I recently bought a DJI Spark and after watching loads of videos about it I noticed something called an OTG cable, in reviews it stated that it increased flight distance and video transmission.

After buying one and using it over the past weekend I have realised that they DO NOT WORK AT ALL!!!

Image one; is a screenshot with the OTG cable plugged in.

Image two; is a screenshot with no OTG cable plugged in and only connected via the remote Wi-Fi.

As you can see image one I am getting 0 or N/A read-outs and the map isn't showing properly. Image one all the reading are showing again and the map is working properly. Also I noticed when the OTG cable is plugged in the obstacle avoidance feature disables itself.

PLEASE DO NOT BUY OR USE AN OTG CABLE! I got lucky while using mine but it could have been a lot worse.

Thanks,
Phil Jones

*you can check out and subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/PhilJones93 **
https://www.youtube.com/user/PhilJones93

**Image two; is a screenshot with the OTG cable unplugged and only connected via the remote Wi-Fi. **

**Image two all the reading are...**

sure, but hows the lag in the video when connected via OTG vs not? like, try waving your hand in front of the camera and seeing the delay.

WoW !! You discovered the wheel..
https://forum.dji.com/thread-124512-1-3.html
https://forum.dji.com/thread-121786-1-4.html
https://forum.dji.com/thread-129145-1-10.html

etc..

teknikal90 Posted at 2018-1-22 12:02
sure, but hows the lag in the video when connected via OTG vs not? like, try waving your hand in front of the camera and seeing the delay.

I find it's over a second. With my Mavic it's practically instant. The lag on the Spark is slow.

A CW Posted at 2018-1-22 12:08
I find it's over a second. With my Mavic it's practically instant. The lag on the Spark is slow.

with the OTG cable, it's also practically instant

If it’s any consolation, it is a known issue, and they say it’s being worked, but in the meantime, it’s recommended not to use OTG.

teknikal90 Posted at 2018-1-22 12:15
with the OTG cable, it's also practically instant

I know - but isn't there a big issue that they are not supported at present?

Same problem, otg cable dont give me info, battery or GPS, spark with android 7.0   

OTG isn't supported, never was. It was an accident that it worked to begin with. The last I've read from the DJI folks is that there's currently no plan to make it work.

Please perform a "Search" on OTG.... there are numerous threads on the topic with endless opinions offered on whether it's an abandoned option, intentional throttling, or alien invasion.

Sometimes it really helps to take the time reading at bit across this wonderful forum ;-)

FatherXmas Posted at 2018-1-22 13:41
OTG isn't supported, never was. It was an accident that it worked to begin with. The last I've read from the DJI folks is that there's currently no plan to make it work.

where did you read that? I thought DJI engineers are working on it?

web_parrot Posted at 2018-1-22 13:55
Please perform a "Search" on OTG.... there are numerous threads on the topic with endless opinions offered on whether it's an abandoned option, intentional throttling, or alien invasion.

Definitely the third of those options. It's just common sense

There are some very rude comments as a reply to my post...it was a simple mistake to use an OTG cable and reading isn't my strong point I prefer videos to reading...Thanks for the tips and advice though, I hope my post helps other people that may be starting off like myself.

teknikal90 Posted at 2018-1-22 14:22
where did you read that? I thought DJI engineers are working on it?

Search for OTG on this forum, many many threads about it with comments from the DJI admins.

FatherXmas Posted at 2018-1-22 15:19
Search for OTG on this forum, many many threads about it with comments from the DJI admins.

they all seem to say 'OTG is not fully tested. our engineers are working on it.'

teknikal90 Posted at 2018-1-22 16:08
they all seem to say 'OTG is not fully tested. our engineers are working on it.'

May be recent replies then, I admit I've pretty much stopped reading most of the OTG threads.

