USB Remarks

USB port interference

If your Hypersoft TSE sticks or other peripherals fail sporadically, it is probably due to an insufficiently stable power supply to the USB ports. Especially the "energy saving mode" of USB ports can lead to this unwanted behaviour. Depending on the hardware, this can be deactivated in the BIOS and/or the Windows energy-saving setting "Selective USB energy saving". Hardware purchased through Hypersoft already has the above settings.

USB hubs Warning

Many peripheral devices are connected via USB. Depending on the device, these require different amounts of energy. Only if a peripheral device receives sufficient power can it function correctly.

If your POS device with all its peripherals always works, everything is fine. However, if there are problems with USB printers, scanners and other peripheral devices, check the situation by reading the contents of this chapter.

Windows is designed to support and display most devices only when you're connected. If too little energy is available, devices can also be spontaneously treated as non-existent.

Although USB connections have been continuously developed over the past years, more attention has often been paid to energy consumption, so that it has not always become more secure, but rather more economical. Depending on the compatibility and USB type, this can lead to communication problems.

  • Usually one direct USB connection per device is the safest.
  • In general you should avoid all unnecessary USB devices at the POS (e.g. USB lights, fans and cup warmers can damage a POS device).
  • USB hubs are used to expand the connections. If they are passive, the devices must share the power of the original USB port (not recommended).
  • USB graphics cards and monitors without their own power supply can be critical for the device, especially if they are power hungry and even have to use two USB ports (see also internal hubs).
  • Some POS terminals provide different and possibly many USB ports. Here, it is usually not possible to tell from the outside whether a USB hub was used internally or whether each USB port has a direct connection and full power supply. But even if there are all fully equipped ports, it can happen that too many USB devices overtax the computer in terms of power or heat generation.

The number of available or visible USB ports is not an indication of trouble-free operation. On the other hand, trouble-free operation is an indication of a correctly used system.


Further documentation: USB Monitors

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