USB problems are usually caused by the cable or power rather than faulty hardware.

• High-wattage cables (over 60W / Power Delivery): These USB-C cables contain an E-Marker chip. Some astronomy devices, especially older ones, don’t handle it and may not be detected at all.
• Long cable runs: Cables over 2 meters often lose voltage and signal, causing random disconnects, especially with power-hungry gear like focusers and camera coolers.
• Insufficient power: Cooled cameras, motorized focusers and filter wheels can drop out or behave erratically if the port or hub can’t supply enough current.
• Charge-only cables: These power the device but carry no data, so it never appears in the software.

How to fix it:

1. Use a standard data cable: Start with the cable supplied with the device, or a short, standard USB-A to USB-C cable rated 60W or less.
2. Keep runs short: Use cables of 1 m or less. For longer distances, place a powered USB hub near the equipment instead of using one long cable.
3. Fix power delivery: Use a powered (not bus-powered) hub, or give the device its own power supply if it has a DC input. Avoid sharing one port’s limited power across several devices.
4. Check cable health: Swap in a known-good cable, or use a USB cable tester to check wiring and E-Marker presence.