Gfilui

I've this strange problem with an air mouse of FREEWAY TECHNOLOGY on Ubuntu 16.04.

If I connect the USB key using an USB-hub the device works perfectly, if I try to connect it directly to a computer USB port I've got some errors and the device doesn't work.

Extract of the syslog WITH USB-hub

Mar 29 11:42:58 platform kernel: [ 1344.911671] usb 1-1.2.3: USB disconnect, device number 27
Mar 29 11:43:03 patform kernel: [ 1349.496675] usb 1-1.2.1: new full-speed USB device number 28 using xhci_hcd
Mar 29 11:43:03 platform kernel: [ 1349.612652] usb 1-1.2.1: New USB device found, idVendor=0c45, idProduct=5012
Mar 29 11:43:03 platform kernel: [ 1349.612656] usb 1-1.2.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Mar 29 11:43:03 platform kernel: [ 1349.612658] usb 1-1.2.1: Product: RFIC-MOUSE
Mar 29 11:43:03 platform kernel: [ 1349.612660] usb 1-1.2.1: Manufacturer: FREEWAY TECHNOLOGY
Mar 29 11:43:03 platform kernel: [ 1349.617590] input: FREEWAY TECHNOLOGY RFIC-MOUSE as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.2/1-1.2.1/1-1.2.1:1.0/0003:0C45:5012.000B/input/input21
Mar 29 11:43:03 platform kernel: [ 1349.677578] hid-generic 0003:0C45:5012.000B: input,hiddev0,hidraw1: USB HID v1.01 Keyboard [FREEWAY TECHNOLOGY RFIC-MOUSE] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1.2.1/input0
Mar 29 11:43:03 platform kernel: [ 1349.679602] input: FREEWAY TECHNOLOGY RFIC-MOUSE as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.2/1-1.2.1/1-1.2.1:1.1/0003:0C45:5012.000C/input/input22
Mar 29 11:43:03 platform kernel: [ 1349.679914] hid-generic 0003:0C45:5012.000C: input,hidraw2: USB HID v1.01 Mouse [FREEWAY TECHNOLOGY RFIC-MOUSE] on usb-0000:00:14.0-1.2.1/input1

Extract of the syslog WITHOUT USB-hub

Mar 29 11:44:49 platform kernel: [ 1455.249788] usb 1-1.2.1: USB disconnect, device number 28
Mar 29 11:44:53 platform kernel: [ 1459.716449] usb 1-2: new full-speed USB device number 29 using xhci_hcd
Mar 29 11:44:53 platform kernel: [ 1459.836614] usb 1-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
Mar 29 11:44:53 platform kernel: [ 1460.180018] usb 1-2: New USB device found, idVendor=0c45, idProduct=5012
Mar 29 11:44:53 platform kernel: [ 1460.180022] usb 1-2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Mar 29 11:44:53 platform kernel: [ 1460.180024] usb 1-2: Product: RFIC-MOUSE
Mar 29 11:44:53 platform kernel: [ 1460.180027] usb 1-2: Manufacturer: FREEWAY TECHNOLOGY
Mar 29 11:44:53 platform kernel: [ 1460.185398] input: FREEWAY TECHNOLOGY RFIC-MOUSE as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-2/1-2:1.0/0003:0C45:5012.000D/input/input23
Mar 29 11:44:53 platform kernel: [ 1460.245606] hid-generic 0003:0C45:5012.000D: input,hiddev0,hidraw1: USB HID v1.01 Keyboard [FREEWAY TECHNOLOGY RFIC-MOUSE] on usb-0000:00:14.0-2/input0
Mar 29 11:45:29 platform kernel: [ 1496.140349] usbhid 1-2:1.1: can't add hid device: -110
Mar 29 11:45:29 platform kernel: [ 1496.140374] usbhid: probe of 1-2:1.1 failed with error -110
Mar 29 11:45:29 platform kernel: [ 1496.140513] usb usb1-port2: disabled by hub (EMI?), re-enabling...
Mar 29 11:45:29 platform kernel: [ 1496.140520] usb 1-2: USB disconnect, device number 29
Mar 29 11:45:30 platform kernel: [ 1496.664363] usb 1-2: new full-speed USB device number 30 using xhci_hcd
Mar 29 11:45:35 platform kernel: [ 1501.988411] usb 1-2: device descriptor read/64, error -110
Mar 29 11:45:51 platform kernel: [ 1517.724146] usb 1-2: new low-speed USB device number 31 using xhci_hcd
Mar 29 11:45:51 platform kernel: [ 1517.844190] usb 1-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
Mar 29 11:45:51 platform kernel: [ 1518.072205] usb 1-2: device descriptor read/64, error -71
Mar 29 11:45:52 platform kernel: [ 1518.300203] usb 1-2: new full-speed USB device number 32 using xhci_hcd
Mar 29 11:45:57 platform kernel: [ 1523.532343] xhci_hcd 0000:00:14.0: Timeout while waiting for setup device command
Mar 29 11:46:02 platform kernel: [ 1528.908189] xhci_hcd 0000:00:14.0: Timeout while waiting for setup device command
Mar 29 11:46:02 platform kernel: [ 1529.116165] usb 1-2: device not accepting address 32, error -62
Mar 29 11:46:02 platform kernel: [ 1529.236316] usb 1-2: new full-speed USB device number 33 using xhci_hcd
Mar 29 11:46:08 platform kernel: [ 1534.284170] xhci_hcd 0000:00:14.0: Timeout while waiting for setup device command
Mar 29 11:46:13 platform kernel: [ 1539.660238] xhci_hcd 0000:00:14.0: Timeout while waiting for setup device command
Mar 29 11:46:13 platform kernel: [ 1539.868078] usb 1-2: device not accepting address 33, error -62
Mar 29 11:46:13 platform kernel: [ 1539.868160] usb usb1-port2: unable to enumerate USB device

uname -a

Linux platform 4.10.14-041014-generic #201705031501 SMP Wed May 3 19:03:05 UTC 2017 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Any help appreciated

Thank you

I have similar experiences also with other USB devices. The devices are not quite compatible with the system in the computer (hardware and/or software), but the hub can provide an interface, that works with both the USB device and the USB system in the computer.

My solution (maybe you would call it a workaround) is to use the hub and be happy.

If it is a very new device, and it is a software issue, maybe a newer or future version of Ubuntu will make it work without the hub.

You can try live, 'Try Ubuntu', booted from a USB pendrive or DVD disk with Ubuntu 17.10.1 and Ubuntu Bionic to be released soon (in April 2018) as Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

The USB pendrive may or may not need the hub for the computer to boot from it ;-)