10 ms·

Need a USB Cable? Build One

206 points by Gedxx 7y ago

oneplane 7y ago
I suppose this is more of an aesthetic thing than a tech thing considering that a cable like this probably doesn't match the USB spec very well ;-)
- penagwin 7y ago
  Actually I'm not sure, I don't know much about the spec, but I know that USB 3 has certain pairings similar to ethernet, but USB 2 doesn't have those. If the cable he's using is shielded by ground then I think it might be up to USB 2 spec? Edit: Interesting mini-comparison of USB 1 and USB 2 http://ww3.microtek.com.tw/tw/uploads/faq/pdf/comparison-usb2.0-cable3.pdf http://ww3.microtek.com.tw/tw/uploads/faq/pdf/comparison-usb...
  - miahi 7y ago
    Shielding doesn't mean it meets the required impedance/attenuation for the USB frequencies. USB uses the same idea as Ethernet (differential signaling) so you can make an analogy - Ethernet requires different cable specifications depending on the speed, and it's the same with USB. And the same as with Ethernet, you can usually use a lower-specced cable for short lengths.
  - metaphor 7y ago
    > Actually I'm not sure, I don't know much about the spec... See the USB 2.0 Cables and Connectors Class Document[1], in particular, 4.10.7 Test Group '6'. Why speculate when the USB-IF has made their standards both free and readily accessible? [1] https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/CabConn20.pdf https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/CabConn20.pdf
- sannee 7y ago
  Interestingly, even the full speed spec (which is likely what the keyboard is running at) requires a shielded cable (which the one linked in the post isn't).
ocdtrekkie 7y ago
This is cool, and for an art project, sensible, but USB is far to much of a pain in the rear for regular cable-making if you, "need" a USB cable. I prefer to cut my own CAT 5/6 over buying premade in a lot of situations, but that doesn't require I heat up the soldering iron.
- hathawsh 7y ago
  On that tangent... I've made some CAT 5 cables using a crimping tool, but aligning all 8 wires in the correct order for simultaneous insertion into the plug is quite a bit of work. Is there a trick or tool for doing it quickly?
  - LukeShu 7y ago
    Having made a lot of them... the only trick I know is "practice".
  - ocdtrekkie 7y ago
    Probably the biggest "pro-tip" I've seen from ISP cable techs is that they tend to strip way more cable than they need to go in the connector, like two or three inches worth, align the wires, kinda bend them back and forth to get everything smoothly bending the same way (straight, ideally), and then cutting off the excess. The easy though I've seen is some folks use RJ-45 jacks with holes in the end of the connector, so you can run this excess length right through the connector, and then the crimper cuts off the excess as well.
    - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
      I've found that the first method listed works pretty well- you just have to make sure that the strands don't switch places after you cut them.
    - jws 7y ago
      …seen is some folks use RJ-45 jacks with holes in the end of the connector… What‽ Well that's going to make my once-in-a-while cable terminating experience better. I like the idea of knowing each wire made it to the contact, and being able to audit them on the outgoing side before trimming. A quick googling says the wording to search for is "RJ45 Passthrough Connectors", then be careful because the #1 Amazon hits are not actually CAT6 connectors despite their titles, and some of the other top ones are of, let's say variable quality.
jolmg 7y ago
> GX12 or GX16 4-pin aviation connector (Aliexpress) for decoration. Aesthetics is subjective of course, but I've never really liked things that are added for decoration but have no functional purpose. It's like fake drawers on cabinets or fake pockets on shirts or blazers. In this case, I imagine that connector even adds weight to the cable for no reason at all. It's got to make it a bit uncomfortable when using the keyboard off the desk which I imagine is the purpose of the coiling. My kind of beauty is the adminbook[1]. Everything has a functional purpose in that. Nothing is added simply because it looks pretty. Is there a name for this kind of aesthetics? [1] https://habr.com/en/post/437912/ https://habr.com/en/post/437912/
- PascLeRasc 7y ago
  Let's say you were very into mechanical keyboards and DIY boards (and I think that's a fair assumption if you're building your own cables). You might do this to let you have one cable run from your computer/monitor hub and easily switch between different keyboards with USB-C or micro/mini connectors. What's the idea behind the key coloring on the Adminbook? (https://hsto.org/webt/2-/mh/ag/2-mhagvoofl7vgqiadv3rcnclb0.jpeg https://hsto.org/webt/2-/mh/ag/2-mhagvoofl7vgqiadv3rcnclb0.j...). I think there's a certain "it's extra bulky and ugly because it looks more functional that way" to both the Adminbook and the 4-pin industrial connector, and that's fine.
  - jolmg 7y ago
    > You might do this to let you have one cable run from your computer/monitor hub and easily switch between different keyboards with USB-C or micro/mini connectors. And the cable does have a microusb connector, but what I was talking about was the inclusion of some aviation connector right in the middle. Even the post said it was purely decorative. > What's the idea behind the key coloring on the Adminbook? The post on the adminbook does talk about the rationale behind the colors: > To hit the buttons faster, different key colors are used. > For example, the numeric row is specifically colored gray to visually separate it from the QWERTY row, and NumLock is mapped to the “6” key, colored black to stand out. > the function keys can be pressed without Fn. These are separate keys that are even divided into groups of 4 using color coding and location. > That is, it’s an LED above the display, illuminating the keyboard from the top. In this case, it is better than a backlight from below, because it allows you to distinguish the color of the keys. > Indicators are color-coded. With regards to: > I think there's a certain "it's extra bulky and ugly because it looks more functional that way" to both the Adminbook and the 4-pin industrial connector, and that's fine. I don't think the industrial connector itself is not functional, but rather its inclusion in a USB cable. On the keyboard coloring scheme of the Adminbook, whether you would use it or not, it definitely can be used to distinguish different key groups. Besides the ones mentioned in the parts I quoted, there's also the light background color for the keypad buttons, the dark background color for the '0', '-', and '=' keys which are used for controlling zooming in multiple applications. The F key is where the nub for your index finger is to quickly position your hand correctly, etc.
