Low power usb ports?

nigelmercier said:
I think most of us assumed that there is only one USB port, you appear to think otherwise. Having re-read the OP, I'm not sure.
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Perhaps., on many laptops /netbooks the internal USB circuit is actually a USB hub. Connect this to an external hub and in most cases you have no problem. However when you start connecting true serial devices this way you often get issues with devices not being recognised.
 
alisdair4 said:
Getting back on track, sort of! The netbook I am using has 3 USB ports, I am trying to use one, via a 4 port hub , to connect AIS, GPS, NAVTEX and the Seapro dongle.
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IMO it is almost certainly a configuration issue and not a power supply issue . Can you get each device working on its own via the hub?

I would suspect and isolate the dangle first often these are the cause but not always.

Is the PC connected to the Internet? If so try manually and individually updating each devices driver from Device Manager.
 
alisdair4 said:
Temptress,
I have had all 3 devices working separately. I haven't tried to do this without the dongle, as I have needed this to run Seapro
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Try without the dongle. I know you need it but first you need to understand what the problem is. Remove the hub and then delete it and it's drivers from Device Manager. Then do the same for each device and reboot. Please make sure you have an Internet connection and plug each device in on its own get each one working including the dongle and set the USB/serial to a different fixed com port then each then try connecting them together again.

Nigel's suggestion to try the other ports is a good one. That will help isolate what is going on.

Also do you know the USB versions of the ports on the laptop? I have a Toshiba here that has USB 3 and USB 1 ports. You should be able to get this working but it may be quite fiddly tracking down the root caus.
 
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alisdair4 said:
Getting back on track, sort of! The netbook I am using has 3 USB ports, I am trying to use one, via a 4 port hub , to connect AIS, GPS, NAVTEX and the Seapro dongle.
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I did some thing similar on my boat last month with AIS GPS mouse NMEA from my Simrad instruments plus keyboard wireless link.

I used Navmonpc to check the data stream from the various inputs this also allowed you to change the ports and speeds.

I has AIS and instruments via RS232/usb converters into 4 port hub but found the usb GPS mouse needed its own usb port

I then uesd Navmonpc to feed the data into OpenCPN (no dongle needed) but you could use what ever nev system you like
 
The reason for only using one port is to keep the cables going into the laptop above the chart table to a minimum (the single cable to the hub allows me to keep all of the clutter inside the table. The ports are USB 2.0, BTW.
nigelmercier said:
Any reason you are not using the others? Pick the ones that take power, and spread them over the other ports.
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alisdair4 said:
The reason for only using one port is to keep the cables going into the laptop above the chart table to a minimum (the single cable to the hub allows me to keep all of the clutter inside the table. The ports are USB 2.0, BTW.
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Try using the ports on the laptop to see if that works. Also what are the makes of Serial/USB converters?

If they work individually through the hub and together via the laptop ports then I would like suspect the hub driver. It is a matter of trying each possible combination to understand what is and what is not working.

Have you tried my earlier suggestion to delete all the drivers from the laptop and force Windows to reinstall them individually? I would start there as this may sort out whatever configuration conflicts you have.

It's all rather frustrating I know that is why many people opt for dedicated devices and let the manufacturer sort out the interfaces.
 
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Temptress,

I have tried deleting all of the USB drivers and reinstalling. Interestingly, the hub is currently happily running a number of other peripherals, so I think your(?) point about deleting the drivers may have been on the money. I haven't got the convertors to hand, but I will check later.
I agree about the frustration levels - but there is a fair amount of "sunk costs" in kit already bought, so I am loth to ditch it and start again. (thus confirming a national stereotype!)
 
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