Camera download fails when connected per USB 3.0 - Forums

Topic starter

Aug 9, 2022

Hey guys, I recently switched from the ASIair to a laptop and got it all working there too. Just sometimes, NINA fails to download images of the camera (183MM Pro) and it only starts working again after I move/replug the USB extension cable. The cables are laid like this: Camera > USB > USB hub > USB > USB extention > Laptop. If I disconnect the camera in NINA during such errors, I can´t reconnect afterwards. (EFW and EAF can still be accessed through the cameras built in USB hub though?)
But now while troubleshooting, I found that it all works perfectly fine if I plug the cable in my laptos USB 2.0 port. (it also has 2x 3.0 ports)
Now what could be the cause of it? Perhaps the USB extention cable doesn´t like it when many devices are connected via USB 3.0?
Before I buy new cables, I thought I´d ask here.
Thank you in advance!

Helpful Engaging

andrea tasselli

Frequent contributor

Aug 10, 2022

I'd be wary of using USB extensions (and also USB hubs of some kinds). I used to have all sort of issues with this lot but now I plug it stright into the USB port and all is well.

Lars Bartels

Aug 10, 2022

I guess you need a self-powered USB Hub.
Beware that USB 3.0 only supports cable length up to 3 meters.

Tommy Blomqvist

Aug 10, 2022

As already stated you should try to keep the total length of USB cable short. Long USB extensions may cause problems.
All cables should be of good quality and specified for USB 3.x.

If you are using a hub it also must be USB 3 compliant and powered as unpowered hubs often causes other problems.

Finally I should update the drivers for USB on the laptop to the latest.

And even more finally ( 😉 ) I should update the firmware on the camera.

(I"ve encountered USB problems with ZWO cameras and laptops that was solved by firmware updates)

Helpful Concise

Nicolas Köber

Topic starter

Aug 10, 2022

andrea tasselli:
I'd be wary of using USB extensions (and also USB hubs of some kinds). I used to have all sort of issues with this lot but now I plug it stright into the USB port and all is well.

That would of course be the optimal thing to do, but without a hub I won’t be able to plug 6 cables into my laptops 3 usb ports.

Lars Bartels:
I guess you need a self-powered USB Hub.
Beware that USB 3.0 only supports cable length up to 3 meters.

The USB hub is actually self-powered and doesn’t seem to be the problem. Is that USB 3.0 only works for up to 3 meters actually true? Then why do cables above 3 meters which advertise with USB 3.0 even exist?

Tommy Blomqvist:
As already stated you should try to keep the total length of USB cable short. Long USB extensions may cause problems.
All cables should be of good quality and specified for USB 3.x.

If you are using a hub it also must be USB 3 compliant and powered as unpowered hubs often causes other problems.

Finally I should update the drivers for USB on the laptop to the latest.

And even more finally ( 😉 ) I should update the firmware on the camera.

(I"ve encountered USB problems with ZWO cameras and laptops that was solved by firmware updates)

I tried to get the best cables I could find (from amazon though) and made sure that they are USB 3.x compatible.
My hub is powered and USB 3.x compliant.
I‘ll look into the USB drivers.
Is updating the firmware a different thing as to installing the latest camera drivers?

if none of this works, I will try to keep it all plugged in my USB 2.0 port. (As download speed is not too relevant in long exposure DSO photography) And if that doesn’t work in the long run, I‘m gonna place the laptop next to the rig without any long extensions..
Thanks for the advice so far!

andrea tasselli

Frequent contributor

Aug 10, 2022 · Edited: Aug 10, 2022

That would of course be the optimal thing to do, but without a hub I won’t be able to plug 6 cables into my laptops 3 usb ports.

I had to cycle through 3 USB3 hubs before actually finding the one that worked (obviously it is expensive). This isn't actually powered but works like a charm:

https://www.startech.com/en-gb/cards-adapters/st4300pbu3

or https://www.scan.co.uk/products/4-port-startechcom-portable-black-superspeed-mini-usb-30-hub-ideal-for-notebooks-ultrabooks

Chris White- Overcast Observatory

Aug 10, 2022

USB 3.0 download issue is one of the most common problem people experience with modern CMOS cameras. Unless you are lucky imaging, or collecting video, there is no practical benefit to the faster download speed of USB 3 over USB 2.

USB 2.0 is a much more stable connection and I recommend that everyone use it unless doing video. I too have experienced the USB 3 "hang" many times with many different cameras with a variety of very high quality cables.

Never once have I had the issue with USB 2. I'm using it with my IMX455 and IMX571 chips.

Helpful Concise

Bob Lockwood

Aug 10, 2022

I don't use a USB 3 camera, but I also just recently found that USB 3 cameras don't need USB 3 to work, as stated, it just speeds up the download. Going from USB 3 to USB 2 will most likely only slow the download from 1 second to maybe 2 or 3 seconds.