Cables, cables, bloody cables.

[Gordy]

Hi all. I need new USB cables for the camera, and while I am at it will also replace those running to the auto focuser and laptop etc. Its been nothing but trouble since buying a set of cables from a well known electronic national retailer to replace the dubious ones that came with the gear.



Can someone tell me where in Aust is the best place to get good quality cables. (I am not interested in cheap Chinese knock offs - been there done that.)

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

Originally Posted by Gordy

Can someone tell me where in Aust is the best place to get good quality cables. (I am not interested in cheap Chinese knock offs - been there done that.)

Ummm... arn't they all made in China?

[mura_gadi (Steve)]

Try a commercial cable maker and get them to replace the USB cable with a good solid core cable like the CAT-5e internet cable.

Depending on your ability to strip wires and resolder its pretty easy as a DYI project.

[Tinderboxsky (Steve)]

Lindy Australia stock a huge range of quality cables. Excellent online service too. I have bought many cables from them over the years and all have performed flawlessly.

[Gordy]

Thanks Steve, I will give them a call. Gordy,

[Startrek (Martin)]

Most cables available in Oz are manufactured in China / Taiwan
The best of the Chinese / Taiwanese rubbish are Startech cables
I’ve tried just about everything ( including Lindy cables including chrome series ) and kept coming back to Startech
The Startech USB3 cables are mega expensive but bloody work and last. I’ve had my Startech 5m USB3 Active cables now for 4 years at 2 different sites and I reckon they will last for years to come. Startech give a 2 year warranty and supply cable performance sheets for review on request
I use a local Startech distributor in Sydney called Mwave

I look at it this way, I spent $180 on one Startech 5m USB3 cable which I reckon will last for 10 years ( that’s $18 a year )
I stuffed around with cheaper USB cables ( including USB2 ) from various suppliers ( spent around $200 in less than 12 months and still had drop outs etc.. threw the lot in the bin, as soon as you bend these cheaper cable near the connector beyond say 75 degrees curvature a few times these cheaper cables just bloody fail )
Poor materials , design and QC ( built for a cost but not built to perform well and last )

My 2 cents …..

[ronson]

One more vote for Startech certified USB cables. I replace one of the ZWO with this and works fine: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00DX7B...lig_dp_it&th=1

[oska (John)]

It doesn't matter how "good" or "certified" your cable is if you bend them too far (or too often even in some cases). That's the usual failure mode for any high speed cable, USB3, ethernet, Display Port, HDMI etc. They all have a minimum bend radius as part of their spec.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by oska

It doesn't matter how "good" or "certified" your cable is if you bend them too far (or too often even in some cases). That's the usual failure mode for any high speed cable, USB3, ethernet, Display Port, HDMI etc. They all have a minimum bend radius as part of their spec.

Recommended minimum bend radius
I’ve bent my Startech USB3 cables to a reasonably tight 90 degrees ( to my guide cameras ) without kinking and their still performing fine
Other cables forget it
Maybe I scored a few good cables out a production run ??
Or just good luck mixed with a bit of magic thrown in ??

[mura_gadi (Steve)]

I'll add in you don't want your coils close together either if you're wrapping them around poles etc. The insulation may not stop interference from electrical leakage.

[oska (John)]

It's not angle but radius - you can go round in loops if you keep the radius large enough. What that radius is specifically depends on all several things, manufacturing, materials and signals (type). The point being if you bend any high speed cable too tightly it will be prone to failure. That doesn't necessarily mean it will instantly fail but rather be more likely to drop out or transfer more slowly or indeed fail entirely. Even larger than the minimum can still fail because of movement. eg plugging it in and out causes movement. We're talking high frequency stuff here (GHz), sometimes very high, and that stuff is black magic even to those that design it
Or to put it another way, cheap Chinese cables are fine if you don't "operate" them out of spec - granted their spec will be worse than a good quality one.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by oska

It's not angle but radius - you can go round in loops if you keep the radius large enough. What that radius is specifically depends on all several things, manufacturing, materials and signals (type). The point being if you bend any high speed cable too tightly it will be prone to failure. That doesn't necessarily mean it will instantly fail but rather be more likely to drop out or transfer more slowly or indeed fail entirely. Even larger than the minimum can still fail because of movement. eg plugging it in and out causes movement. We're talking high frequency stuff here (GHz), sometimes very high, and that stuff is black magic even to those that design it
Or to put it another way, cheap Chinese cables are fine if you don't "operate" them out of spec - granted their spec will be worse than a good quality one.

So true
I categorise cables from China / Taiwan being
Good Chinese Rubbish or
Crap Chinese Rubbish
My Startech cables are good chinese rubbish and have served me well over the years , even their Active powered hubs are pretty good
I use the “industrial ones”
Cheers
M