jascii 7y ago
Sigh, whipping up a cable when needed has become something to post about? Does having stacks of pin-out diagrams and a hot soldering iron near my desk make me look old?
- irq 7y ago
  No, but it might make you stand out a bit from the almost entirely software focused nature of this web site.
- kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
  Using paracord for sleeving is a good idea. Could be useful in practical applications.
  - lbotos 7y ago
    Is it tho? I have paracord on my HyperX headset and it's HORRIBLE, tangles constantly. I'm considering cutting it off just to avoid the tangle. On something that never moves, maybe, but I abhor it.
    - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
      Maybe replace it? There's a huge difference in quality between what manufacturers use and the 550 paracord that was used in this project.
      - moftz 7y ago
        Paracord is usually a bit more rough than the smooth nylon that you find on lots of fancy cables.
    - kuzimoto 7y ago
      Odd, everything I've seen (that's at least paracord-like) was less prone to tangles than regular cable.
    - psweber 7y ago
Animats 7y ago
I wonder if it works at the higher USB speeds. It would be interesting to use a time domain reflectometer on that to see if the big 4-pin connector causes an impedance mismatch. Here's a TI document on USB signal PC board layout.[1] Look at all those touchy requirements. Differential lines must be the same length, down to a millimeter or so. Stubs off to the side are bad, even stubs the thickness of a PC board. They cause reflections. USB, despite how common it is, has tough electrical specs. USB-C (which is only vaguely related to USB A and B) is even worse. [1] http://www.ti.com/lit/an/spraar7h/spraar7h.pdf http://www.ti.com/lit/an/spraar7h/spraar7h.pdf
- edoo 7y ago
  USB high speed or slower is actually quite forgiving but you will eat up bus bandwidth on a range leading up to non-workability because if the minimum quality is met it will keep retrying. I've pulled off some designs without impedance matched traces with lengths beyond 40% of the signal wavelength (well into transmission line worry territory) that had no issues and helped keep production costs down.
- epx 7y ago
  Probably not. Assembled a keyboard with a CircuitPython controller, used the bundled mini-USB daughterboard and soldered a short piece of micro-USB cable to connect the controller (to keep the controller side unpluggable). Frozen at random times, solved by using a whole cable straight out from the controller. The original controller used software USB, meaning 1.1 speeds, and the new controller was of course high-speed 2.0.
- willis936 7y ago
  I like TDRs and they have a lot of uses in characterizing channels (especially with time gating). I think you could get away with much less expensive and much more friendly hardware in this case, since all you need is RL or VSWR.
- cushychicken 7y ago
  It's not the electrical performance that bones you - it's the emissions performance. USB stands out like a Dutch brothel in the emissions chamber if you mess up the routing or return path. In signal integrity terms, I've found it quite robust.
jaclaz 7y ago
Worth of note: >USB connectors. In my case USB-Mini and USB-A but you can buy USB-Micro and USB-C too. Sure I can buy the connectors, but soldering a USB-Micro is not exactly the same of a USB-A or a USB-Mini, let alone a USB-C. And no, those pre-soldered to a breadboard don't count for a DIY cable.
x62Bh7948f 7y ago
Nice cable! I’m yet to meet someone who actually uses the hiragana layout for writing japanese.
- gwilkes 7y ago
  Indeed, I don't even know any Japanese people that use the kana keys. I don't know the recent data but in 2009 there was a study that found only 12% of Japanese people used kana input. Something that is disappointing about these keycaps is that they mostly only make these for US keyboard layouts not actual Japanese keyboard layouts. I have a Japanese keyboard that the keys were getting worn on and something like this seems like it would be a good replacement but it isn't because several of the keys that aren't letters such as shift characters on numbers and other special characters are labeled wrong for a real Japanese keyboard. There are some Japanese layout replacement keycaps but the selection is very limited compared to how many of these stylistic kana keycaps they make for US layouts. I cringe a little bit every time I see these keycaps. I mean I get it, but still.
- corey_moncure 7y ago
  I couldn't find け or む on this keyboard...
agumonkey 7y ago
I've been trying to turn old broken micro/mini usb cables into new ones using these https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-LOT-YT2153B-Micro-USB-4Pin-Male-connector-plug-Black-White-welding-Data-OTG-line-interface/32832871275.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-LOT-YT2153B-Micro-USB-... But they're a tad too tiny/frail. Anyone knows some larger micro usb connector kits ?
mb_72 7y ago
Better build two; a backup of a special cable is always nice to have and it's much more convenient to order the parts and build both at the same time.
mrtweetyhack 7y ago
Need a pencil? Build One. Need underwear? Build One.
xyzal 7y ago
Reminded me of this project: Flash drive disguised as a sawed-off usb cable. https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2008/how-to-make-a-sawed-off-usb-key/ https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2008/how-to-make-a-sawed-of...
mncharity 7y ago
I'd like a USB cable with a flat right-angle low-profile soft connector. Like a USB mouse/keyboard wireless dongle, but instead of the hard plastic hardware, that's just the start of the cable. Starting with a slight angle, so it works with a row of inline USB ports. For always-in on-the-go USB cables, without the socket-destroying mechanical advantage lever of traditional connectors. I use laptop USB ports for hand tracking cameras, an HMD, and related cruft. Frequent mobile use, and unfortunate ThinkPad port placement, has those port sockets mechanically distressed. I now have sticks which slide onto the laptop to brace the cables, but... a cleaner solution would be nice. A new laptop might have better placement, but would still need protective sticks.

