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Weird USB hub issues

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 10:04 am
by swingflip
Hi all!

Firsty just wanted to say thanks for everyone's input on the project and the forum, it has been an ENDLESS source of information for my project!

Unfortunately I have hit a bit of a brick wall with my project :( Like everyone else I am having issues with the bloody USB hub.

I tried using a hub I had laying around the office however I couldn't power more than one device on it. So I opted to source one of these:
http://sudomod.com/wiki/index.php?title ... SB_2.0_HUB

I plugged it all in only to find that it does/doesn't work.

Here is a bulletpoint of what is and isn't working:
  • If the Teensy LC is connected directly (No Hub) the Teensy works on boot without any fuss
  • With the Teensy LC plugged into USB Hub Port 1 and no extras. I have to disconnect and reconnect the Teensy in port 1 during Emulation Station and then it works.
  • Following the above bullet point, if I plug in extras (WiFi and Bluetooth) during Emulation Station they all work.
  • Trying the 2nd bulletpoint and then plugging in a usb keyboard causes both the Keyboard and Teensy not to work.
  • Trying the Teensy in the usb hub port 2, 3 or 4 then the teensy doesn't work. (Teensy ONLY works in port 1)
  • Similar to the Teensy, if I just try a USB keyboard it works OK. If I try only a keyboard in the usb hub, once reconnected during ES it works fine. If I then plug in the extra USB devices all work ok.
  • If I try the above bulletpoint then attempt to connect the teensy it doesn't work.
Ideally... I would have the teensy running 24/7 along with a WiFi dongle with the option to hook up a USB Keyboard

Because I have programmed my Teensy to act as a Keyboard and not a gamepad as instructed in the original tutorial. Am I having issues using the Teensy and Keyboard at the same time because I effectively have 2 keyboards plugged in?

The main issue is that I have to reconnect the devices during ES to get them working... Not really possible if I wire the Teensy directly to the hub and the hub to the pi!

Any ideas?

I don't believe it is an ampage issue as I am currently feeding 5v 2.1amps.

But I do have a 5v 3amp power supply which I can always rig up and see if that makes any difference.

Thanks in advance. (Pics attached!)

Re: Weird USB hub issues

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 12:10 pm
by Zero
Are you using an OTG usb cable? Or is that white cable just a USB extension cable. The micro b female port on the pi is an otg port (not the power one), therefore needing the OTG version to work.

Re: Weird USB hub issues

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 1:50 pm
by swingflip
Thanks for the reply. Not too sure how I could tell but it's just a micro usb to standard usb adaptor with the hub plugged into that.
https://shop.pimoroni.com/products/zero-adaptor-kit

So you think it could be a power issue? Shall I just wire the hub to the pi without the cables?

I have seen people wire the usb hub power in differently, I have my 5v and ground connected to a shared power strip. Is that sufficient enough for the hub?

Re: Weird USB hub issues

Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2016 2:29 pm
by Zero
I'm not 100% sure but I think that if you're just using a usb extension lead on a pi zero then it will only 'realise' the first port on a hub. I've been using cheap unpowered hubs in my projects via an otg cable and all ports are working and powering things fine. I tried an extention type but it wasn't working properly. Possibly the 5th bridged ground connection in the otg cable connector tells the pi to recognise the hub properly. But then I haven't used a Teensy so...
Maybe something for you to look into as I'm not an expert by any means.
Or maybe there is just a problem with your hub.

Re: Weird USB hub issues

Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:05 am
by swingflip
No luck, same issue with it hardwired in.

I wired the USB hub 5v and ground directly to the PowerBoost 1000c and wired D- and D+ to the pi.

I then wired a usb cable directly to the pads of the Teensy LC 5v,ground,D- and D+

I hooked it all up and I had the same issue. I had to reconnect the teensy to the hub for it to work and if I plugged in a keyboard aswell as the teensy it did not recognise the keyboard.

I also tried boosting the power input from 5v 2.1amps to 5v 3amps with no changes.

I have attached a wiring diagram to help show what I got wired up.

I am stumped! If I can't get this one running can someone link me to a 100% working hub available to the UK?

Thanks

Swingflip

Re: Weird USB hub issues

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 2:22 am
by swingflip
No dice then!

Can someone link me to a USB hub that 100% works which I can order from the UK?

Thanks

Re: Weird USB hub issues

Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2016 3:24 am
by Zero
From your wiring diagram it's ignoring the 4th usb pin that would otherwise be present if using an otg cable so I can't see how any mulltiple port hub will ever work the way it's currently wired regardless of which you buy.