usb 3.0 active extension lead

[spillage]

Hi All,

Looking for a reliable but not crazy priced active usb lead (at least 8m) to power my asi1600, wheel, guide cam etc..I was looking at the Lindy 43159 or a startech m/f cable. The startech I'm sure this would be more reliable but it has the power in the middle of the cable so I would have to butcher the psu and extend the lead.

 

Has anyone got any experience and advice for me.

 

Cheers

Mark.

[Budgie1]

I use the 15m version of this USB 3 Active extension and it works fine, even when welded to the grass by frost in the winter.

I take it the filter wheel and guide camera are connected to the USB ports on the ASI1600 and not into a USB hub on the mount? If so, then the extension will need to be powered and the power connections for this cable are in the middle or at the mount end. 

[Fegato]

Not much help for you - but for me, I just never got any long USB 3 cables working consistently, active, powered or anything. Wasted a lot of money trying. So first I downgraded to USB 2 and had a  5m active repeater cable, which I managed to get to work reasonably well (USB2 is more consistent over longer cables, and fine for DSO work, but not video / planetary). More recently I got a cheapish mini PC at the mount, connected with LAN cable to my router (any length is fine!). I would say the latter is so much better if you have the option. The mini PC is running imaging and guide cameras, usb hub, power box, auto focuser. The mount I connect direct to the LAN too, because I can, and keeping USB to a minimum is good.

But if you find a long cable that works for you, that's great obviously.

[bottletopburly]

I use a make called Green 10m active usb3 , and use a 12v powered usb3 hub at mount ,only issues ive had is i leave hub at mount for extended period as damp affects it but once dried its fine so i bring it in now and sit it on top of the tower pc to keep it warm and dry 

[spillage]

Thanks all for you comments. Not really sure where to go as my current set up puts my pc in the elements and just had to replace the processor. To be able to move the pc into my shed I need a run of at least 6m from mount to pc. At the moment I am using vga and usb over cat5 extenders to connect the monitor, keyboard and mouse.

 

All the usb at the mount is connected into a startech powered usb 3 hub.

Edited July 16, 2022 by spillage

[Varavall]

49 minutes ago, spillage said:

To be able to move the pc into my shed I need a run of at least 6m from mount to pc.

Hi

I run a 10m Startech active USB 3 cable into my house and computer from my ASI1600MM-cool. I attach the mount EQDIR cable and filter wheel to the camera USB 2 ports (I found PHD2 guiding worked better when attached to the camera) The ZWO EAF and guide camera I run over a separate powered 10m USB 2 cable. Works a treat for me once I got the cable run worked out!

[Budgie1]

2 hours ago, spillage said:

All the usb at the mount is connected into a startech powered usb 3 hub.

If you have a powered USB3 hub at the mount then there's no need to power the active USB3 extension as well. There is enough power from the hub at the mount end & the PC/laptop at the other for it to work, that's how my 15m USB3 extension works.

I have the mount in the garden and the laptop in the house. I run a 240v waterproof extension lead to the mount for power and the USB3 extension. I used to have a USB3 hub at the mount but this has been replaced with a Pegasus Power Box Advance, which connects the EQDIR, main camera, guide camera & ZWO EAF. Everything is sent back to the laptop by the 15m USB3 extension.  

[Clarkey]

I have used a similar system to Budgie1 above without a problem. (The asi1600 was temperamental with the hub but the cable was ok). You can get 12v powered hubs which make it easy to use a standard astro supply.

I have now converted to a Mele Quieter 2 mini PC at the mount for convenience which is just easier for me.