CalDigit TS3Plus puzzling behavior

[cobra521]

I have a CalDigit TS3Plus on my 7,1 2019 Mac Pro, attached using the CalDigit 3Plus Thunderbolt 3 cable. I'm up to date on the CalDigit firmware and use MacOS 12.3.1 Monterey. I've tried connecting the TB3 cable to other ports without changing this problem.

Here's the puzzle: if I use Finder to locate an MP4 file on almost any other drive, internal or external, I hit the space bar and it plays the movie. If I have the same file on an SD card in the TS3Plus, all I see is a folder. It will not play the file. Why?

As a further bit of mystery, if I rename the SD card while it is plugged into the TS3Plus, after I eject the card it returns to its original name. If I do the same with WIN11 on a separate PC, the new name sticks.

Any suggestions as to how to get the file to play from the SD card? Or is that some sort of Apple NO-NO?

Thank you,

Tom

 

[cobra521]

Here's a series of e-mails with CalDigit. Sadly no resolution of the problem, or even a good clue as to whether it is Monterey or the CalDigit device:

Subject: Re: Contact Support Via Webpage

From: Thomas Wells <t........@bellsouth.net>

Date: 5/12/22, 10:59 AM

To: CalDigit Support <support@caldigit.com>

Richard,

Sadly no joy. I bought a Thunderbolt 4 cable and connected the device to my 7,1.

I can eject the SD card successfully but that is about all. It shows a file on the SD card if I copy one over, but Monterey will not allow me to open it. Here is the error message:

As before, I can change the name of the SD card, but after ejecting it and reinserting it, the change is gone and the SD card name remains as before.

At this point not sure where the donkey's tail belongs...

Tom

On 5/6/22 3:51 PM, CalDigit Support wrote:

Hello Thomas,

Thank you for the update. Thunderbolt 3 cables do have increased stability and support for some functions especially those pertaining to USB protocol packets, so it’s possible this could work out nicely - please let me know how it goes.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

For our new product announcement, we highly suggest that you subscribe to our newsletter so we can notify you as soon as we have a new product to announce. You can do so here: http://www.caldigit.com/

Best Regards,
Richard McAllister

CalDigit Support
Support@caldigit.com
(714)572-9889 Extension 3

On May 6, 2022, at 6:25 AM, Thomas Wells <t.......@bellsouth.net> wrote:


Richard,

Thank you for getting back to me.

I have tried reformatting and no joy - same symptoms.

I've seen several comments about TB3/TB4 cables making a difference, so I've ordered a TB4 cable to replace the TB3 cable that came with the CalDigit device. Maybe there will be some help - we'll see.

Tom

On 5/5/22 7:48 PM, CalDigit Support wrote:

Hello Thomas,

Thank you for reaching out to CalDigit Support. The "further mystery" definitely sounds like a MacOS specific issue, as recent macOS versions such as 12.3.1 have given some odd connectivity issues regarding expanded Thunderbolt port connectivity, and success on a Windows 11 PC lends credence to the theory that the different systems are handling their expanded capabilities with different levels of success.

Regarding the prior puzzle, I would advocate reformatting the SD card and trying the same thing with the file afterwards, as it might be an issue with the card in particular and not the dock or OS for this occasion.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.

For our new product announcement, we highly suggest that you subscribe to our newsletter so we can notify you as soon as we have a new product to announce. You can do so here: http://www.caldigit.com/

Best Regards,
Richard McAllister

CalDigit Support
Support@caldigit.com
(714) 572-9889 Extension 3

On May 5, 2022, at 3:58 PM, Thomas Wells <t.....@bellsouth.net> wrote:

I have a puzzle with the CalDigit TS3Plus and SD card. See here for a description: https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...behavior.2343940/?post=31077769#post-31077769

Is this CalDigit, Apple or ???

But the real question is: can it be solved?

Thank you,

Tom

 

[cobra521]

My original question remains: can the SD card problem be corrected?

Or at least it would be helpful to diagnose the culprit.

So here are some questions: How might I determine whether it is Monterey or CalDigit? Is there a test I could perform to try to separate out the cause(s)?

 

[cobra521]

UPDATE:

Here's the description of today's diagnostic - I think I may have unearthed a clue:

I plugged an Apple brand USB-C SD card reader into the 3Plus's front USB-C port. Using the same SD card as below, I tried renaming the card and copying/reading files. All the things I tried worked perfectly and quickly.