Hello, I bought an OTG cable for my Spark, and with the lastest version of DJI GO 4 (4.1.22) the screen was the same as the OP's first image. I read through another posts and I downgraded the app to 4.1.14, and now it works perfectly, I have all the information (batt, sats, telemetry, moving map, flight path), and it detects when takeoff and landing. You can find the installer in apkmirror website (dji.go.v4_4.1.14-1027326_minAPI19(armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk).
Hope this helps.
Regards,

rushiano Posted at 2018-1-22 17:44
Hello, I bought an OTG cable for my Spark, and with the lastest version of DJI GO 4 (4.1.22) the screen was the same as the OP's first image. I read through another posts and I downgraded the app to 4.1.14, and now it works perfectly, I have all the information (batt, sats, telemetry, moving map, flight path), and it detects when takeoff and landing. You can find the installer in apkmirror website (dji.go.v4_4.1.14-1027326_minAPI19(armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk).
Hope this helps.
Regards,

PS: I have a Moto Z Play and I can't use it via WiFi, it's very unstable, I lose the signal all the time (but the connection between RC and aircraft is stable). Curiously, if I connect my phone directly to the aircraft, it works fine (but why having an RC and not being able to use it?). So the OTG was my last hope, and luckily it works for me.

It’s sad that we have to go though this again and again. I really hope that they are working on it.

fans24d1276b Posted at 2018-1-22 18:17
It’s sad that we have to go though this again and again. I really hope that they are working on it.

yea! for the new one.

Sir, please use wifi connection instead. OTG cable is not fully tested. Thanks for your understanding.

DJI Elektra Posted at 2018-1-27 01:35
Sir, please use wifi connection instead. OTG cable is not fully tested. Thanks for your understanding.

Hello. What you write is right, but we should know if DJI will soon be able to connect the spark via OTG. At the moment I would not advise anyone to buy it because it is too important to have an image without delays on the Android smartphone, especially for security reasons. Please tell your managers again.

But I need OTG for spark and goggles. Also it is nice to connect usb sticks to phone or a go mic or other stuff :-) for use with spark remte we have to wait until dji supports it.

Even a video of DJI is using a OTG cable with the spark. So what are you guys talking about? It IS supported and it IS working:

humpataa Posted at 2018-1-27 09:16
Even a video of DJI is using a OTG cable with the spark. So what are you guys talking about? It IS supported and it IS working:
https://youtu.be/mo1ki0_SfF4?t=1m5s

Of course OTG works (with app 4.1.15), only DJI has decided to ban it from business interests..

I am to the latest software released and OTG works fine for me. I have often tried WIFI but almost always I get frustrated. OTG is the way to go for me.

I have thought OTG cables did something good for the spark. But after flying with it, I realized that it is not supported at all, the craft disconnects occasionally when not connected to RC wifi.

Well, at least DJI got it right the first time with the Mavic Air RC and smartphone/tablet. It uses "enhanced" wifi and a cable between RC and phone/tablet.

The good news is, with the latest firmware and app (iOS - I have no idea about Android) OTG works great. The app remembers all of your settings now plus all of the telemetry is working.

Inaccurate information.  I use OTG cable all the time and its very stable.  It doesnt increase distance or connectivity to Spark.  Only to the RC.

Depends on the cable. I have OTG adapter (micro-usb -> usb) and then i use the charging cable of my phone and works perfectly (latest firmware/app version).
Be carefull some phones/tablets do not support OTG.

WTH? I just bought my first Spark Dec.5th 2018. I can't get OTG cable to work at all, THE FUNNY THING is that the cable CAME IN THE BOX WITH THE SPARK FROM DJI!

Why are they including cable with purchase if it isn't supported?

Arcicorsa Posted at 1-27 09:55
Of course OTG works (with app 4.1.15), only DJI has decided to ban it from business interests..

Here's what I don't get. I just bought my first Spark, and TWO OTG cables were included in box. One for micro-usb and one for USB-C, but I can't get it to work with my Galaxy S8

It worked very well the last time I tried it and I built my own OTC cable. Latest firmware and app.

From where I'm from, temps is hot. OTG cable helps with getting less heat as my device doesn't use WIFI to connect. I get bad feed in the afternoon on just WiFi.

djiuser_WFFMwgC8K3PU Posted at 12-10 13:26
Why are they including cable with purchase if it isn't supported?

The cables that are included are not meant for that, one is for connecting the drone to the pc, and the other is for charging the RC through USB.

Wow.  Thanks for this conversation.  Very enlightening.  I've had the Spark for a month now.  I had figured the cables were to connect the RC to an Android phone.  I have an iPhone 6 that works fine on WiFi.  But with WiFi on all the time the phone battery gets drained quickly.  I have a new battery in the phone, but still see a drop on only a 15 minute flight.  My thought was to use an OTG cable to connect the RC and iPhone. That would keep WiFi from draining the phone battery..  But one, I cannot find one and two, sounds like a bad idea anyway.  Thanks for all the info.