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User profile for user: PavelVK
PavelVK Author
User level: Level 1
15 points

Apple Watch Would Not Unlock 2019 Mac Pro USB-C / Thunderbolt-3 Issues

I hope it will help someone. I got my 2019 MacPro about a month ago. Everything worked until I plugged in some peripherals (two different XQD card readers) to the USB-C's on top of the Mac. Particularly the one closest to the power button was causing Wi-Fi connectivity issues. I believe distortion was so strong that my Mac had a difficult time connecting to 2.8GHz Wi-Fi, and it caused my Apple Watch to stop unlocking my MacPro.

It also caused my Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard to lose connection.


Basically, it makes at least one of those USB-C's useless in my case.


Apple Inc. Please Advice. I consider it an engineering design flow, and it has to be recalled by the manufacturer.

Posted on Jul 24, 2020 1:44 PM

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User profile for user: Grant Bennet-Alder
Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10
132,745 points

Posted on Jul 24, 2020 2:20 PM

Interference from USB-3 devices is a well-know side effect of poorly designed and especially poorly shielded USB devices.


This is NOT a defect in your Mac Pro.


Why do I have difficulty with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices when USB 3 devices are attached to my computer?

Some USB 3 devices can generate radio frequency interference that can cause Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices operating in the 2.4GHz band to have issues communicating with your computer. Here are some tips to avoid this issue:

• If your USB device has a cable long enough that you can move the device, place it away from your Mac—and make sure not to place it behind your Mac, or near the hinge of its display. The antennas for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are located there, and USB 3 devices placed there might interfere with your wireless connections.

• If you're using adapters or dongles on a Mac computer with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, plug them into the front port on the left side of your Mac, or into the ports on the right side (if your computer has them). These ports are the farthest away from the antennas, making interference less likely.

• To avoid interference on the 2.4GHz band using Wi-Fi, try using the 5GHz band instead. You can change this on your wireless base station. Bluetooth always uses 2.4GHz, so this alternative isn't available for Bluetooth.

from:

About USB on Mac computers - Apple Support

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201542


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User profile for user: Grant Bennet-Alder
Grant Bennet-Alder
User level: Level 10
132,745 points

Jul 24, 2020 2:20 PM in response to PavelVK

Interference from USB-3 devices is a well-know side effect of poorly designed and especially poorly shielded USB devices.


This is NOT a defect in your Mac Pro.


Why do I have difficulty with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth devices when USB 3 devices are attached to my computer?

Some USB 3 devices can generate radio frequency interference that can cause Wi-Fi and Bluetooth devices operating in the 2.4GHz band to have issues communicating with your computer. Here are some tips to avoid this issue:

• If your USB device has a cable long enough that you can move the device, place it away from your Mac—and make sure not to place it behind your Mac, or near the hinge of its display. The antennas for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are located there, and USB 3 devices placed there might interfere with your wireless connections.

• If you're using adapters or dongles on a Mac computer with Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports, plug them into the front port on the left side of your Mac, or into the ports on the right side (if your computer has them). These ports are the farthest away from the antennas, making interference less likely.

• To avoid interference on the 2.4GHz band using Wi-Fi, try using the 5GHz band instead. You can change this on your wireless base station. Bluetooth always uses 2.4GHz, so this alternative isn't available for Bluetooth.

from:

About USB on Mac computers - Apple Support

Resolve Wi-Fi and Bluetooth issues caused by wireless interference

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201542


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User profile for user: PavelVK
PavelVK Author
User level: Level 1
15 points

Jul 24, 2020 3:22 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

I got you. Great info Grant. Thank you for your quick informative response. I genuinely appreciate your input.


I figured this would be an issue. Don't get me wrong, I love my MacPro, and I love all the workarounds when appropriate. But no matter what I plug into that USB-С port, it will interfere with my wi-fi and Bluetooth signals unless I use long/3ft or a longer extension cable. For that, I can use those back panel ports.

I owned 2010 & 2013 MacPro and still run them both, I occasionally use SONY XQD card reader on any of those and do not have anything close to similar issues. I do think the positioning of the ports on top of the new Mac Pro created this mess. (It took me a while to figure this out, and that's where the frustration lies, so I hope this thread will help people find the problem quicker).

If this is a well-known issue, and Apple must have known about it, the antenna should not have been placed near USB-С modules that undoubtedly would be used for card readers in over 8K machinery designed for media producers.

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Apple Watch Would Not Unlock 2019 Mac Pro USB-C / Thunderbolt-3 Issues

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