I am having an issue also. I am not sure it is as consistant as yours.
I don't believe having Shareport installed on a computer makes any difference to
the router seeing the usb device(s). In any case it shouldn't.
When I first set up the router - it seem to work fine (i played with it for a couple minutes)
The other day I actually wanted to use it, and it tells me there are no USB devices hooked up.
I notice that the USB led on the router is not lit.
It seems a crap shoot trying to get it lit.... power down / power up, press the rest button, etc.
I also tried setting the internal config back to the WCN config setting - saving - then setting it back to
usb...
If I get the USB led everything is great... until it goes out. Which is random. It goes out with the device still plugged in/powered up. So far I tried a USB flash drive, and an external HD. The Hard Drive is self powered - it never goes off... so I don't know why the Router seems to9 stop sensing it. But it is damned annoying.
I really like this router, and this is not a deal breaker - but I'd like it to work !!!!!
There hasn't been a firmware update for months... I think it must be time