3G modem issue with iMX233-OLinuXino-MINI revision E

[artemgo]

We are having a problem with a new batch of iMX233-OLinuXino-MINI revision E.  We are using Huawei 3G modem with our units, devices are powered 5 volt through GPIO connector.  Revision D units work fine, dialer is working and devices stay online all the time.  With new units, revision E, the modem is recognized and switched to modem mode, but when dialer software starts connecting we get many errors in dmesg and after a minute or so ttyUSBs disappear, and lsusb doesn't find any devices.

Code Select Expand


[   38.360000] option1 ttyUSB0: option_instat_callback: error -108
[   38.390000] option1 ttyUSB3: option_instat_callback: error -71
[   38.490000] option1 ttyUSB0: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0
[   38.490000] option 1-1.3:1.0: device disconnected
[   38.490000] option1 ttyUSB3: option_instat_callback: error -108
[   38.510000] option1 ttyUSB3: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB3
[   38.510000] option 1-1.3:1.1: device disconnected
[   38.610000] option1 ttyUSB1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB1
[   38.610000] option 1-1.3:1.2: device disconnected
[   38.610000] option1 ttyUSB2: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB2
[   38.610000] option 1-1.3:1.3: device disconnected
[   38.650000] hub 1-1:1.0: cannot reset port 3 (err = -71)
[   38.680000] hub 1-1:1.0: cannot reset port 3 (err = -71)
[   38.710000] hub 1-1:1.0: cannot reset port 3 (err = -71)
[   38.740000] hub 1-1:1.0: cannot reset port 3 (err = -71)
[   38.770000] hub 1-1:1.0: cannot reset port 3 (err = -71)
[   38.770000] hub 1-1:1.0: Cannot enable port 3.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?


We have now ~20 units of mini revision D and maxi working fine with the modem, we have tried 3 mini E units and none of them managed to establish connection.

According to user manual there are no component changes between D and E, so how can this be? How can we get revision E to work? 
Could it be that current flow to usb device is limited somewhere? 

Does anyone know if it's possible to order a specific revision from Olimex?

[Madjidlho]

Have you tried to power the board from an external 3A or more power supply by opening the 5V_E pad and sourcing power on the 5VEXT?

The USB_HOSTs are powered with max 680ma (cumulated for the 3), try to remove U3 and strap IN and OUT , so the usb 5V comes directly from external power and is not limited to 680ma by the SY6280?

See page 20
https://www.olimex.com/Products/OLinuXino/iMX233/iMX233-OLinuXino-MINI/resources/iMX233-OLINUXINO-MINI.pdf

[Kean]

Yeah, check out (bypass) the SY6280 USB current limiter - maybe later boards use parts from a different batch/supplier (bad/fake?).
If that doesn't help, compare the ferrite beads and 100uF low ESR capacitors at the USB ports.  I've had (cheap) USB Ethernet adapters fail after a few hours due to poor capacitors at the USB port.

[artemgo]

Thank you guys for the replies!

Here's what we've tried:

- 3 Amp 5v power supply connected to +5VEXT
- On board PSU is disabled by opening 5V_E jumper (this doesn't seem to affect the problem)
- USB current limiter (U3) is bypassed by closing 5VE_E

USB power control via GPIO17 (aka PIN18) is no longer functioning as was expected.
Still the modem isn't functioning.

Board revisions E and D look identical except for board color and minor changes in silkscreen. 
Big USB capacitors look identical, other components too small to see.

dmesg for a board with modified jumpers (board revision E):

Code Select Expand


[    8.410000] systemd[1]: Expecting device dev-ttyUSB0.device...
[   31.060000] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 3
[   37.960000] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 4 using ci_hdrc
[   38.110000] usb-storage 1-1.1:1.4: USB Mass Storage device detected
[   38.290000] usb-storage 1-1.1:1.5: USB Mass Storage device detected
[   40.890000] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for generic
[   42.100000] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for GSM modem (1-port)
[   42.100000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[   42.130000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[   42.310000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB2
[   42.620000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB3
[   47.450000] option1 ttyUSB0: option_instat_callback: error -108
[   47.530000] option1 ttyUSB0: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0
[   47.540000] option1 ttyUSB3: option_instat_callback: error -108
[   47.540000] option1 ttyUSB3: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB3
[   47.600000] option1 ttyUSB1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB1
[   47.600000] option1 ttyUSB2: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB2
[   47.870000] hub 1-1:1.0: Cannot enable port 1.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[   48.060000] hub 1-1:1.0: Cannot enable port 1.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[   48.260000] hub 1-1:1.0: Cannot enable port 1.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[   48.450000] hub 1-1:1.0: Cannot enable port 1.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[   48.590000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[   48.600000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[   48.660000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB2
[   48.710000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB3
[  292.990000] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 4
[  293.040000] option1 ttyUSB0: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB0
[  293.040000] option1 ttyUSB1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB1
[  293.090000] option1 ttyUSB2: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB2
[  293.140000] option1 ttyUSB3: GSM modem (1-port) converter now disconnected from ttyUSB3
[  293.860000] usb 1-1: USB disconnect, device number 2


dmesg on a functional board without modifications (board revision D):

Code Select Expand


[    8.180000] systemd[1]: Expecting device dev-ttyUSB0.device...
[   10.310000] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 3 using ci_hdrc
[   10.460000] usb-storage 1-1.1:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[   24.190000] usb 1-1.1: USB disconnect, device number 3
[   31.050000] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 4 using ci_hdrc
[   31.290000] usb-storage 1-1.1:1.4: USB Mass Storage device detected
[   31.360000] usb-storage 1-1.1:1.5: USB Mass Storage device detected
[   35.620000] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for generic
[   36.090000] usbserial: USB Serial support registered for GSM modem (1-port)
[   36.110000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB0
[   36.120000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB1
[   36.220000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB2
[   36.530000] usb 1-1.1: GSM modem (1-port) converter now attached to ttyUSB3


dmesg for a board without U3 bypass (board revision E)

Code Select Expand


[    3.520000] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 2 using ci_hdrc
[    3.710000] hub 1-1:1.0: USB hub found
[   10.310000] usb 1-1.1: new high-speed USB device number 3 using ci_hdrc
[   10.440000] hub 1-1:1.0: Cannot enable port 1.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[   10.580000] hub 1-1:1.0: Cannot enable port 1.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[   10.780000] hub 1-1:1.0: Cannot enable port 1.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[   10.820000] systemd[1]: Expecting device dev-ttyUSB0.device...
[   10.930000] hub 1-1:1.0: Cannot enable port 1.  Maybe the USB cable is bad?
[   10.960000] hub 1-1:1.0: unable to enumerate USB device on port 1


[Madjidlho]

if you have a USB hub with external power, try to connect the hub to the board, and all your peripherals to the dongle.
If you don't have one with external power, might worth giving a try but only with the 3G dongle.