What is the purpose of a USB cable with a Y connector?

If a user connects a device (like a small portable external hard drive enclosure) to a USB port on a computer system, this device is drawing power from the USB port to power the device. If the device draws too much power from the port and the port cannot provide enough power to the device, the device may not work correctly or may exhibit symptoms like random disconnection, device/drive clicking noise, device not detected, file transfer problem, device will not spin up and more.

One way to provide more power to the device is to use another USB port to help supplement the needed power for the device.

What we have done is use a regular USB cable and adds another USB connector to the end that plugs into your system. It looks like a Y cable. The two tip of the “Y” are the two type A USB connector connecting to two USB port on your system and the other end to the device (enclosure). You will notice on the Y cable, one of the type A connector will have a cable that is thinner, that is the supplemental USB power connector.

HOW TO USE THE Y CABLE

First connect the connector to the enclosure then the thick cable with the USB header to your system. If you notice problem symptom listed above, please connect the supplemental USB connector to another USB port on your computer.

QUESTIONS:

Q:  If I am using USB 3.0 device and port on my system, why do I still need a USB Y cable, since I know my single USB 3.0 port do provide enough power for my external drive?
A:  The USB 3.0 Y cable actually serve two purposes, if you are using it with a USB 3.0 port on the system, you will only need a single port or connector. You do not need to use the supplemental USB connector. If you do not have access to a USB 3.0 port, this USB 3.0 Y cable will function just like a USB 2.0 Y cable and allows you to connect your external drive to the USB 2.0 port on a non USB 3.0 system and still have access to you data.

Q:  Will using both connectors on the Y cable overload and hurt my drive?
A:  No, it will not. It is safe to use with both connectors.

Q:  Can I use only the thinner cable?
A:  No, the thinner supplemental connector is only for power and will not provide any data signal.

Q:  I am connecting my external enclosure using eSATA connection and I also need to use both USB connectors of the Y cable?
A:  You MAY need to use it IF the external enclosure draws too much power from one port. By using the main with the supplemental connector, it will have enough power to power the device correctly

Q:  Why can't my computer detect the 2.5" enclosure after install a drive into the enclosure?
A:  If you are using USB 2.0 port on your system or USB 2.0 enclosure, try using both USB connection to your system with the provided USB Y cable. Some hard drive power requirement may exceed what 1 USB port can provide as a result it can cause problem. For all 2.5" hard drive enclosure, we provide a USB cable that have a Y connector. This extra USB connector will help supplement the power so that the  hard drive  can work correctly. To read more about the USB Y cable, check out the FAQ on "What is the purpose of a USB cable with a Y connector?"

Q:  When I install a NEW hard in to a 2.5" enclosure, I cannot see it in Windows Explorer (Windows OS) or Desktop (OS X), what is going on? 
A:  All new drive install need to be setup for use. This process involve initializing, partitioning and formatting the new drive. Please look at the FAQ on "How to Preparing A New Hard Drive For Use with a system"

Q:  I took a OLD hard drive from another enclosure and install into this Vantec enclosure but I cannot see my DATA, what is going on? 
A:  The drive taken out of the other enclosure may be formatted differently as a result it will not see your data. All Vantec enclosures are using the standard OS formatting. Other reason could be the drive that was taken out of the other enclosure file system was corrupted. You can use a data recovery program to recover your data.
Other option:
1) connect back to your old enclosure and backup the data to other location.
2) install into the Vantec enclosure and using the OS to clean the drive using initialize, partition, and format the drive to work correctly in our enclosure.
3) restore the data back to the Vantec enclosure.

Q:  I have other questions that is not listed here, what can I do? 
A:  If you are located in the USA/Canada, you can email our support representative using the Contact Us section of the website for further assistance.

Link to download instructions in pdf format

M2500, M3500, SAS Connector

What Cable can I use for SAS connection to the M2500 or M3500 Series EZ Swap enclosures?

It really depends on the controller that you are using. Here is a list that will help you decide:

In normal condition, if the OS is NOT doing any read or writing, it should be green (sometime it may flash red briefly if the OS ping or check on the drive)

In normal condition, if the OS is doing any reading/writing to the drive, it should be alternating between red and green.

