succeeded in "pre-activating" the seek (A Compact Pro, microUSB) by pluging it in an old DELL Venue PRO tablet (with micro USB OTG) running Win8. I plug it, I ear the "USB plugged" sound  and then I proceed to plugging it in the S9 through a generic male USB-C/female micro USB "OTG compatible" adapter. (it pretends to boast a 5.1k and a 51k resistor) I also succeeded once "activating" the Seek Compact pro by plugging it once, unplugging and plugging again. But it only worked once,  I then tried maybe 20 time but to no avail.
So, It seems like it's a problem with the handshake, like if the phone refused to recognize the camera as an OTG guest and power it. When the camera comes pre charged, everything is ok.
Working on a solution that doesn't involve a second phone or a tablet.
A USB-C hub, (the kind that has a USB-C male cord, a few full size USB port, a HDMI and a memory card reader) also works. The advantage is that I don't have to remove the "slightly hard-to-remove" adapter. That leads me to believe that any dumb power source, USB-C or micro USB is able to precharge the Seek compact pro. So Some USB-C adapter could, in theory work.


Stay safe.

[baldwin_008]

Why not up to a new one ?


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