USB 3.0 does not work with USB 3.0 cables

tropicdragon

So, I am using the Ubuntu 16 image supplied by Firefly, and am trying to connect a depth camera. When I connected the camera using a USB 2.0 cable everything seems to work fine, but when I try connecting using a USB 3.0 cable the computer seems to not detect the camera at all. When I tried it at first (with a USB 3.0 cable) it worked for about a minute, before the video stream just stopped and it seemed like the camera had disconnected entirely. I am wondering if any one knows a possible solution to this?

uudruid74

Likely, the system can't actually keep up with USB 3 speeds.  When you use a USB2 cable, it functions as a USB2 device.  You found your workaround!

loverpi

How much current does the device require? What is the output of `dmesg -w` when you connect the camera?

beegmouse

Most likely power issues, bandwidth issues would result in dropped frames, but the camera would still connect.
Just being devils advocate though, prove out the hardware.
Try the camera and cable on a known good system.
Test the port on the board with another high power USB3 device.
Make sure you have the best PSU possible, 5V, 2.5A.
I wish they enabled Quick Charge negotiation or a couple of pins so we weren't so close to the max power requirements.

loverpi

USB 3.0 Type A should provide only 0.9A. Most devices violate this rule and pull more than that. On regular computers with powerful power supplies and 10A connectors, this is OK. On mini computers powered through MicroUSB, this is NOT ok and there's current limiters on the USB ports to prevent the board from crashing due to voltage drop. Best to try plugging the camera to a powered USB 3.0 hub.

uudruid74

Since usb2 provides even less power than usb3, I fail to see how it can be a power issue.