Troubleshoot Quick Test for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Users

Posted by: on Feb 21, 2014

Troubleshoot Quick Test for USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Users
Post by Vihang Vasa, Photonics Enterprise in Mubmai, India If you have setup a tethered photography station and are having issues with the connection, here is a quick troubleshoot checklist. troubleshoot-usb-2-3

Steps:

  1. Use the finest quality USB 2.0/ 3.0 cables
  2. Remove the CF/SD card from the digital back/DSLR while tethering to PC or Apple computer.
  3. Use USB 2.0/3.0 repeater
  4. Try keeping the powered repeater/hub close to the camera/digital back.
  5. While using Nikon/Canon camera with COP7 (Capture One Pro 7.0) software, first – go to the preference setting of COP7, and select – Nikon or Canon respective camera system.
    • Unless this is correctly chosen the camera will not tether to the computer.
  6. Have you tested only 1 cable or multiple/different cables and found none of them are working?
    • One cable may be defective so be sure to test 2 or 3.
  7. Are you using 1 extension or trying to use multiple daisy-chained together?
    • USB 3.0 is limited to only 1 passive cable and 1 active extension.
    • USB 2.0 is limited to only 1 passive cable and 4 active extensions.
  8. Is the computer you are tethering to USB 2.0 or USB 3.0?
    • In PC the USB 2.0 port will be black in color from the inside.
    • In PC the USB 3.0 port will be blue in color from the inside.
    • You can also confirm which by checking your system preferences.
    • In Apple it is impossible to tell from the look/color of the port. You will need to look in System Info. Go to ‘Apple Menu’ (top left), then ‘About this Mac’, then ‘More Info’, then ‘USB’.
  9. Is the computer Mac or PC? Do you have the ability to test the cable on both?
  10. Are you using the USB cable/USB extension on a Digital back or with the Nikon D800?
    • Are you using the USB 3.0 cable or USB 3.0 extension?
    • First, use only the cable without the extension to check if it works.
  11. Have you tried tethering to other software besides COP7 or Lightroom?
  12. Have you tried it with other devices besides a camera? e.g. portable hard drive.
  13. Have you tried it using a powered USB hub?