The red is for reading/writing activity by the OS.

The Green is to show power coming from the ac adapter.

Link to download instructions in pdf format

Q: What is this device for?

A: This device is design to allow you to connect your IDE device (IDE hard drive or IDE CD/DVD) to your motherboard that have only SATA port.

NOTE:

1. • This cannot be used the other way around. This will not work by plugging into a motherboard’s IDE controller and be able to use a SATA hard drive. What you are looking for would either be a…
      
     • Vantec’s Single Port SATA to IDE Converter (CB-SP100)
       or
     • Vantec’s Dual Port SATA to IDE Converter (CB-SP200)

Q: Does this device require any drivers?

A: No, it does not require any special drivers. Both operating systems of Windows & Mac have pre-loaded driver.

Q: I am not seeing my hard drive in My Computers but the drivers have successfully installed. What am I doing wrong?

A: You will have to go to your computer management (Windows) or go to Disk Utility (Mac). From that point on you should be able to determine if the hard drive is readable or not by seeing if it is healthy or not. If it is not health and is either blank or unallocated, you will have to initialize or format the disk. If you need to format please make sure to back up all the date before formatting as it will erase all information from the hard drive.

To get to Computer Management under Windows® 98, XP, & Vista
START -> right click on MY COMPUTER -> MANAGE -> You will find DISK MANAGEMENT under STORAGE 

Q: I have connected an IDE hard drive using the CB-IS100 to my motherboard SATA port and it is working correctly, but when I connect an IDE Optical drive. It will not see it. Why?

A: Most current motherboard is capable of booting up much faster compared to older generation of IDE motherboard. As a result the initialization of IDE devices are quicker. If an older IDE hard drive or Optical device are not able to spin up fast enough or get ready quicker, the system motherboard will ignore that device and continue. This will result in the IDE or Optical devices being ignore or not present. If you are encountering this problem, please check the setting in the system BIOS for function to slow or delay the detection process. This setting is often part of the Advanced setting in the system BIOS. It is the “Hard Disk Pre-Delay” function. If your system BIOS have this function, please try with different setting to give the IDE or Optical device more time to get detected.

Common option for this function are Disabled, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 21, 30 seconds. You can start low and move up until it will detect the IDE or Optical device correctly.

Q: I need further help that is not listed here, where can I get help?

A: Write to technical support at support@vantecusa.com 
They can help you with other questions or assistance that are not listed here. 

Try the following steps in this sequence carefully:

Wired mode using USB connection:

1. Insert the hard drive into the dock (make sure it is a known good hard drive)
2. Connect the power to the dock.
3. Connect the USB cable to the dock and to your system.
4. Make sure your system is already powered ON.
5. Power ON the dock. (never insert or remove the hard drive when the dock power is ON)
6. If this is a new drive, it will need to be initialize, partition and formatted. See attached instruction to prep the drive.
7. The disk in the dock MUST be formatted in NTFS for the wireless dock to see correctly be other device.
   Note: OS X cannot write to a NTFS file system, it can read from it only. (limitation of OS X)
8. If your system can see the drive in the dock correctly, copy a few music files to the root of the disk to test the dock.
9. Once the system can see the drive correctly, you can go on to the next step using wireless function.

Wireless mode using smart phone (Android/IOS):

1. Continue from the step above, If the system can see the drive correctly, safely eject the USB connection to the dock via “safe to remove USB”
2. Power OFF the dock.
3. Remove the USB cable from the dock.
4. Power ON the dock and wait 40 Seconds for the wireless dock to start.
5. Using your smartphone, install the NexStar-WIFI apps from Android or IOS store.
6. After installing do not run it yet.
7. Using your smartphone setting, go into the WIFI setting, you should see the NexStar-WiFi access point. If you did not see it, wait for 40 secs.
8. Using your smartphone connect to the NexStar-WiFi access point.
9. Start the VantecWIFI apps.
10. The apps should see the hard drive and you should be able to play the music that you copied in step 8 in the initial instruction.
     

