[SOLVED] Weird USB behaviour on RazPi 4

Originally Posted by business_kid I got the impression the usb & keyboard are teetotally underpowered for wifi comms. I reckon if you left them as were and just moved closer, things would eventually work. That was my experience.

I think you’re onto something with the idea of USB being underpowered.

Since the keyboard is wired and the mouse was no more than 30 cm away from its USB wireless adaptor, and although that adaptor was pointing to the left and the mouse was on the right side of the Pi, so proximity in itself wasn’t a problem; as unlikely as interference seems at that small distance, maybe if I turned the Pi so the mouse and its usb adaptor were on the same side it would have worked.

Of course it’s possible that in the moving around of usb things from one port to another, and unplugging and replugging the power connector, I repositioned everything just so, et voilà.

I’m going to call it usb weirdness, and leave it at that.

So unfortunately no understanding gained, but operationally a reminder that sometimes you just have to keep trying different things and hope one or some combination makes the problem go away.

TKS

Originally Posted by TheTKS I think you’re onto something with the idea of USB being underpowered.

Well, maybe I wasn't clear. My wireless keyboard runs forever on 2xAAA batteries, and my wireless mouse runs on 1xAA bettery. For sure, THEY are under powered, and their transmissions will be minimal. Their range will be very limited. In my case, My tv sits with it's back to a window, and windows allow RF through, they don't reflect greatly. We can't make the same presumptions about their rf as we would about rf from a router.

There is a huge amount of RF interference in the modern home, especially around computers. In the room with my desktop there is the router, two computers both running bluetooth, wireless mouse/keyboard, a Google hub, chromecast audio, two guitar wireless units, often a laptop, and there is a wireless repeater for wifi in a nearby room. Plus my phone, with wifi and bluetooth enabled. Not to mention multiple TV sets, chromecasts, digital wifi-enabled photo frame, and lord knows what else. I get wifi signals from a dozen other homes nearby, and probably bluetooth signals. My car in the garage is connected to the internet, as well as my garage door opener and a security camera. There are almost 20 devices connected to the router via wifi. All that adds up to a very noisy RF spectrum, and with some weak signals there may be enough interference to prevent some from working properly. I had a wireless keyboard/mouse combo that didn't work well in my computer/music room, the mouse in particular, and the receiver had to be in just the right place, very near the mouse. Metal parts in the desk would block the signal at least partially. I bought a new Logitech combo and it works okay. Wireless is great, but it's not perfect.

Originally Posted by sgosnell There is a huge amount of RF interference in the modern home, especially around computers. In the room with my desktop there is the router, two computers both running bluetooth, wireless mouse/keyboard, a Google hub, chromecast audio, two guitar wireless units, often a laptop, and there is a wireless repeater for wifi in a nearby room. Plus my phone, with wifi and bluetooth enabled. Not to mention multiple TV sets, chromecasts, digital wifi-enabled photo frame, and lord knows what else. I get wifi signals from a dozen other homes nearby, and probably bluetooth signals. My car in the garage is connected to the internet, as well as my garage door opener and a security camera. There are almost 20 devices connected to the router via wifi. All that adds up to a very noisy RF spectrum, and with some weak signals there may be enough interference to prevent some from working properly. I had a wireless keyboard/mouse combo that didn't work well in my computer/music room, the mouse in particular, and the receiver had to be in just the right place, very near the mouse. Metal parts in the desk would block the signal at least partially. I bought a new Logitech combo and it works okay. Wireless is great, but it's not perfect.

Strewth! With all those devices, it's a wonder anything talks to anything. They'll all be politely waiting & letting something else speak .