Posts Tagged ‘cable’

Test USB-C Cable For USB 2.0 and USB 3.0x Standards

Rich Gates September 12, 2023 USB Cables

Test USB-C Cable For USB 2.0

The C2C caberQU is a USB board to test a USB-C cable in a variety of situations or configurations.

This handy tool for computer professionals will check USB-C cables in great detail and down to every pin found inside a USB-C cable. It applies voltage to all the pins in a cable and detects which ones are connected on the other end. With 25 LEDs, it can show all possible combinations for USB-C pins in various modes, such as USB 2.0/1.1, USB Power Delivery, USB 3.0/3.1/3.2, Alternate Mode, Debug Accessory Mode, and Audio Adapter Accessory Mode. A comprehensive manual is included to explain connectors, modes, and pin details.

Examples for IT Managers:

USB Cable Verification = Imagine an IT manager dealing with a pile of USB-C cables in an office. They can use the C2C caberQU board to quickly test and identify the functionality of each cable. This ensures that the right cables are used for different devices, preventing data transfer issues or device compatibility problems.
Hardware Troubleshooting = In a data center or server room, an IT manager may encounter connectivity problems with USB-C peripherals. By using the C2C caberQU board, they can pinpoint cable issues, such as broken pins or incorrect connections, saving time and minimizing downtime.
Inventory Management = Managing a stock of USB-C cables for an organization can be challenging. The C2C caberQU board helps IT managers ensure that the purchased cables meet the required specifications. They can easily distinguish between different cable versions (like V1 and V3) and make informed purchasing decisions based on their specific needs.

V1 vs. V3 – Which One to Choose?

Test USB-C Cable For USB 3.0

There are two versions of the C2C caberQU board available, V1 and V3, with some distinctions:

V1 comes with a standard battery, while V3 features a German name brand battery.
V3 can be used with a protective case.
V1 lacks hanging holes for convenient storage.
V1 has a slightly different printed design.

Both V1 and V3 serve the same purpose, testing USB-C to USB-C cables effectively. They include the same manual and offer identical LED combinations for testing.

Why did these guys make it?

USB-C cables come in numerous variations, making it challenging to select the right one for specific tasks. If the wrong cable is used, it can lead to slower data transfer rates or device incompatibility. USB-C cables must adhere to specific pin configurations, grounding, and resistor requirements, adding to the complexity.

Why is this better testing USB-C board?

Determining if a particular cable supports a specific use case can be challenging. Broken pins can make matters worse due to their unpredictable behavior. The C2C caberQU cable tester simplifies this process. By flipping the USB connectors, it lights up opposing LEDs on certain pins, as per the USB-C standard. The product includes one CR2032 battery, the PCB, and a comprehensive manual. Note that the USB-C cable is not included, and you need to select the pins according to your specific requirements.

No external power supply is required, as the CR2032 battery provides the necessary power when a cable is connected. This battery should last for an extended period.

Please keep in mind that this item is a prototype, not certified, and mainly suitable for prototyping purposes. If a more economical shipping option is available, it will be used, and any cost difference will be refunded. Funny quirks and unexpected behavior are possible but are part of its prototyping nature.

The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) was founded by a group of technology companies, including Intel, Microsoft, and others, in 1995. Its primary purpose is to promote and develop USB (Universal Serial Bus) technology standards. The USB 3.0 specification, also known as USB 3.1 Gen 1, was released in 2008. This marked a significant advancement in data transfer speeds, offering up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps) compared to the slower USB 2.0 standard. USB 3.0 introduced improved performance and backward compatibility, enhancing the connectivity and functionality of various devices and peripherals.

No affiliation or affiliate money to this item, but you can source it here: The C2C caberQU USB board for about $30 USD.