It would appear the problem may be unique to the SD card slot in the front of the 3Plus.

I sent this clue to CalDigit. If there's any progress, it'll be posted here.

Tom

 

[cobra521]

UPDATE: The CalDigit SD card reader seems to work fine with the older SD card shown on the right. Newer card shown on the left gives problems.

Since I've seen this before on other readers (the ones that are too old to accommodate the newer cards) my current theory is that the 3Plus's reader is an old design and I'll need to use the Apple USB-C reader to get around this.

Waiting on CalDigit to confirm; don't expect them to be able to do anything practical about it

Tom

 

[cobra521]

Final(?) followup:

CalDigit agreed after much diagnostic back-and-forth to replace the TS3+ under warranty. The replacement unit works fine with all the SD cards, new and old. It appears the original SD card reader failed.

I'm still mildly unhappy with CalDigit. Here's why:

1) I had to pay for the return of the defective unit. After I complained they offered to send a prepaid label but the unit was already in the mail.
2) I had to give a credit card in advance to insure the old unit's return.
3) I bought new SD cards and a new TB4 cable in order to troubleshoot the old unit. At least I can use the SD cards.
4) CalDigit would not allow me to upgrade even if I paid the difference for the TS4+ over the TS3+. In view of my expenditures of time and money to troubleshoot I'd have appreciated this gesture. I'm mildly annoyed over their pat refusal.

All in all the exercise was a success. Education is never free - some just costs more than others...

End of tale,

Tom

 

[InuNacho]

I personally am not thrilled with my TS3+ and won't buy another one of Caldigit's products. Mine will spin up any old spinning drives forever, even when my host Mini is turned off.
Glad you got your problem resolved.

 

[cobra521]

Inu,

Not that I'm thrilled by their performance...

There is a utility on the CalDigit web site for ejecting USB drives, if that is what you have: CalDigit-Docking-Station-Utility

Here's the link: https://downloads.caldigit.com/CalDigit-Docking-Station-Utility.zip

It installs on a Mac and with one click of the little "eject" symbol on the bar across the top of the screen, you can eject all the USB drives plugged in to the TS3+ This may cause them to stop also.

Maybe this helps?

Tom

 

[InuNacho]

Inu,

Not that I'm thrilled by their performance...

There is a utility on the CalDigit web site for ejecting USB drives, if that is what you have: CalDigit-Docking-Station-Utility

Here's the link: https://downloads.caldigit.com/CalDigit-Docking-Station-Utility.zip

It installs on a Mac and with one click of the little "eject" symbol on the bar across the top of the screen, you can eject all the USB drives plugged in to the TS3+ This may cause them to stop also.

Maybe this helps?

Tom

I'll look into it but I'm not too keen on installing a utility as a patchwork.

 

[cobra521]

Inu,

I hear you. I guess it comes down to whichever option is less annoying.

Tom

 

[coolajami]

I personally am not thrilled with my TS3+ and won't buy another one of Caldigit's products. Mine will spin up any old spinning drives forever, even when my host Mini is turned off.
Glad you got your problem resolved.

This is a known issue with TS3+, the USB-A ports are continue to powered even if you disconnect/turn-off the host device. Even if you disconnect them with the “eject” function and then you turn off your laptop/desktop, the drives would stay off momentarily, before the powered on through USB-A. USB-C devices don’t present the same issue.
Caldigit promised ages ago that would solve this problem, still waiting.

I persoanlly moved to a NAS and a wifi external disk to avoid further issues (need ot move often and I just don’t want to physically disconnect extenrla drives each time I moving away from the dock).

 

[cobra521]

Another sigh...

So maybe pull the TS3+ power plug each time you shut down? After ejecting the drives maybe? A bit more of an annoyance...

Tom

 

[coolajami]

Another sigh...

So maybe pull the TS3+ power plug each time you shut down? After ejecting the drives maybe? A bit more of an annoyance...

Tom

Tbh I was looking for a while a solution myself and I couldn’t find a pretty solution to this problem. Ended up buying an external WiFi hard disk (WD my passport wireless Pro) on top of my NAS, and since never thought this problem again.


Shut off switches are not a great solution because physically you need to shut them off the exact right moment when the disks are not powered. A moment late and you may damage the disk.

Another solution is to connect a usb hub in one of the USB-c ports (like the Kensington CH1000) and connect the HDs there. I suppose you can eject the disks first and then the USB hub and that may do the work.