✓ RNS 1.4.2 released https://pypi.org/project/rns/
🬤 rns.recipes
Markdown export · macos-ports.md
Copy the block below or save it to a .md file.
# MacOS ports
_Off-topic · started by Necom on Sun, Jul 5, 2026 6:11 PM_
---
## Original post
**Necom** · Sun, Jul 5, 2026 6:11 PM
Not sure what category to put this in. Doees anyone know what's up with ports on MacOS? I have this Macbook that I don't connect to wi-fi or the internet, so if I want a network connection I plug in a Heltec V4 with the USB-C charging cable, a new location appears in /dev and now I can use that for Reticulum. But if I try it with a male to male USB-C adapter (basically same as the cable but just a small little adapter) so I can basically use it as a USB dongle, then nothing appears in /dev. And when I decide I want a faster connection without changing the LoRa settings I try to plug it into my Raspberry Pi using a USB-A to USB-C cable so I can see if I can get a serial interface working. But nothing appears in /dev! Anyone know what's up with that and if there's still some way I can use a serial interface, and also the adapter?
---
## Reply 1
**cobalt32** · Sun, Jul 5, 2026 6:26 PM
Some USB cables only carry power and not data.
---
## Reply 2
**Necom** · Sun, Jul 5, 2026 9:07 PM
This one carries both
---
## Reply 3
**jrl290** · Mon, Jul 6, 2026 1:50 AM
The updated USB spec requires a resistor across two pins to signify that it's a normal 5V USB device. A lot of devices don't actually have that resistor so Macbooks won't turn the port on at all.
As silly as it seems, get a USB-C male to USB-A female adapter. Then use a USB-A male to USB-C male cable.
The adapter triggers the Macbook to operate in 5V mode
---