Hex net lights up but not detected by PC

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Fredrick Awuor

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Hello, I bought a hexnet on January 27th 2024 for one of my technicians in my shop, today it is not detected by all our laptops,even though it lights up, which makes me think it may have failed, does this qualify for a warranty repair
 
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stefdds

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standby as the work day is just starting here in the US.

You can also send a email to Support@ross-tech.com

Also be sure your laptop(s) have not had any automatic updates for spyware, etc. that may block vcds.
 
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Fredrick Awuor

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standby as the work day is just starting here in the US.

You can also send a email to Support@ross-tech.com

Also be sure your laptop(s) have not had any automatic updates for spyware, etc. that may block vcds.
thank you, my own hexnet pro and hex v2 are working okay on same pc's
 
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Shaun

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What color are the LEDs? Have you tried a different USB cable such as one that is known to work with a different interface?
 
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Fredrick Awuor

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What color are the LEDs? Have you tried a different USB cable such as one that is known to work with a different interface?
green and red,red vacates and one solid green,one blinking green remains,pc reports that the usb device has malfunctioned and isnt recognized by windows
 

Uwe

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First thing to try is a different USB cable. Any USB-A to USB-B "printer" cable can be used. Or just swap them between the two HEX-NETs.

-Uwe-
 

Fredrick Awuor

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First thing to try is a different USB cable. Any USB-A to USB-B "printer" cable can be used. Or just swap them between the two HEX-NETs.

-Uwe-
done, unfortunately all the laptops reports it as not recognized due to a malfunction, we have used our spare usb cables as well, it works ok on wifi, there is a faint burning smell coming from the HEXNET usb port!
 

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it works ok on wifi, there is a faint burning smell coming from the HEXNET usb port!
Sounds to me like the USB transceiver/drivers have been fried. As @TTT asked, was this unit connected with the vehicle on a battery charger and the PC on a charger? If so, it is quite possible that the battery charger places an ac voltage on the (-) terminal of the vehicle that is not referenced to the ground that is made by the PC and its charger. This situation results in the USB wire/circuit seeing a high current that destroys the USB transceiver and potentially damages the HEX-NET processor.

This matter needs to be handled through our Support team. The unit will have to be returned. We will honor a warranty repair on this one time.

Smoked USB can be prevented by using the WiFi or changing the battery charger or keeping the PC running on battery and not plugged in.

Should a replacement unit fry, the only course of action will be a Flat Rate Repair.

Please email Support@Ross-Tech.com and verify the serial number of the unit. Mention this thread.

In return, we will provide a Return Authorization. Upon return of your HN, we will ship a no charge replacement unit.

Regards,

Bruce
Director of Stuff @Uwe does not want to do!
 

stefdds

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Bruce

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You are in the US. This problem is very rare given the US power structure.

In Europe, and I think in Kenya, they use a 240v 3 phase system. The battery chargers may not have a reference to earth ground on the secondary of the transformer in the battery charger. This is where we think the problem lies... One would think that all the standards in Europe would force a ground on the (-) battery terminal. It does not appear to do so.

On the PC, it most definitely does.

Therein lies the difficulty. If there is a voltage between earth and the (-) of the battery, a current must flow through the diagnostic connection along the USB since it is referenced to earth. That current seems to be significant when it exists.. We have a bunch of protection in that circuit and still they fry!

The only real solution would be to make the device - our cost - about $50 more expensive... providing absolute isolation through a small transformer. The devices would have to get bigger, heavier, consume more power... on and on..

The issue shows up from time to time but is not so large as to make us add that cost to every unit we build. We lived with this matter in the previous generation of devices too.

The user can do things to prevent the problem... the easiest is to use the WiFi on a HEX-NET. The second easiest is the run the PC on battery.

Yeah I know... keeping the PC battery charged is a problem. We all forget.

So then the next best is to buy the device you listed @stefdds . That seems to do the job.
 

Fredrick Awuor

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Was a laptop on charger?
was not
Sounds to me like the USB transceiver/drivers have been fried. As @TTT asked, was this unit connected with the vehicle on a battery charger and the PC on a charger? If so, it is quite possible that the battery charger places an ac voltage on the (-) terminal of the vehicle that is not referenced to the ground that is made by the PC and its charger. This situation results in the USB wire/circuit seeing a high current that destroys the USB transceiver and potentially damages the HEX-NET processor.

This matter needs to be handled through our Support team. The unit will have to be returned. We will honor a warranty repair on this one time.

Smoked USB can be prevented by using the WiFi or changing the battery charger or keeping the PC running on battery and not plugged in.

Should a replacement unit fry, the only course of action will be a Flat Rate Repair.

Please email Support@Ross-Tech.com and verify the serial number of the unit. Mention this thread.

In return, we will provide a Return Authorization. Upon return of your HN, we will ship a no charge replacement unit.

Regards,

Bruce
Director of Stuff @Uwe does not want to do!
thank you, i got in touch with support, still waiting for the response
 

Dana

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Hi Fredrick,

I replied to that email with the RMA number in addition to the address that you will send the malfunctioning HEX-NET to get the ball rolling on the warranty replacement.
 
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