New iMacs

thanks for the explanation. Reset didn't fix it do will order a new one.

Just tried with a 2.5 model and still doesn't work. Any other ideas?

[jay (support)]

Just tried with a 2.5 model and still doesn't work. Any other ideas?

Let's level set on what you've got and what you've tried. First, your environment:

• What is the exact Mac model
• What macOS version are you running
• What USB2 hub do you have and what else is plugged into it

Next, for each of the steps below, please let us know 1) if it shows up in the System Information app on the USB tree somewhere (as FT232R USB UART) and 2) if the driver picks it up (you can most easily do that by opening a terminal window and pasting in this command:

Code: Select all

ls -la /dev/tty.usbserial*

1. With the PowerLinc plugged directly into a USB port on your Mac
2. With the PowerLinc plugged into a USB2 hub that's plugged into your Mac

If the terminal command above returns something that looks similar to this:

Code: Select all

MightyMini-2:temp jay$ ls -la /dev/tty.usbserial*
crw-rw-rw-  1 root  wheel    9,  16 Jul 29 12:03 /dev/tty.usbserial-A700eTEj

Then does that port should show up in the Insteon config dialog. What errors do you get in the Event Log when you select that port and save?

I get this in Terminal when I try to run that command

zsh: no matches found: /dev/tty.usbserial*

[jay (support)]

Please follow all of the directions in my post and answer all questions.

iMac Pro 2017
Big Sur 11.5.2
Sabrent 4port USB 2.0 hub (HB-MCRM); nothing else connected


With the PowerLinc plugged directly into a USB port on your Mac:
-does display in System Info
-not picked up by driver

With the PowerLinc plugged into a USB2 hub that's plugged into your Mac:
-not displayed in System Info
-not picked up by driver

[jay (support)]

Did you use Migration Assistant to move to this Mac from a previous one with Indigo installed?

Here are two more things to try (running out of ideas):

1. Try a different USB cable - maybe the one you have is marginal
2. Try using a long (outdoor) extension cord to run from a plug in another room to your PowerLinc

The test with it plugged into the hub might be a clue - since it's not showing in System Information in that configuration, I wonder if that USB hub is having problems. Might want to try a different USB2 hub and also maybe a different USB cable between the Mac and the hub (and different ports on the Mac).

I don't remember how I set this Mac up but I have a feeling it was with Migration Assistant. The USB cable is the same one I've been using with the older Powerlinc on the older Mac; everything is good with that setup. Hub is brand new--just got it from Amazon. Will try the other things you listed.

I also have a Caldigit TB hub with an open USB port. With that it shows in Sys Info but the driver isn't picked up either.

Thanks!

Got it working! (sort of)
With the USB 2.0 hub plugged into a different port and the PowerLinc plugged into an extension cord, it was recognized and worked (after a computer reboot).

I then tried the PowerLinc plugged into a different outlet and it was no longer recognized. Plugged it back into the extension cord and Indigo doesn't see it.

Sys Info shows the PowerLinc and Terminal reports this
crw-rw-rw- 1 root wheel 9, 18 Sep 5 08:26 /dev/tty.usbserial-AK05Z7MT
Inidgo is showing usbserial-AK05Z7MT-port not found

update--rebooted and now Indigo shows this in the log

failed to establish connection with serial interface PowerLinc Modem on port usbserial-AK05Z7MT

it does show the serial port in the interface dialog without the not found message now though

[jay (support)]

But it does work when plugged into a different outlet using a long extension cord? That means that there is some kind of signal noise on the circuit where it wasn't working - probably enough that the PowerLinc gets confused and can't respond to Indigo because it's so busy trying to figure out how to interpret the noise. Check the signal troubleshooting guide for tips and tricks for dealing with power line signal noise.

Yes it did work with the extension cord.
I tried it in a different outlet and it didn’t work.
When I put it back to the place where it originally worked it no longer works.

This is a long shot, but I throw it out there just for a debugging step. Try turning off the Mac completely, unplug the stick, reboot the Mac and then plug the stick in *before* logging in as user.

tl;dr
I used to run Indigo on a 2017 iMac and had many problems with USB devices--most notoriously with my APC UPS using the apcupsd daemon. The only way I could get the daemon to connect was to disconnect the USB cable, reboot the Mac, plugin in the USB cable *before* logging in as a user. After much troubleshooting, I found that the issue was that MacOS was not particularly reliable at releasing its lock on the USB port, so at reboot it would consider the port locked to the old 'key' and the UPS would be identified with a new one. I'm now running Indigo on a 2012 MacBook Pro which doesn't have any USB troubles.

To be clear, I did *not* have a problem like this with the Z-Stick and all of this has *nothing* to do with Indigo.

[jay (support)]

Yes it did work with the extension cord.
I tried it in a different outlet and it didn’t work.
When I put it back to the place where it originally worked it no longer works.

Ok, that almost certainly means that the original circuit has some signal noise that's keeping it from working properly. As I stated above, you should check the signal troubleshooting guide for help with signal issues.