PDA

View Full Version : USB 3.0 power problem with portable USB monitor


domino66
09-20-2014, 10:32 PM
Looks like I'm having the exact same issue with the exact same monitor (Asus MB168+ : http://www.amazon.com/MB168B-15-6-Inch-Screen-LED-Lit-Monitor/dp/B00H0FK2A6/ref=cm_rdp_product) as users were reporting in these threads:
http://www.displaylink.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-62470.html
http://www.displaylink.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-62463.html

The monitor simply disconnects and goes to black (and I hear the Windows "device disconnected" chime) every few minutes. It *sometimes* reconnects itself, but other times I have to power it off / back on, in order to get it back. Needless to say it's completely unusable if it's going to reset every few minutes.

It appears that the problem is that my USB 3.0 port on my HP Ultrabook latop may not be supplying sufficient power. Which I find incredible, since the USB-powered Asus monitor is designed/marketed as a portable/mobile-friendly monitor powered entirely via USB 3.0...so how can it be that some 3.0 ports on mobile devices won't power it(??)...isn't the 3.0 technology supposed to be standardized?

Regardless, not sure what to do. The only "solution" offered seems to be to buy a USB 3.0 "Y" / splitter cable, and plug the monitor into TWO USB ports on my laptop...but that's not feasible for me because my laptop only HAS two ports, and one of them's in use for peripherals. (Moreover, the 2 ports are on opposite sides of the laptop, and I don't even think a Y cable would stretch).

Paging "James"(??) -- you seem to know what you're talking about on these boards...any suggestions for me? Different drivers seem to work for some people experiencing this problem, but not for others. Is there perhaps any way to TEST the power output by my 3.0 port to see if that indeed is the problem?

JamesH
09-22-2014, 10:31 AM
Hi,

Can you attach the output from this tool so I can advise? http://www.displaylink.com/support/ticket.php?id=269

Do you get this issue with 7.6 M2 software?

If it is power related then connecting the Y cable to a powered USB hub is the alternative to connecting the Y cable to the PC. I know this is far from ideal however.

Thanks,
James

domino66
09-22-2014, 06:03 PM
Hi,

Can you attach the output from this tool so I can advise? http://www.displaylink.com/support/ticket.php?id=269

Do you get this issue with 7.6 M2 software?

If it is power related then connecting the Y cable to a powered USB hub is the alternative to connecting the Y cable to the PC. I know this is far from ideal however.

Thanks,
James

OK, thanks - I will run that tool and report back with the output.
Interestingly, I tried attaching the monitor to my laptop's USB 2.0 port (it has 2.0 x 1 and 3.0 x 1 ports) figuring that it would be sure to reproduce the error since I was under the impression that 2.0 did not output the same power as 3.0, right? Strangely, I used it uninterrupted for 45 minutes without any disconnects / reconnects. Makes no sense, when the 3.0 port was so problematic. Does this strange happening help ID the issue at all? I was surprised the 2.0 port could even turn it on, let alone run it uninterrupted for 45 mins!