Inexpensive iPhone Charging Cable – and Smart

Rich Gates March 25, 2020 Apple / iPod, microUSB, Power for USB

Are you looking for an inexpensive iPhone cable? This is a common search on Google because those cables go missing, get taken by your kids or co-workers, or possible break. It is as-though we need an endless supply of them. I don’t recall the last cable I had which lasted more than four months. There is an article out there, somewhere, that claims for each iPhone made, the user will need at least three cables for charging it. The link to that article escapes me, but I do believe it speaks the truth. From personal experience there is one needed for the car to charge while driving. One needed at work to charge while working, need that TV back-ground noise {wink}, and one needed at home for charging overnight.

iPhone cables or lightening cables are expensive. Go to Amazon and you will find a decent six foot cable costing nearly $20. Couple that cost with our observation about needing three cables, we are now looking at a $60 dollar expense. No thanks! We want an inexpensive iPhone charging cable.

This cable problem actually gets worse, not better, here is why:

You need microUSB cables to charge your portable battery packs. Okay, so we have our three cables for charging an iPhone. The work one, the car one and the home one. Of course we all have portable batteries to charge our phone, when away from said places. How do you charge those portable batteries? With a microUSB cable. At least those are cheaper than an iPhone lightening cable. Never-the-less it’s still another corded cable.

We all need the portable battery for charging – don’t think otherwise! Kids baseball game could stretch to three hours. Girls softball games are usually 1.4 hours and a couple per day. A golf round with your friends, typically 4.5 hours. The point, many times we find ourselves away from the car, home and work place and have the need for charging.

How do we solve this problem of finding an inexpensive iPhone charging cable? The answer is with a combination of products. The combination will not only charge your iPhone, but also charge the portable battery packs.

Going to Amazon you can find a pack of five microUSB cables for under $10. Be sure to check the length you want. It is easy to make the mistake of buying a shorter cable because the price is a bit lower, only to find out the length is too short.

The other item you need is a microUSB to Lightening adapter. This are little adapters that sit at the end of your microUSB connector and transfor the connection to a Lightening connection for your iPhone. A pack of four can be found on Amazon for less than $10.

Its important to note, these adapters only supply power to your iPhone. The adapters do not allow data transmission to your iPhone. Which is fine, when is the last time you connected your iPhone to the computer anyway for sync’ing? It’s all done wirelessly.

So with our $20 you just spent at Amazone you have three Lightening cables to charge your iPhone and you have three microUSB cables to charge your portable power pack. This is a very inexpensive iPhone charge cable solution. It would amaze me on why anyone would purchase something different, don’t you?

How USB Cables Affect Charging – Simple Test

Rich Gates October 23, 2019 Power for USB

I came across an interesting article today from Dr Gough, a tech nerd. and thought it good enough to summarize here:

The USB specifications for power from a port vary from 100mA to 1.5A and up to 100W of power for USB Type C, but the cables and connectors used in a cable might not align with the power specifications of the product being designed and used. Cables are typically rated for about 1.8A of current, which is most common for cables used for charging.

usb cable

The 1.8A rating is based on safety limits for resistive heating of the cable and connectors. The rating is no guarantee your +5V at 1.5A setup will get you the maximum level of power. The important point here, the cable and connector combination is simply a rating to deal with heat, and ensures nothing melts. Going a step further, most specs ensure nothing gets noticeably warm to the human touch.

Every wire that’s not a superconductor has some finite resistance. Said another way, resistance is transferred into heat. Ohm’s law tells says that E = IR, where E is voltage, I is current, and R is resistance. So when you put power through a wire, the current X resistance gives me the voltage that will be “consumed” across that wire, power that turns into heat, and thus, never makes it to your phone.

I want to end this blog post with the above paragraph as that is the real takeaway here. The more inefficient (or cheap) a cable is, the warmer it will get. So if your iPhone cable is warm to the touch, it sucks. If your wire charging your power bank is warm, it sucks. Get a better cable. From what I can tell, there is no rating posted on all these cables you see on Amazon at cheap prices, so word to the wise using your tactile feel!

USB Zipper Cable – Great Idea

Mark McCrosky January 22, 2014 Brando USB, USB Cables

The Xpower 2 in 1 Zipper USB cable will support all micro USB and lightning devices. With its unique zipper design, it allows the cable to become expandable enough to charge more than one device at any given moment. It also supports iOS 7 and android devices. It is conveniently 36cm in length. The 2 in 1 Zipper USB cable will make multitasking much easier. The design and size make it very practical for transporting with you on the go. Its cable syncsupport is a 2.4A output at max and it has a 30/30 AWG high speed transmission and cable sync with micro UBSs only.