206 points by Gedxx 7y ago

I suppose this is more of an aesthetic thing than a tech thing considering that a cable like this probably doesn't match the USB spec very well ;-)

penagwin 7y ago
Actually I'm not sure, I don't know much about the spec, but I know that USB 3 has certain pairings similar to ethernet, but USB 2 doesn't have those. If the cable he's using is shielded by ground then I think it might be up to USB 2 spec? Edit: Interesting mini-comparison of USB 1 and USB 2 http://ww3.microtek.com.tw/tw/uploads/faq/pdf/comparison-usb2.0-cable3.pdf http://ww3.microtek.com.tw/tw/uploads/faq/pdf/comparison-usb...
- miahi 7y ago
  Shielding doesn't mean it meets the required impedance/attenuation for the USB frequencies. USB uses the same idea as Ethernet (differential signaling) so you can make an analogy - Ethernet requires different cable specifications depending on the speed, and it's the same with USB. And the same as with Ethernet, you can usually use a lower-specced cable for short lengths.
- metaphor 7y ago
  > Actually I'm not sure, I don't know much about the spec... See the USB 2.0 Cables and Connectors Class Document[1], in particular, 4.10.7 Test Group '6'. Why speculate when the USB-IF has made their standards both free and readily accessible? [1] https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/CabConn20.pdf https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/CabConn20.pdf
sannee 7y ago
Interestingly, even the full speed spec (which is likely what the keyboard is running at) requires a shielded cable (which the one linked in the post isn't).

