Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
smileybarry
142
Sep 10, 2018
The keyboard is great! But I'm having some issues with the additional USB-C port. Connecting my Pixel 2 to it correctly forwards the device to my PC, but then file transfer doesn't work: Windows sees up to 2 folders (if at all) and gives up. Connecting the phone directly with the CTRL's own cable works just fine. (Another note: switching from "charge-only mode" to "file transfer" causes a device unplug & replug -- which is expected -- but maybe that triggers the bug in the keyboard's USB-C chipset?)
Is this a defect? Would this be fixed with an update or do I have to send my keyboard in?
Also, the CTRL doesn't work with my Pixel 2 as a host (keyboard recognized by Android, but none of the keys work), whereas my basic $60 Nixeus mechanical keyboard (also on Massdrop) does. Will this also be fixed with an update?
DRaGZ
305
Sep 11, 2018
smileybarryThe Pixel 2 is probably not getting enough power to get a stable enough connection for file transfers. This is a limitation of USB in general when used in this manner of daisy-chaining without additional power sources.
As for compatibility with the Pixel 2 itself as a keyboard...*shrug*? I don't know if they ever even thought of that use case, or if any keyboard manufacturer really has, and your Nixeus may be working as a sheer fluke.
smileybarryLet me do some testing and get back to you on this.
smileybarry
142
Sep 11, 2018
DRaGZNo, I meant the CTRL functioning as a keyboard for the Pixel 2. Any USB keyboard and mouse are supported on Android, except the CTRL doesn't send any keys. (but it does supply enough power for that purpose)
Regarding daisy-chaining power, I don't know if that's an ok reason. In such a case it should just not charge or charge slower, not malfunction. I have another keyboard with a severely underpowered hub (100mA), I'll check how that one behaves.
smileybarryHey there - I did some tests 1. You can totally connect a Pixel 2XL phone to your CTRL which is in turn connect to the PC using USB C to C cables only. Hopefully you can see all these showing on the picture below.
search
2. The CTRL was never specced to work with Android devices. The power draw required on it is pretty high and I'm not sure if that's a path we will go down in the future.
smileybarry
142
Sep 14, 2018
YanboWu1.I've also reached that point, the area where it stops working is when you open internal storage and wait for any folders to show up. Indexing stops midway.
2. I might've phrased this badly, but I didn't mean full-speed or normal charging, just enough voltage to support #1.
smileybarryFile transfer should definitely work as well - here is a picture of me loading a picture of my dog using the CTRL keyboard.
search


We've done the tests with the Galaxy Note 8 and the Pixel 2 and everything should be working.
smileybarry
142
Sep 14, 2018
YanboWuIntetesting, then I'm not sure what's happening on my end. I'll test it with another computer to try and see what's at fault.
smileybarry
142
Sep 14, 2018
YanboWuFound it, looks like a quirk with one of the USB 3.0 controllers in my desktop. My CTRL + Pixel 2 work fine on the Intel chipset controller, with file transfer functioning as it should. But on the motherboard's Etron controller, what I described (Pixel 2 doesn't actually work unless plugged directly) happens. Kinda weird since I had zero differences between them for years, but I also don't use hubs regularly.
So if anyone else complains about a similar problem, ask them to check other ports first in case their motherboard's second controller also has such a bug.
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Mechanical Keyboards