alacant Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 (edited) Hi everyone. I've a mount hub to computer connection with a usb3 female on the mount. i want to connect this to a computer around 3m away. A 3m usb3 cable doesn't work. A 0.5m usb3 cable connected to a 3m usb2 cable works. Apart from moving the computer closer to the mount -which puts it out of reach of the guy's vnc over wifi- what options do I have for usb3 between mount and computer? Cheers Edited April 4, 2023 by alacant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgie1 Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 Use an Active USB 3 cable. This powered and will transfer the data without issue. I had a 15m Active USB 3 cable which was powered by a laptop at one end and a USB3 hub at the other. This worked fine, even down to -5°C in the winter. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc-c Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 As Martin has mentioned, anything over 3m ideally should be an active cable regardless of which USB standard is being used. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alacant Posted April 4, 2023 Author Share Posted April 4, 2023 (edited) 4 hours ago, Budgie1 said: Active USB 3 cable OK and thanks for the reply. I'm being particularly thick today so I can't find one. It appears simple enough now I know what I'm looking for, but seems impossible to find. A 3m active usb3 cable with these plugs at either end. I've tried in English and Spanish... nada. Any ideas? TIA Edited April 4, 2023 by alacant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublevodka Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 Shouldn't need an active cable for only a 3M run really, FLO has some non-active ones going up to 5M https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/usb+a+to+b+cable/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc-c Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 2 minutes ago, doublevodka said: Shouldn't need an active cable for only a 3M run really, FLO has some non-active ones going up to 5M https://www.firstlightoptics.com/search/for/usb+a+to+b+cable/ The post title states the OP is looking for cables over 3m. I found this 5m one with the same type B plug but at 100 euros it's not cheap !! But then found this for £7.34, but although 5m it doesn't state if its an active cable or not. The Start Tech active cable is £85 off Amazon or £42 from this listing on Amazon, but stock is limited Or a 10m Active USB 3 cable from Lindy for £30.84 here Hope that helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty38 Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 (edited) Do you need or want USB3? If there's no real need then why not just use a USB2 cable? I know folk have mentioned the distance but if the USB2 works it'll certainly be more cost effective than an active cable. Forgot to say and it may be obvious but a USB2 cable will fit and work fine in a USB3 port. Edited April 4, 2023 by scotty38 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alacant Posted April 4, 2023 Author Share Posted April 4, 2023 6 minutes ago, scotty38 said: Do you need or want USB3 For taking video of a planet, it would be nice. Otherwise 5 minute frames of a galaxy present no problem over usb2. Dunno. Still thinking... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carbon Brush Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 To add.... USB2 is slower data than USB3. That makes it more tolerant of cable losses. If you are sending relatively few commands, like controlling a mount and sending a few camera commands, a slow data rate is fine. If you want to live stream high resolution video, you need a high data rate. Cheap cables often give problems when pushed to the limit. A 'known name' screened cable is essential. The cheap stuff is best regarded as OK for low power charging, or a short length. In the grand schemme of astrophotography spend, and few clear nights, why chance it? If you have spent >£1000 on a scope, mount and camera, why fuss about even £100 on decent cables? HTH, David. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotty38 Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 4 minutes ago, alacant said: For taking video of a planet, it would be nice. Otherwise 5 minute frames of a galaxy present no problem over usb2. Dunno. Still thinking... I was hoping you wouldn't say video but you just had to didn't you 🙂 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgie1 Posted April 4, 2023 Share Posted April 4, 2023 (edited) 1 hour ago, alacant said: OK and thanks for the reply. I'm being particularly thick today so I can't find one. It appears simple enough now I know what I'm looking for, but seems impossible to find. A 3m active usb3 cable with these plugs at either end. I've tried in English and Spanish... nada. Any ideas? TIA StarTech do this 5m version: StarTech.com 5m 15 ft Active USB 3.0 USB-A to USB-B Cable Strangely, their 10m version is cheaper on Amazon's UK site. I got the 15m version of THIS ONE which came with a PSU, but I use it as an extension between the laptop & USB hub, rather than a direct connection to a camera or other piece of kit. Edited April 4, 2023 by Budgie1 Helps if you actually add the link to the text! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bomberbaz Posted April 5, 2023 Share Posted April 5, 2023 I have used a cable similar to this although it's 5 metres. Cable. It isn't a powered cable, but I have streamed video with it although as yet not recorded high speed video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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