Active Extension USB Cable question

[bluesilver (Peter)]

Hi, I just thought i would ask this question in a separate post to help reduce any confusion.

I am looking at the Active Extension USB cables.
So far i have found two types of these cables, one that uses a 240V adaptor that plugs into the side of the female plug like the ones seen on Startech cables:
https://www.mwave.com.au/product/sta...ble-mf-ab68977
https://www.mwave.com.au/product/sta...ble-mf-ab93813

And then the ones that say they have a built in chip, so i am guessing this is just another word for a repeater:
https://www.lindy.com.au/usb-2-0-act...nsion-cable-5m
https://www.lindy.com.au/usb-3-0-act...nsion-cable-5m

Quiet a bit of difference in the price between the two different designs.

Is there a benefit from using a powered one compared to a chip version one?

I was thinking of running one of these from my laptop to a powered USB 3.0 hub, and then just run a short USB 2.0 cable to my mount ( to control the mount ) and another short USB3.0 to the other port on my mount to drive all my imaging gear

I hope all that makes sense.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Peter,
At both my Dome on the South Coast NSW and in Sydney I use a Startech 5m Active USB3 cable from laptop to a Startech USB3 industrial 4 port powered hub mounted under my Losmandy bar on the mount. Then from that hub I use short Startech USB3 cables to connect to imaging camera and guide camera. Filter wheel is connected straight to imaging camera USB2 aux port with short USB2 cable supplied by ZWO in filter wheel box. I ran a separate Startech USB2 Active extension cable 5m + 0.5m USB2 cable from Laptop to the mounts USB2B port.
I spent a couple of hundred bucks on cables at both sites but they have worked flawlessly for years. Prior to that I had endless dropouts using cheap cables and no hubs

“I don’t use Lindy cables as they gave me problems “

https://www.startech.com/en-au/cables/usb3sab5m

https://www.mwave.com.au/product/sta...ble-mf-ab68977

https://www.startech.com/en-au/usb-hubs/st4300usbm

NB: This may not solve your connectivity problem but this cabling system works for me and has done for years !!!

Cheers
Martin

[bluesilver (Peter)]

Hi Martin,
Thanks for the reply and advice, always appreciate you advice and help.
I think i may end up going down this track and just get some decent cables.
As you mentioned, they are not cheap, but like most gear now, you get what you pay for.
I figured the non powered active cables is just a marketing thing when they should really just be labeled a repeater cable.
Very much appreciate you advice,
Cheers.