[Ovmsdev] USB port fragility

[Collin Kidder]

I've had my fair share of USB connector failures over the years. Actually,
that is the reason that all EVTV boards have had USB-B (the type you see on
a printer) ports for years now. The giant USB-B connector is not likely to
break off and hasn't ever done so for us. I'll bet you probably don't want
to switch to such a huge connector but it solved the problem for us.

On Tue, Aug 4, 2020 at 2:51 AM Mark Webb-Johnson <mark at webb-johnson.net>
wrote:

> In this batch we tried to address the reported / experienced problems:
>
>
>    1. USB port dislodged with rough handling - change was to increase
>    solder pad area and adjust thermal profile when soldering
>    2. Large capacitors dislodged during shipment - change was to increase solder
>    pad area and adjust thermal profile when soldering
>    3. Reports of GPS Antenna non functional (no continuity) - change to
>    new (more robust) internal antenna cable
>
>
> We have also seen #3 seen internally, during random QC checks, with the
> GSM Antenna (although no reports from users).
>
> If you remember, back when v3.2 was released we had to change that
> internal antenna cable (due to ROHS issues with the type of plastic used).
> Since then we have had a number of reported issues with GPS reception that
> were traced back to poor contacts or no continuity with these internal
> antennas (particularly the batch late last year). So, we (a) add a QC step
> to check continuity and ‘wiggle’ the antennas to ensure they are stable,
> and (b) change the component to a ROHS compatible antenna similar to the
> previous one we used. The new component feels much more solid (particularly
> when connecting to the modem PCB) and so far tests 100% with no QC failures.
>
> Regards, Mark.
>
> On 4 Aug 2020, at 2:39 PM, Michael Balzer <dexter at expeedo.de> wrote:
>
> Great, that looks much more rigid and should solve the issue.
>
> What's the reason for / benefit of the thicker antenna cables? Also just
> rigidity, or do they have an effect on signal strength?
>
> Regards,
> Michael
>
>
> Am 04.08.20 um 03:24 schrieb Mark Webb-Johnson:
>
>
> The small solder area is my suspicion too, and a relatively easy fix.
> Through hole would be better but would require a new component and circuit
> redesign (with associated complexity and re-certification issues). Here are
> some pictures of the 2020-06-15 batch with the changes. But it will be some
> time before distribution stock is cleared out and those start to be
> shipped. Note also that 2020-06-15 also includes a change to new thicker
> antenna cables for both GPS and GSM.
>
> Regards, Mark.
>
>
>
>
> On 4 Aug 2020, at 9:11 AM, Craig Leres <leres at xse.com> wrote:
>
> On 2020-08-03 01:26, Michael Balzer wrote:
>
> I've had multiple cases now of damaged and broken off USB ports.
>
>
> I managed a mechanical "no heat" desolder of the usb port on one of my
> modules last year (I wasn't careful when sliding the seat back with a cable
> plugged in). When I took it apart I could see that there was not very much
> solder in the four holes that secure the usb shell to the board. At the
> time my suspicion was that the small amount of solder from the factory wave
> solder made for a weak bond. I was lucky that I didn't lift any pads and
> was able to resolder it.
>
> Craig
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