Wireless mode using Computer (Windows XP/7/8/8.1/10; OS X):

1. For WiFi mode, make sure no USB are connected to the wifi device and power it ON.
2. Wait 40 Seconds for the WiFi to be ready.
3. Connect using your computer wifi to the NexStar-WiFi access point
4. Once connected, If you are trying to access your files, use your Windows Explorer and enter ”\\10.10.10.254\”, the “\\” is important.
5. You will be prompted with login window, use “admin” for user name and “admin” for password.
6. If you are trying to access the management page, use your browser (IE/Chrome/FireFox).
7. For OS X user:
   a) Use Finder to connect to the server via SMB using “smb://10.10.10.254/” in the Server Address box to access the files. Use “admin” for user name and “admin” for password.
   b) For access to Management Page, use the Safari browser.

If you have further question, please let me know at what point you have a problem and explain the problem so that I can help you further.

WiFi Tether

Try the following steps in this sequence carefully:

1. Power ON the WiFi enclosure and wait 40 Seconds for the wireless signal to be ready.
2. If you have already installed the software app skip this step. Using your smartphone, install the NexStar-WIFI apps from Android.
3. After installing do not run it yet.
4. Using your smartphone setting, go into the WIFI setting, you should see the NexStar-WiFi access point. If you did not see it, wait for 40 secs.
5. Using your smartphone connect to the NexStar-WiFi access point.
6. Start the Vantec-WIFI apps.
7. The apps should see the hard drive and use the storage in the enclosure.
    

For Tethering using smartphone, continue from the step above:

1. While in the Vantec-WiFi app, tap on the Settings icon indicated by the three dots on the top right.
2. You should see menu item like "About Me", "Status", "System", "Network", "WiFi" and "Security".
3. Select WiFi menu, It will give you a list of WiFi available and one of them is your router access point.
4. Select your router access point and enter the appropriate Wireless password.
5. You will get connected and you should see your router access point name and “connected”
6. Once this is done, you can exit the Vantec-WiFi app and use your other apps to surf the internet.
7. If you have other devices that are connected to the NexStar-WiFi, they can also access the internet at this point without doing any change.
8. If you want to know if this WiFi enclosure is tether to your access point, Select “Status” in step #9 and it should show Connected AP with your Router name on the right.

For Tethering using laptop using wireless, you can follow the steps above #1 thru 15 so that the WIFI Dock is tether to your internet router. Once it is tether. Other device connected to the dock will have internet access too.

OR you can start it new below:

1. Turn ON your laptop and connect to the WIFI dock via the “NexStar-WiFi” access point by using your Internet Explorer / Chrome / FireFox internet browser using the URL “10.10.10.254”.
2. That will bring up the NexStar WiFi configuration menu.

1. You should see menu item like "STATUS", "SYSTEM", "NETWORK", "WIFI", "SECURITY", and “TOOLS”.
2. Select WiFi menu, It will give you a list of WiFi available and one of them is your router access point.
3. Select your router access point and enter the appropriate Wireless password.
4. You will get connected and you should see your router access point name and “connected”
5. Once this is done, you should have access to the internet and the dock.
6. The get to the internet, just bring up your browser and you should be tethered and have full access to the internet. To access the files, bring up Windows Explorer and use \\10.10.10.254\ to access your video, music or picture in the dock just like you normally do in windows explorer.
7. If you have other devices that are connected to the NexStar-WiFi, they can also access the internet at this point without doing any change.
8. If you want to know if this WiFi enclosure is tether to your access point, Select “STATUS” in step #8 and it should show Connected AP with your Router name on the right.

We have 2 support sites, one in the USA/Canada region that support the USA/Canada region and another based in Taiwan that supports the Global site that covers all other countries. The product mix sold by this two region are different, you will get better support from the global site. You can also reach them directly at support-global@vantecusa.com address in future email.

Here are the steps when requesting for warranty replacement:

1) Start the RMA process.

     We offer 1 year warranty for this product. If it is within 1 year, you can contact RMA through our website using the Online RMA link.

      https://www.vantecusa.com/rma.php

     After submitting, you should get an approval within 24 hours (check your spam folder, to make sure it did not end up in the spam folder)

2) After you have gotten the RMA number, follow the instruction in the approval email, the prep the unit and send it back to us (you pay for shipping back to us).

