Mac Mini and USB Logitech M510

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Level 1

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Mac Mini and USB Logitech M510

Recently purchased a Mac Mini to replace PC setup. Stared using the Logitech mouse and keyboard that I used previously. The mouse is the M510, one that apple sells in on their site.

If the dongle for the wireless devices is the only USB accessory plugged in, they work perfectly. If I plug another device ... USB drive, printer, or Apple DVD drive ... the responsiveness of the wireless devices becomes abysmal.

I also have the same issue that I've seen many others comment on, the Mac Mini does not recognize my USB logitech devices after it goes into a sleep state. I don't see anything in the energy saving about powering off the USB ports. Are my USB ports defective?

Mac mini (Late 2014), OS X El Capitan (10.11.2)

Posted on Jan 18, 2016 9:08 PM

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Answer 1

steve359

Level 6

17,197 points

Mar 2, 2016 11:40 AM in response to cmhoelter

I have heard rumor of something unexpected ... USB 3.0 generating high-frequency signals that interfere with other wireless devices. Does not happen with USB 2.0, just the higher-speed 3.0.

You might try getting an USB-extension for the USB-mouse transmitter ... physical plug into the hub, the the transmitter it a few feet from the hub, so the local-frequency-signal effect is not noted.

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Answer 2

steve359

Level 6

17,197 points

Jan 18, 2016 9:33 PM in response to cmhoelter

USB mouse uses 2.4 GHz, which can fight with wireless internet and one will likely lose. May not happen, just saying.

USB ports only provide so much power. You may want to get a powered USB hub (AC wall power provides 90+% of the power devices need) and the mac mini just needs to keep communication with the hub going. Loss of power could make the mouse behvaior odd, and the powered hub could allow many devices (mouse, printer, other USB drives, etc) to have USB-power from the wall instead of draining the mac mini.

A decent powered hub can be had from BestBuy for $20.

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Answer 3

cmhoelter Author

Level 1

0 points

Jan 18, 2016 9:53 PM in response to steve359

I have a brand new Sabrent 4-port USB 3.0 Hub with Power Adapter ... was hoping to have many things plugged into my new computer soon.

With the Hub being the only USB item plugged in and the USB transmitter the only item plugged into the Hub, there is barely any response from the Mac. I'll move the mouse and sometimes the cursor moves .... sometimes nothing.

Disconnect the Hub, plug the transmitter back in as the only device directly into the mini... mouse works perfectly. There has to be something wrong with these ports.

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Answer 4

cmhoelter Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 2, 2016 11:40 AM in response to steve359

I should have replied sooner, but thank you for this suggestion. I connected the usb transmitter to an extension cable and the problem has gone away. Much appreciated!!

My sleeping issue has also gone away after I connected a backup HDD to the system and turned on time machine. It seems like this has changed the sleeping behavior and now the machine wakes up based on my logitech mouse and keyboard activity.

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Answer 5

lllaass

Level 10

210,669 points

Jan 19, 2016 12:54 AM in response to steve359

Seems to be USB 3 only

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/usb-3.0-hard-drives-can-cause-wi-fi-inter ference

Note that it applies to BT too since it is also 2.4 GHz

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