Viewing photos from hdd on ipad via router

[NorthernCapeGirl]

I have a Huawei 683 3G router and an Ipad. I have a portable Hdd with photos that a family member sent me. I want to be able to view these photos on my ipad without actually downloading the photos on to the ipad. I downloaded filebrowser onto my ipad, but it doesn' t pick up the router or the hdd?
I have a laptop and a pc, but dad would love to be able to view the files on his ipad as his laptop is too old and cannot read the high speed hdd, and he doesn't want to borrow one of my laptops to view the pics every time.
Anything I can do?

 

[sajunky]

Do you have 2.5" USB powered hard drive, or 3.5" with its own power supply? You might have more luck with the later one. Size of the hard drive, partitioning and filesystem is important. However Huawei do not specify router's capabilities in such details. Your backup option would be to copy all pictures to the 4GB or 8GB USB stick. Higher capacities might not work.

You must also learn how to configure router to enable USB file sharing. I think router supports SAMBA, but how to access it from Apple device it is another story. You might have to resort to installing special app on iPad to access SAMBA shares.

As you see it is a complex issue. Ask question regarding accessing network resources on the Apple forum: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/forumdisplay.php/190-iPhone-and-iPad

 

[Fudzy]

I'm assuming bandwidth is an issue? If not, why not just use Flickr, Google Photos or one of the other online image services?

 

[NorthernCapeGirl]

Sajunky, the laptops are win xp and win 8 if that makes any diffs?
Fudzy, yes when you only have an MTN 2gb top up contract data is prohibitively expensive. I live on anfarm in the NC, we no longer have any Telkom lines so adsl is out of the question.

 

[sajunky]

Sajunky, the laptops are win xp and win 8 if that makes any diffs?

Not. You want to share files on USB stick plugged to the router, so it doesn't matter. I outlined possible problems on such scenario.

However if you want to share files from the laptop, then it will be easier. Easier - yes, but little bit more complicated. It works like that: install relevant app on the iPad and companion software on the PC (downloaded from developer's Web site). As long as both PC and iPad are connected to the same WiFi network, files will be seen on iPad. Which app to use I don't know, ask the question in the relevant section (link in my previous post).

 

[NorthernCapeGirl]

Sajunky, thanks. Apparently it has something to do with the specific hdd. I plugged a different hdd in, did the necessary ( samba) on laptop and files now view perfectly on filebrowser on ipad. Will just have to go put pics uncle sent on the seagate hdd.

 

[sajunky]

Thats great, the simplest solution. Just for the record, I tested Samba today on 4GB stick (formatted FAT32 as a hard drive). On iPhone I used Documents 5 by Readdle, it opened Samba share without problems. Not the best app for viewing, as it downloads picture when you click on it, additional action is required to view. However check this app, it seems to be free today and it is a quality stuff.

When using B683, side note: Check your "Settings -> Security -> ACL Settings". Disable everything from WAN and leave only neccessary services from the LAN like http&https. I would definitely disable ftp and telnet.