Or an easy way to download a small APK directly from the PSV, whichever you know how to do lol

I set up the hotspot on my phone, connect the PSV to it, open VitaShell and launch the FTP server; I use Amaze file manager to set up the FTP client and correctly input the PSV FTP server's IP and port... and nothing, can't connect to it. I've also tried different FTP clients, still nothing.

It would be much easier if I could download the file directly from the PSV, but it's a VPK and I don't have that plugin to download any files regardless of extension; I also tried uploading the file, with an edited extension (.mp4), to several free file hosting sites, but because of the old browser on the PSV I usually get stuck just before I get to it

Any help?

edit: remembered something similar happened months ago, the issue was, and is, me using a VPN. If I disable it, I can connect to the FTP. I still can't move files, or see any folders on the PSV, though

  • Painfinity@lemm.ee
    ·
    7 months ago

    Have no fear, Lemmy is here!.....gotta work on that. Anyways, hope I'm not too late, but I had your exact same issues and got 'em fixed in 2 minutes. Here it goes:  

    1. The VPN thing has something to do with some weird shenanigans on Android. At least for me, whenever I connect to a VPN and turn the Android setting "Block connections without VPN" to on, any local connection won't work, even though you're not really connecting to the internet per se but just to your local hotspot or network, it just won't accept anything that isn't reporting back to your VPN provider first. And this includes any FTP connections, since as far as my understanding goes it has to be some sort of a local connection as it only works when you're connected to the same network or hotspot. So, if you want to use FTP or really connect locally to anything while not having to turn off your VPN, just switch the above setting in your Android to off and it should work.

    2. Setting up an FTP connection: I downloaded Amaze and tried connecting my Android with my PS Vita, but it doesn't matter what I tried it just wouldn't connect or show any files and folders. I'd recommend simply switching file manager. I used MiXplorer, then tried the same thing that I did on Amaze and it worked. Simply click on the "+" symbol on the taskbar below, then "Storage", then "FTP(S,ES)". Under URI address, input the IP of your VitaShell FTP server without the colon and the port. Under display name, put FTP PS Vita or whatever name you like. Lastly, under "port=", simply add the port number (e.g. 1337). Leave everything else as is, then press save, and it should work. MiXplorer isn't open-source like Amaze, but it's completely free, developed by trusted developers in the XDA-community, and is insanely powerful.

    3. Setting up an FTP connection with a hotspot (and without an internet connection): Same thing as above, the IP will probably be different than when you're connecting to your WiFi router at home since VitaShell will give you a different IP for every network. So don't use the same FTP MiXplorer profile for your home WiFi and your hotspot, or you won't be able to see any files on your PS Vita. Just press on the "+" in MiXplorer, name it "PS Vita FTP Hotspot" or whatever you like, change the IP to the one that VitaShell gives you and you're good to go :)  

    Hope this helps!

    Edit: typo.

    • BillionsMustSeed@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      ·
      7 months ago

      Nope, haven't managed to FTP yet, so you're not late. I had just given up until next week when I get to my PC lol

      1. That makes sense, somewhat. It's a connection and it doesn't go through the VPN, so it gets blocked. A bit too literal of a setting though haha

      2. Yeah, I digged a bit more and found other reports of people managing to FTP by using MiX. Since it's not open source I wanted to try and fix it wihout it, but yeah doesn't look like it's possible

      3. This part was already clear, but thanks anyway!

      I'll try MiX as soon as I can, thank you!

      • Painfinity@lemm.ee
        ·
        7 months ago

        Sorry if I've overexplained some stuff, I wanted to cover as many failure points as possible since my dumbass needs everything explained step by step :P

        Anyways, I've figured out a simple and open-source way to move files in seconds, with and without internet:

        • I tried every open-source file manager on fdroid that isn't older than 2 years and doesn't look like it was made in 1997, but none worked. So I made the only sensible choice and reversed the roles, transforming my PS Vita into a client and my Android phone into a server! I even tested it with a mobile hotspot and it worked like a charm. Here's how:

