MOTUnation.com

mikehalloran wrote:https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-Po ... 1577209831

No idea why the white one costs less than the black. Mine is white.

I have two of those, and another that has 4 ports.

bayswater wrote:...
I have two of those, and another that has 4 ports.

This one?

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-Fo ... 59&sr=8-14

I have a need.

mikehalloran wrote:

bayswater wrote:...
I have two of those, and another that has 4 ports.

This one?

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-Fo ... 59&sr=8-14

I have a need.

I think so, but I'm pretty sure it said 48 Watts on the Canadian site. Looks the same.

I checked a few of those chargers and they all seem to have about a similar user ratings. This one had more five star reviews near the top of the list (for that that's worth). Also has quick charge capability. Does this seem like a safe choice?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VC1NNRG/

stubbsonic wrote:I checked a few of those chargers and they all seem to have about a similar user ratings. This one had more five star reviews near the top of the list (for that that's worth). Also has quick charge capability. Does this seem like a safe choice?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VC1NNRG/

Can't say. I got the Ankers because they had repeatedly good ratings from Wirecutter, along with documentation of what and how they tested. I don't pay attention to user ratings unless they're overwhelmingly good or bad.

I went ahead and ordered the Anker. If it works, I may try to exchange the Apple charger-- sometimes the Apple Store is helpful in that way.

Anker charger showed up today.

The M4 still wouldn't power up when using the charger through the CCK.

At this point, I suspect the M4 is defective, or just slightly out of specification enough to not work under these conditions. I got it specifically to use with the iPad, so I have to resolve this.

I'm sure Sweetwater will take care of me, one way or another.

stubbsonic wrote:Anker charger showed up today.

The M4 still wouldn't power up when using the charger through the CCK.

At this point, I suspect the M4 is defective, or just slightly out of specification enough to not work under these conditions. I got it specifically to use with the iPad, so I have to resolve this.

I'm sure Sweetwater will take care of me, one way or another.

Bummer. I wanted one of these, but not until we get some better news.

I received an "unofficial" recommendation to try using a powered USB hub--
i.e.:
connect the CCK "charge-thru" to the hub,
connect the CCK USB-A to the hub, and
connect the M4 to the hub.

This was described as the "most reliable setup with the CCK"-- (which MAY suggest some reliability challenges with iOS use).

[EDIT: None of my powered hubs have adequate power for this configuration. I'm not too keen on having to buy yet another device to get this thing to work.]

[EDIT: Using an older Uspeed powered hub. If I connect the iPad to it's own charger (via CCK) and connect the powered hub to the CCK (via USB port on CCK), and connect the M4 to the powered hub, the M4 will power on, and be at least partially recognized by the iPad, but no audio passes to it.]

[EDIT: It's been six weeks since I got it. I don't know how conclusively I could determine if my unit is defective, given that it does work under certain conditions (just not with iOS, so far). Perhaps all this might have been avoided if MOTU would have included a dedicated power input (separate from the data connection) to allow for reliable use with iOS devices without requiring power through the CCK. Though, I'm not certain if this is a power issue.]

stubbsonic wrote:All this could have been avoided if MOTU would have included a 2nd power input to allow use with iOS devices without requiring power from the hookup/CCK. But again, it could be a defective device. Apparently we're going to do a slow-motion trouble-shooting as an endurance-test of my patience. So far so good. I'm thankful that there is coffee.

This has to be a defective unit. Or all your chargers are defective (unlikely). Or your iPad? Can you check it with someone else's iPad? After that, the alternative explanation is that it wasn't properly tested with iOS devices.

We (MOTU support person and I) got it working. It involves using a different powered hub (more recent model) and a specific plug in order.

So, this means I have to buy a powered hub, and probably can't get it to work without one.

What do you all think of this? It's not mentioned as a "system requirement". Seems like kind of a drag to have to include an extra thingy, but I guess I'm just replacing a charger with a hub and adding an extra couple of connections. It's a little disappointing.

stubbsonic wrote:We (MOTU support person and I) got it working. It involves using a different powered hub (more recent model) and a specific plug in order.

So, this means I have to buy a powered hub, and probably can't get it to work without one.

What do you all think of this? It's not mentioned as a "system requirement". Seems like kind of a drag to have to include an extra thingy, but I guess I'm just replacing a charger with a hub and adding an extra couple of connections. It's a little disappointing.

I always use powered hubs with the computer, and find a lot of the older models don't cut it. It seems a bit odd that you'd need one with the connection kit and iPad. I wonder if iPad use was an afterthought in the design?

I don’t know. I’m still leaning towards the M4 but more as a desktop device than with iOS. This is still conditioned on something else not blowing me away at NAMM in 3 weeks.

I will be able to test all this with iOS, however, since I already own multiple chargers for the CCK and my UGREEN audio hub. Curioser and curioser...

mikehalloran wrote:I will be able to test all this with iOS, however, since I already own multiple chargers for the CCK and my UGREEN audio hub. Curioser and curioser...

FWIW, I wasn't able to get the M4 to power on with the UGREEN. But I'll circle back and try their plug in order.

So now that we got it working with a powered hub, it seems like MOTU's support is calling it done.

It's not a very satisfying resolution. Earlier in the thread, MOTU said their units work without a powered hub. Also, it wasn't until day 16 that a plug-in order was suggested.

It's another device to buy. And including a powered hub makes the hook-up a little more complicated-- which takes away from the portable convenience of an iOS device. And, it's a nebulous solution-- remember I had to try THREE different powered hubs before I landed on one that worked.

I'm not pissed. It's just sloppy. Kinda that involuntary beta-testing we refer to sometimes.

Still, the question of whether this is a common issue is not addressed. And, if I try a second unit, will it be the same? I suppose if Sweetwater is curious enough, they might be willing to help test that.