Powerlinc 2413U will not connect my 2019 MacBook Pro

[Chad_NE]

Thanks in advance for any help! I’m seeing the following when attempting to connect my 2413U to Indigo.

A_Cannot Connect.jpeg (35.58 KiB) Viewed 7699 times

Here’s how I got here:

1. I was running Indigo 7.4 on MacOS Catalina 10.15.1 on a 2015 MacBook Pro. The Powerlinc 2413U was connected directly to the machine’s USB 3 port.
   
   Everything worked perfectly
   
   I just bought a 16” MacBook Pro
   
   I moved everything over by deactivating my indigo License on the old machine, copying the database folder over, and performing a fresh installation of Indigo 7.4 on MacOS 10.15.1. Finally, I pointed Indigo at the database folder with no issues
   
   Unfortunately, I cannot get to square 1, because Indigo will not connect to the Powerlinc, as shown in the dialog above

I was sad to destroy all the links I’d set up in the PowerLinc, but I did follow the PowerLinc reset procedure, and received the confirmation tone. Unfortunately, this did not help.

The Powerlinc is the only item connected to the MacBook Pro except for the power input. The new machine has all USB-C ports, so it was necessary to use an adapter. However, this is a 1 to 1 adaptor, and not a USB hub. I tried an identical adapter with no luck. I’ve also tried other USB C ports.

Note that if I click on the serial port dropdown, there are no entries:

B_No entries.jpeg (19.41 KiB) Viewed 7699 times

According to this excellent article:
https://wiki.indigodomo.com/doku.php?id ... jorVersion

If you select PowerLinc 2412U/2412S/2413U/2413S/2448 from the Interface typepopup menu in the Preferences dialog (see below), then Indigo will alert you if the driver is not installed on your Mac

I did not receive warning that the driver was not installed.

Very rarely, the dropdown for “Serial Port” looks like a valid entry:

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When I click “Save” however, Indigo’s “PowerLinc Modem” status is still red with strikethrough text:

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If I then restart the server, I see a log entry and a pop-up indicating that the Powerlinc isn’t really connected:

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Code: Select all

Interface Failure <tab> failed to establish connection with serial interface PowerLinc Modem on port usbserial-A906XMSF

The January 25th article on FTDI driver work arounds looks as helpful as it is scary : )
http://www.indigodomo.com/blog/2018/01/ ... orkaround/

Before I would try that however, I do notice that the “gory details” do not match. My problem is that I can’t even connect to the Powerlinc in the first place.

Should I try the frightening FTDI driver hack?

[jay (support)]

First, open the System Information app and select USB under the Hardware section. You should see something that looks similar to this:

grab7.png (133.27 KiB) Viewed 7691 times

If you see that line, then the Mac is seeing the PowerLinc.

If not, there are a couple of things to try: 1) Try all the built-in ports on your Mac. 2) If you have a USB 2.0 hub, try that (the 2413U sometimes has issues talking to USB3, 3) try a new USB cable (it's a standard USB printer cable).

If it sometimes shows up as present in the serial port popup but at other times it doesn't, that seems to imply that there is some kind of connectivity issue between the PowerLinc and the Mac.

[Chad_NE]

Jay,

Thank you for the immediate reply. Before I say anything else, I find the ability to view the USB device tree incredibly helpful! I had not other indication that the 2413U was detected or not. Thanks! I can clearly see that there is no entry at all for the 2413U.

Based on your comments, I am going to try every combination of cable, converters, and ports I can think of. It tried all the USB-C ports on the Mac, and on three USB hubs with no luck. I've ordered the following:

• Two different brands of USB C to USB 2 printer cables
  Another USB 2 printer cable
  Two more USB C to USB converters, also different brands

I tried to order another 2413U from your site to give you the business, as well as to benefit from your testing of every 2413U you sell. Unfortunately, they are out of stock. I grabbed one off Amazon. I will get back to you with the results. It looks like the last of these items may only arrive by Wednesday night, so I will wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.

Appreciatively,

-- Chad

[jay (support)]

I would order a USB 2.0 hub first. PowerLinc's have shown in the past that they are somewhat finicky about USB 3.0.

[Chad_NE]

Thanks so much! I tried that just now with no luck : (

Here are the recent attempts:

- New 2431U with new USB C to USB 2.0 printer cable using direct connection to MacBook Pro
- New 2431U with old USB 2.0 to USB 2.0 printer cable- Used USB C adapter to connect to MacBook Pro USB C port
- " - Connect USB 2.0 plug to Thunderbolt Monitor's USB 2.0 ports
- " - Connect USB 2.0 plug to USB 3.1 dock
- " - Connect USB 2.0 plug to USB 3.1 hub

Using the Thunderbolt monitor's USB 2.0 ports should have worked, but it didn't.

Just now, I tried connecting the new 2413U using the old USB 2.0 cable to a USB 2.0 hub which hangs off of my USB 3.1 hub.
There is no correct device tree entry:

2019-12-01_20-06-59.jpeg (43.72 KiB) Viewed 7597 times

I absolutely love Indigo, its flexibility, the support community, and the open platform. However, the weak point for Insteon seems to be Smart Home's lack of interest in updating the critical connection, the 2431U to be USB C or USB 3.1 compatible. It seems unreasonable to expect reaching an empowered person there, but I will call them this week.

My fear though is that the 2413U is stuck in April of 2000, and wants to be plugged directly into a machine with USB 2.0 ports, and not off of a hub.

Maybe this weirdness has something to do with the new MacBook Pro 16" model I have?

Would you have any other advice? I have a significant Insteon investment in $, and even larger emotional investment in Indigo : )

[Chad_NE]

Progress!