USB zipper cable

Source:Â Brando. Continue Reading

Peddle to the Metal with USB 3.1 Spec

Mark McCrosky August 2, 2013 USB 3.0, USB Cables

The Universal Serial Buss Implementers Forum or USB-IF has released their new specification, USB 3.1.Â The full spec will be available for download off the USB-IF website on Friday Aug 2, 2013.Â The new specification allows for 10Gb/s transfer rate.Â Of course this is optimal transfer speed without the incurrence of operating system resources trying to regulate bandwidth for multi device transfers, but none-the-less it’s a huge jump in speed for USB.

USB 3.1 cable

USB is the most versatile connector type in the computer market.Â Universal Serial Bus (USB) is an industry standard developed in the mid-1990s that defines the cables, connectors and communications protocols used in a bus for connection, communication, and power supply between computers and electronic devices. Originally USB was specific to connect computer peripherals such as keyboards, pointing devices, digital cameras, printers and network adapters.Â With the increased need for bandwidth with digital content and the faster speeds of portable storage devices and smartphones the need to increase the speed of USB has been significant. In addition the USB specification incorporated a Power Delivery or PD protocol which can deliver up to 100watts of power over a USB cable.Â The PD technology must use a certified cable with the Power Delivery wiring so not all USB cables will have the PD ability.Â The intent is to permit uniformly charging laptops, tablets, USB-powered disks and similarly higher power consumer electronics, as a natural extension of existing European and Chinese mobile telephone charging standards. With the increased 3.1 speeds and the power ability of 100watts per cable it appears USB has made a substantial gain in the cable of choice for manufacturers and consumers a like for connecting their peripherals to their host computers. The USB 3.1 specification is just now in development and products should come to market in the next 8-10 months. Continue Reading

USB Cable Lets You Control Smartphone Screen Through PC

Rich Gates January 31, 2013 microUSB, Networking

The DN-84254 is a microUSB cable which mirrors your smartphone screen on your PC.Â The sync software allows you to click around on the PC screen and control your phone.

So what’s it good for, imagine this:Â Â If an app would require you to input letters or characters, you can simply do so by using the PC’s keyboard. Several key shortcut buttons on top of the program also allow you to conveniently make the device do specific commands, or access certain areas instantly. So, aside from being able to record screen activity directly on your PC (for gaming and reviews and the likes), you can also intuitively control the smartphone within the PC’s environment as if it was just a simple Android emulating program or similar. For me, this cable is worth Continue Reading

Dream Cable: iPhone, microUSB And miniUSB All In One

Rich Gates September 14, 2011 Apple / iPod, microUSB, USB Cables, USB Fever

I’m sure we all have our own definition of an ideal cable, meaning a cable which connects to more then one device. For me, the new 3-in-1 cable from USB Fever is it. The 3-in-1 cable works with any iPhone or iPad type product, any device using a microUSB connector or any device which uses miniUSB connector. What is great about this cable is that three different connectors are seamlessly integrated with the end part of the cable. You do not see three wires splitting off for different connectors. All in-line, tight and organized. Here take a look:

In addition the iPhone 3-in-1 cable is tethered to a retractable assembly to pull the wires in when not in use. For me, all of the above is ideal because I have one station at home which charges my kids DS, my iPhone and my Nikon point-n-shoot camera. Now I can power all three with only one cable. Continue Reading

String Theory Applied to USB Hub

Rich Gates April 24, 2008 USB Fever, USB Hub

USB Fever is thinking outside the box on this one.Â Going away from standard box USB hubs, this hub is all cable.Â To continue along the lines of abstract thinking USB Fever includes a separate power cable to extract juice from the system bus solely for the purpose of powering up those peripherals.

usb cable hub

So we are looking at one upstream USB connection, a 4 port USB hub held together by cables along with a dedicated power line (red cap) for those thirsty gadgets. You should note, one of the four USB ports is a mini USB connection.Â All this for just $14 + $3 shipping. USB Cable Hub product page Continue Reading