Simple USB cable question

[George]

Is there any difference in an older USB cable and a USB 2.0 cable, other
than marketing hype, gold connectors, and a premium price?

 

[Quaoar]

Is there any difference in an older USB cable and a USB 2.0 cable,
other
than marketing hype, gold connectors, and a premium price?

Probably. Maybe. I have two older cables from the USB 1.0 era that
definitely do not support USB 2. I have many USB 1.1 era cables that
work just fine with USB 2, in the sense that the tranfer rate is
obviously higher than USB 1.1, but I have no quantitative measure.

Q

 

[George]

Is there someone with a hardware, network, cable, or similar company that
could definitively say whether there's any difference in these cables?

Thanks,
George

 

[Quaoar]

Is there someone with a hardware, network, cable, or similar company
that
could definitively say whether there's any difference in these cables?

Thanks,
George

Ignoring the obvious insult, why not do your own research?
http://www.usb.org/home

Q

 

[Richard G. Harper]

I am an engineer and will gladly comment ...

WHAT cables? Can you be a little more specific as to what you're inquiring
about?

 

[NoNoBadDog!]

I assume you are talking about network cables? If so, then the answer is an
unqualified "Perhaps". There are many variables to consider. What type of
metal is used for the wiring? What type of shielding is used? What type of
terminators and/or connectors are used? Are the ends crimped or soldered?
What is the coercivity/retentivity of the finished product? In what type of
situation/environment will the cable be used? Will it be routed with other
cables (either other network cable or telephone/intercom/video/audio)?

Perhaps if you could be more specific about what your needs are, someone can
help you make the right decision.

Bobby

I am an engineer and will gladly comment ...

WHAT cables? Can you be a little more specific as to what you're
inquiring about?

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Is there someone with a hardware, network, cable, or similar company that
could definitively say whether there's any difference in these cables?

Thanks,
George

 

[George]

Thank you, wasn't meant to cause alarm, my apologies and thank you for
taking time to respond. The original question probably should have been
worded better, I hope this might be a better way...

At the local computer supply store....when the package for a USB cable says
something like...

-USB 1.0
-USB 1.1 or
-USB 2

....are there real differences in the performance of these cables and their
compatibility with whatever USB (1, 1.1, or 2) interface a PC has, ...OR...
are the ones that are marked with "USB 2" and flashy packaging and text
along with extra enhancements like lots of gold just meant to help command a
much higher price?

Thanks

 

[Richard G. Harper]

Any reputable brand of USB cable will definitely have differences between
the 1.x and 2.x types of cables. Those that are less reputable ... who
knows.

 

[Ken Wickes [MSFT]]

According to usb.org a fully compliant original USB cable should work for
USB2.0 as well. It's possible that cables not marked for 2.0 might not be
fully compliant.

http://www.usb.org/developers/usb20/faq20/



--

Ken Wickes [MSFT]
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

Any reputable brand of USB cable will definitely have differences between
the 1.x and 2.x types of cables. Those that are less reputable ... who
knows.

--
Richard G. Harper [MVP Win9x] (e-mail address removed)
* PLEASE post all messages and replies in the newsgroups
* for the benefit of all. Private mail is usually not replied to.
* HELP us help YOU ... http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm

Thank you, wasn't meant to cause alarm, my apologies and thank you for
taking time to respond. The original question probably should have been
worded better, I hope this might be a better way...

At the local computer supply store....when the package for a USB cable
says
something like...

-USB 1.0
-USB 1.1 or
-USB 2

...are there real differences in the performance of these cables and their
compatibility with whatever USB (1, 1.1, or 2) interface a PC has,
...OR...
are the ones that are marked with "USB 2" and flashy packaging and text
along with extra enhancements like lots of gold just meant to help command
a
much higher price?

Thanks

 

[Hans-Georg Michna]

Thank you, wasn't meant to cause alarm, my apologies and thank you for
taking time to respond. The original question probably should have been
worded better, I hope this might be a better way...

At the local computer supply store....when the package for a USB cable says
something like...

-USB 1.0
-USB 1.1 or
-USB 2

...are there real differences in the performance of these cables and their
compatibility with whatever USB (1, 1.1, or 2) interface a PC has, ...OR...
are the ones that are marked with "USB 2" and flashy packaging and text
along with extra enhancements like lots of gold just meant to help command a
much higher price?

George,

you already got excellent advice. Let me just add that the
length of the cable also plays a role. A short USB 1 cable will
likely work just fine with USB 2, while a longer one, that's not
specifically designed for USB 2, may not.

But if you're buying now, just buy stuff that explicitly says
USB 2, to avoid any such problem.

Hans-Georg