CQ20B causes USB Hub to Crash

[Clint]

Bizarre scenario. My CQ20B started crashing my i-Tikol 16-port USB Hub. The behavior is shown in the attached (very short) video. The “connection lights” on the hub all go out, and then the hub seems to “reboot” and light the active ports in turn. When it hits the CQ20B, the hub reboots again.

It began when I added two external monitor speakers – Mackie SRM-150s – to Out 1 and Out 2. They’re not even powered up (yet). Turned out that one of the *cables* to one of the monitors seems to cause the issue. If I swap out the cable, the issue goes away. I tested the offending cable for continuity and it is wired correctly.

Can anyone suggest an explanation for this behavior? Any known similar cases??

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[Clint]

And, by the way, the CQ20B is plugged into port 8 of the Hub – where the lights of the Hub stop activating.

[Mike C]

Something in the grounding with the monitors connected?

Try it with the monitors connected to the mixer while NOT having the monitors
plugged into any power outlets.

Try it with just that cable plugged into the mixer but NOT plugged into the monitor.

Check the cable and see if the XLR pin one is tied to the shell of the XLR connector.

[Clint]

@mikec That’s it!!

I don’t understand how this works, but (even with the monitor not powered up) unplugging it from the main power (i.e. wall outlet) immediately solved the issue.

Both cable #1 (that originally caused this issue) and cable #2 (that *appeared* to have solve the issue) are wired correctly and no pins in either cable are tied to the shell of the XLR connectors.

However, even cable #2 did not solve this issue. With cable #2, the hub no longer rebooted itself, but it did not operate correctly. It no longer showed the second MIDI interface of one of my devices. Bizarre.

** Might you have more information on “something in the grounding”?? **

I need to understand this issue – the CQ20B is destined to go on the road, and I can’t have it causing havoc in such a subtle way …

[Clint]

Issue turned out to be the cheapie PoE (Power over Ethernet) injector I was using to power my BomeBox. When I replaced the $12ish unit I got on Amazon with either power via USB Micro-B or a $60ish unit from Black Box (model LPJ001A-T-R2), all problems disappeared.

Note to self: Buy Good Gear …

[Author]

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