I'd begun to think these new MacBook Pro 16" machines were the death of Insteon.
I left the PowrLinc connected like so:

USB C Port on MacBook Pro -> USB 3.1 Hub -> 2000's era USB 2.0 hub -> USB 2.0 printer cable -> 2413U

After a desperate reboot, here is the device tree:

2019-12-01_20-33-04.jpeg (48.03 KiB) Viewed 7591 times

Woohoo!

Unfortunately, Indigo does not see the 2413U as far as I can tell:

2019-12-01_20-33-05.jpeg (22.42 KiB) Viewed 7591 times

I'm guessing the "usbserial-AM000210" entry is meaningless. When I choose it, Indigo still shows the strikethrough text for the PowerLinc:

2019-12-01_20-40-42.jpeg (4.91 KiB) Viewed 7591 times

Thanks in advance for any help. Still scared

[jay (support)]

That serial port is the PowerLinc (unless you have another FTDI device hooked up to your Mac). What errors do you get in the Event Log window when you disable/enable the Insteon interface?

[jay (support)]

I would also try hooking your USB2 hub up directly to your MacBook rather than going through another hub. I suspect part of the issue is the PowerLinc's sensitivity to USB configurations.

[Chad_NE]

< I would also try hooking your USB2 hub up directly to your MacBook

I had been looking, without success, for a USB 2.0 hub which plugs into a USB-C port. USB-C is all I have available to me directly on the 2019 MacBook Pro 16". Everything I saw for USB-C machines were USB 3.0 and 3.1 hubs. However, today I found three different versions! They are on the way, and I will gladly report back which work in case that is helpful to others.

< That serial port is the PowerLinc (unless you have another FTDI device hooked up to your Mac).

Not that I know of. The "Jaybird-X3 - SPPDev" entry is a little scary. That seems to be my bluetooth headset, even though it's not connected. My quick research leads me to think the "SPPDev" suffix indicates this may be a "serial port profile" for emulating a serial connection to my headset.

< What errors do you get in the Event Log window when you disable/enable the Insteon interface?

There are a slew of errors, due to the migration. However, this is the complete log from disabling to reenabling before plugins start complaining:

2019-12-02_18-30-45.jpeg (72.87 KiB) Viewed 7519 times

If this isn't readable, the key line seems to be:

Code: Select all

Interface Failure               failed to establish connection with serial interface PowerLinc Modem on port usbserial-AM00O2IO

My USB 2.0 hubs will be arriving in a couple of days. I'll write back with any news. Thank you so much for your help!

SmartHome may know that USB 2.0 dependency is not helpful. I will keep exploring there to see if I can discover any plans for a future improvement.

[jay (support)]

I believe any USB 2 hub will work, it's just a matter of getting the right USB cable (USB C on one end and whatever the hub wants, probably mini or micro USB, on the other).

[Chad_NE]

There's a new Insteon USB modem in the works which eliminates the USB and FTDI driver issues.

2019-12-04_18-05-46.jpeg (9.63 KiB) Viewed 7450 times

It promises:

• Up to 4,000 links
  Faster performance
  Improved PLC signal power levels
  Less prone to power spikes
  Backwards compatibility

You can see more here, as part of the FCC application:

https://fccid.io/SBP22342/Users-Manual/ ... al-4493784

< it's just a matter of getting the right USB cable (USB C on one end and whatever the hub wants, probably mini or micro USB, on the other).

Will do, and sorry to be taking your time on this one issue. The new hubs will arrive soon. They were delayed by heavy snow here in the North East.

Until I get this solved, I can't begin to resolve the other migration issues.... so thanks for everything. I'll let you know if any of the hubs work.

[jay (support)]

Here's hoping it actually ships. We've had multiple discussions with them about the need to use a standard modem-like UART so that the built-in modem driver is used (like the Gen 5 Z-Stick).

[mreyn2005]

Hello Jay and team,
I am having a very similar issue all of a sudden.

Indigo 7.4
Mac Mini (2018)
macOS Mojave 10.14.6
Processor 3.6 GHz Intel Core i3
Memory 16GB 2667 MHz DDR4

I've been running this current hardware setup for a little over a year. Woke up one day last week to see none of my automation was working. It appears that Indigo can no longer connect to my PowerLinc 2413U modem. Nothing in my Insteon network was added/removed/changed. No new appliances or modifications to the power system in my home.

The modem is seen by the OS just fine, I can pick the modem's serial port from the dropdown menu in Indigo when configuring the INSTEON interface.
Indigo simply says it "failed to establish connection with serial interface" (same error posted in this thread).

I've tried the following without success:
2 brand new modems (2413U)
Using a different USB port on the mac mini
Using a different USB cable (that came in the box with the new modem)
Reinstalling the latest FTDI drivers
Crying

I am out of ideas. This is extremely frustrating. Please help.

Thanks,
Matt

[jay (support)]

We're working on it offline with Chad. I'll send you an email with some debug instructions.

[mreyn2005]

I fixed my issue by removing the official FTDI drivers and using the built in FTDI drivers that come with the lastest OSX instead. Don't ask me why this happened all of a sudden, I don't have an answer (no auto updates from Apple as far as I can tell).

I found the suggested solution here:
https://superuser.com/questions/1135730 ... es-mac-osx

What seems to have worked for me is actually removing the FTDI driver (/Library/Extensions/FTDIUSBSerialDriver.kext), after finding that Apple ships an FTDI driver with the OS itself (/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBFTDI.kext).

I think having both drivers active at the same time causes a conflict, which ties up the USB port.

Matt