3) Once we have received the defective unit, we replace the unit and send it back. (we pay for shipping back to you).

4) You can check on the status of this process by emailing to rma@vantecusa.com for more information on the status.

The design of this battery pack comes with built-in features to protect the battery from damage. This built-in circuit design sometime using the wrong charger will cause it to display blinking LED. Try resetting it by turning it off and using only a regular USB port on a computer to charge to see if that will clear the 4 LED flashing problem or Leave it alone not connected until the flashing stop and then connect to a PC USB port.

Most standard iPhone chargers are 1A. Try using a USB port on a computer to charge to see it will work any better.

Troubleshooting the Power GEM 3500 (VAN-350BB)

1: The input power exceeds 6V (normal is 5V), remove the charger.
2: Battery charging less than 4.4V (normal is 5V), remove the charger.
3: Charging the battery temperature is above 60 degrees, remove the charger and let the temperature drop to below 50 degrees.
4: Charging the battery temperature is below -10 degrees, remove the charger and let the temperature return to above 0 degrees.
5: Discharge the battery temperature is above 75 degrees, remove device and let the battery temperature drop below 65 degrees.
6: Discharge the battery temperature is below -20 degrees, remove device and let the battery temperature increase to -10 degrees.
7: USB port1 short circuit, removes the load, then press the button to clear the flashing condition.
8: USB port2 short circuit, removes the load, then press the button to clear the flashing condition.
9: USB port1 output exceeds 2.3A (meaning you are connecting a device that draws too much power from the battery), remove the load, then press the button to clear the flashing condition.
10: USB port2 output exceeds 2.3A (meaning you are connecting a device that draws too much power from the battery), remove the load, then press the button to clear the flashing condition.
11: USB port1 damage (no 5V output), Flashing condition even after pressing the button to clear error.
12: USB port2 damage (no 5V output), Flashing condition even after pressing the button to clear error.

If the battery continues to blink without charger attached, only connected to the load, and it is still flashing, check the condition above #5, 6, 11, 12.

Make sure the device is connected before you install this drivers.

Use this link to get the latest drivers for Windows 10 or later version.

https://www.vantecusa.com/CKEdit/images/files/nba-200u_v8182166.zip

Use the picture below, step by step to configure the unit, when you get to step 13, click on the speakers to test them. Make sure you have speakers connected to all the port channels on the adapter to fully check out your speakers. If not, plug a headphone one port on the adapter at a time and click on the speaker icon to test each port.

NST-610NU-N1 cannot see xbox

Try out this firmware.

http://www.vantecusa.com/system/application/media/data_file/drivers/G5S604101A26700-20101203.tar.gz

If you still have a problem, then update the DLNA Software

Go to System > install Software > Uninstall
you should see the picture below showing the installed list. Uninstall and install the newer version from the link below (DLNA part of the firmware)
http://www.vantecusa.com/system/application/media/data_file/drivers/DMS-1.1a.3.bz2

NST-610NU-N1 cannot access SMB using Mac

Use mucommander for file manager because the smb client on OSX is not working with 610NU.

http://www.mucommander.com/

The Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) is a new standard for use with tablets and smartphones. It sends the audio and video signals through the micro USB connector and converts it to an HDMI® signal for use on HDTVs. The signal remains in digital format throughout the entire transmission and conversion process, so no quality is lost.

This adapter is designed to this new standard and allows you to connect your MHL device, such as an HTC EVO 3D or Samsung Galaxy S3, to your high-definition TV. It supports all video resolutions, including 1080p, and up to 8 channels of audio (for 7.1 surround sound). It also supports 3D video and HDCP media protection.

Some devices (such as the HTC EVO 3D) can supply sufficient power from their internal batteries to drive the adapter. For others, or in the event you want to charge your device while using the AV output, you can plug your charger into the micro USB port on the side of the adapter.

The current list of MHL compatible devices from the top three Android phone manufacturers includes:

* The Samsung Galaxy S III requires the use of an 11-to-5 pin Micro USB adapter to use a standard 5-pin MHL adapter, such as this one. Currently only Samsung carries the adapter, but Monoprice will carry one shortly.