          1. Download Material Files (on f-droid or github) or really any ftp server app on f-droid. Material Files is open-source, looks awesome and I'd switch to it if it were able to connect to more remote storages. Hopefully in the future.
          2. Download vita-ezremote-client on your PS Vita. It's on github, but you can find it on the VitaDB Downloader app or the EasyVPK app on your PS Vita as well. It can do FTP and even WebDAV is supported.
          3. Start the ftp server on your phone. With Material Files Amaze, just open the sidebar, press on FTP Server and start it. If you activate "Anonymous login" it won't find the server so leave it off. Remember that this way Material Files forces you to have a username (the default being "admin"), and to remember this username when setting up the client on your PSV. Deactivate "Secure Connection", and under Login, deactivate "Anonymous" and input a username of your choice (e.g. admin).
          4. On your PSV, open ezRemote, input the entire URL (minus the "admin@" part if you use Material Files). So for example: ftp://178.149.5.649:2121/
          5. Input your username you picked in step 3, connect, and you'll see both your PSV and Android phone files on one screen. Square to select, triangle to open the options for your selected file(s), "Download" or "Upload" simply means moving the files to the other device.
          6. Next time you do this, it's just one click on the PS Vita and your phone respectively :)

        Happy moving and have fun with your PC next week!

        Edit: Did I already mention that I'm a dumbass? Just keep using Amaze, it has a FTP server built-in! + grammar.

        • BillionsMustSeed@lemmy.dbzer0.com
          ·
          7 months ago

          Reversing the roles is also a smart move! Unfortunately I don't have either of those apps on my PSV, and downloading a vpk doesn't work (I think because I'm missing the plugin that allows you to download all file extensions), so I think this won't work for me!

          Hopefully, though, when someone searches the web for Vita FTP in the future, they'll find your answer and solve their problems!

          Thanks again!

          • Painfinity@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            ·
            7 months ago

            Ahaha no worries, it was a nice run....

            .....is what I would have said, but you underestimated the fact that I have no life whatsoever and am crying over my desk everyday!! And thanks to that I present the end-all solution version 3.0. Enter: Ghost Commander (f-droid).

            • Remember when I said that I looked at every open-source file manager that doesn't look like it was made in 1997? Well, Ghost Commander is a dual panel file manager with an old-school look, so imo it takes a minute getting used to it, but immediately upon opening it for the first time you'll be able to press on "FTP site" to connect to an FTP server. Under "Server", you have to input both your IP and port in this format: 178.149.5.649:2121

            • Then leave everything as is, press OK, and if you've deactivated that pesky VPN setting you should see your PS Vita folders on your Android phone. Here's a screenshot of how it looks on my end after changing panel view. That's all there is to it. It looks a bit clunky, but drastic times call for desperate measures, and it works!

            Jokes aside, you're gonna get access to your PC in a week so you're soon gonna be able to solve this in one way or another. But you'll probably still have to move files to your PSV while on the move, and I couldn't believe there wasn't a fully open-source solution to do this, so I'm gonna post it anyways :P

            • BillionsMustSeed@lemmy.dbzer0.com
              ·
              7 months ago

              Haha, that's really helpful, thanks! You went the extra extra mile! I swear I did try Ghost Commander the last time I had to FTP from phone to PSV and it didn't work... guess I found out about the VPN issue after exploring other apps and then forgot to try Ghost Commander without VPN.

              Thanks again, really appreciate it!

              edit: so, I tried Ghost Commander like you suggested, but I still couldn't access the FTP. What I did to make it work, though, was to simply disconnect my phone from cellular data, turn off VPN (and untoggle "always on VPN" and "block connections without VPN") and then turn on hotspot. This did the trick and I managed to finally use FTP. Haven't tried Amaze, but I have no reason to think it doesn't work this way.

              Must be some weird shenanigans going on between my ROM/VPN/file manager combo. In future I'll just remember to basically do FTP offline without VPN!

              Thanks though!

              • Painfinity@lemmy.dbzer0.com
                ·
                7 months ago

                Nice, I'm glad you managed to make it work your way! For my part I'll be on the lookout for that "always on VPN" setting next time I set up something network-related, that might have been the cause of some unexplained troubleshooting sessions in the past.

                Btw, after reading your post I gave Amaze another shot, but regardless of what I tried, with and without VPN, anonymous mode on/off and all that jazz, the PSV folders simply wouldn't appear. So just a heads-up, I don't really know what's going on there.

                Edit: typo.

                • BillionsMustSeed@lemmy.dbzer0.com
                  ·
                  7 months ago

                  I got curious and tried Amaze again as well, no luck on my side either: I can connect to the server but it doesn't actually show the various directories. Must be some bug or incompatibility between the two, considering it hasn't been updated in a very long time.

                  Looks like Ghost Commander is the only working FOSS option, after all; really, never judge a book by its cover haha

                  Thanks again!