goTenna Mesh community

Unable to open USB connection

#1

I have four goTenna Mesh devices and my target is to experiment with the public Python SDK. When I connect these devices to either Linux (Ubuntu 18.04) or to Raspberry Pi (Raspbian Buster), I cannot get the USB connection opened. I’m just getting following errors on my log (similar on both Ubuntu and Raspberry):

Jun  9 13:13:12 doghouse kernel: [533436.044665] usb 3-1: new full-speed USB device number 19 using ohci-pci
Jun  9 13:13:12 doghouse kernel: [533436.204557] usb 3-1: device descriptor read/64, error -62
Jun  9 13:13:12 doghouse kernel: [533436.500507] usb 3-1: device descriptor read/64, error -62
Jun  9 13:13:12 doghouse kernel: [533436.792506] usb 3-1: new full-speed USB device number 20 using ohci-pci
Jun  9 13:13:12 doghouse kernel: [533436.980503] usb 3-1: device descriptor read/64, error -62
Jun  9 13:13:13 doghouse kernel: [533437.276568] usb 3-1: device descriptor read/64, error -62
Jun  9 13:13:13 doghouse kernel: [533437.384559] usb usb3-port1: attempt power cycle
Jun  9 13:13:13 doghouse kernel: [533437.884677] usb 3-1: new full-speed USB device number 21 using ohci-pci
Jun  9 13:13:14 doghouse kernel: [533438.300643] usb 3-1: device not accepting address 21, error -62
Jun  9 13:13:14 doghouse kernel: [533438.484689] usb 3-1: new full-speed USB device number 22 using ohci-pci
Jun  9 13:13:14 doghouse kernel: [533438.900661] usb 3-1: device not accepting address 22, error -62
Jun  9 13:13:14 doghouse kernel: [533438.900772] usb usb3-port1: unable to enumerate USB device

The problem is the same also on Windows 10 - according to Device manager, Device Descriptor Request failed.

I have tested this with many USB cables, which work fine with e.g. Arduino devices, and with 3 of my goTenna Mesh devices. Those devices communicate well with each others and their batteries are charged. They all have 1.1.8 FW version.

Adding or removing the 77-gotenna.rules file does not make any difference here, as the USB device is not recognized at all.

How can I get the USB connection working?

#2

So you say

And then later you say

So the first suggests you can’t connect over USB to any of them, the latter that it’s just one of them. I’m guessing it’s really all four, right?

I don’t have personal experience with this (still waiting for my GTM token), but from posts in the SDK Zone section, I have the impression that the USB cable used has to be OTG. Are the cables you’re trying OTG?

–Richard

#3

Hi Richard

What do you mean by “OTG cable”? The “OTG” refers to “On-the-go”, which is used on phones (and tablets etc), but when working with PCs (or Raspberrys, which are PCs), OTG has no relevance.

The goTenna Mesh device has a “micro-USB” connector i.e. when used with PC’s, the cable has micro-B plug on the goTenna end and type-A plug on the PC end.

So the first suggests you can’t connect over USB to any of them, the latter that it’s just one of them. I’m guessing it’s really all four, right?

Not with all four, as I already installed one of them to work as repeater. But for the three of them, the behaviour is the same i.e. I can’t connect over USB.

#4

I touched base with Pete24, author of the iOS Toolkit app, creator of several demo apps using the USB SDK:

“Hi Richard,
No problem - the link between a Pi-Zero and the Gotenna needs to be a OTG cable or OTG adaptor and standard cable.”

And to a followup question:
“Hi Richard,
Yes the Pi is the OTG host.”

I was trying to help and save you some time. But if you’re still convinced “OTG has no relevance”, suit yourself. I couldn’t connect to GTM over standard USB. OTG connected first try.

–Richard

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#5

Hi Richard

Yes, with Raspberry Pi Zero, it has to be OTG, as Pi-Zero has the micro-B type connector. But with the “normal” Raspberry and with PC, they have the normal type-A connector, and they use the normal cable.

#6

You need to get the 1.1.12 firmware from goTenna. That will solve the problem of connection to a computer. I believe there is a developer version of the application that I installed on my phone to upgrade the firmware. Trying to locate the thread, will edit this when I find it.

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