ocdtrekkie 7y ago

This is cool, and for an art project, sensible, but USB is far to much of a pain in the rear for regular cable-making if you, "need" a USB cable. I prefer to cut my own CAT 5/6 over buying premade in a lot of situations, but that doesn't require I heat up the soldering iron.

hathawsh 7y ago
On that tangent... I've made some CAT 5 cables using a crimping tool, but aligning all 8 wires in the correct order for simultaneous insertion into the plug is quite a bit of work. Is there a trick or tool for doing it quickly?
- LukeShu 7y ago
  Having made a lot of them... the only trick I know is "practice".
- ocdtrekkie 7y ago
  Probably the biggest "pro-tip" I've seen from ISP cable techs is that they tend to strip way more cable than they need to go in the connector, like two or three inches worth, align the wires, kinda bend them back and forth to get everything smoothly bending the same way (straight, ideally), and then cutting off the excess. The easy though I've seen is some folks use RJ-45 jacks with holes in the end of the connector, so you can run this excess length right through the connector, and then the crimper cuts off the excess as well.
  - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
    I've found that the first method listed works pretty well- you just have to make sure that the strands don't switch places after you cut them.
  - jws 7y ago
    …seen is some folks use RJ-45 jacks with holes in the end of the connector… What‽ Well that's going to make my once-in-a-while cable terminating experience better. I like the idea of knowing each wire made it to the contact, and being able to audit them on the outgoing side before trimming. A quick googling says the wording to search for is "RJ45 Passthrough Connectors", then be careful because the #1 Amazon hits are not actually CAT6 connectors despite their titles, and some of the other top ones are of, let's say variable quality.

jolmg 7y ago

> GX12 or GX16 4-pin aviation connector (Aliexpress) for decoration. Aesthetics is subjective of course, but I've never really liked things that are added for decoration but have no functional purpose. It's like fake drawers on cabinets or fake pockets on shirts or blazers. In this case, I imagine that connector even adds weight to the cable for no reason at all. It's got to make it a bit uncomfortable when using the keyboard off the desk which I imagine is the purpose of the coiling. My kind of beauty is the adminbook[1]. Everything has a functional purpose in that. Nothing is added simply because it looks pretty. Is there a name for this kind of aesthetics? [1] https://habr.com/en/post/437912/ https://habr.com/en/post/437912/

PascLeRasc 7y ago
Let's say you were very into mechanical keyboards and DIY boards (and I think that's a fair assumption if you're building your own cables). You might do this to let you have one cable run from your computer/monitor hub and easily switch between different keyboards with USB-C or micro/mini connectors. What's the idea behind the key coloring on the Adminbook? (https://hsto.org/webt/2-/mh/ag/2-mhagvoofl7vgqiadv3rcnclb0.jpeg https://hsto.org/webt/2-/mh/ag/2-mhagvoofl7vgqiadv3rcnclb0.j...). I think there's a certain "it's extra bulky and ugly because it looks more functional that way" to both the Adminbook and the 4-pin industrial connector, and that's fine.
- jolmg 7y ago
  > You might do this to let you have one cable run from your computer/monitor hub and easily switch between different keyboards with USB-C or micro/mini connectors. And the cable does have a microusb connector, but what I was talking about was the inclusion of some aviation connector right in the middle. Even the post said it was purely decorative. > What's the idea behind the key coloring on the Adminbook? The post on the adminbook does talk about the rationale behind the colors: > To hit the buttons faster, different key colors are used. > For example, the numeric row is specifically colored gray to visually separate it from the QWERTY row, and NumLock is mapped to the “6” key, colored black to stand out. > the function keys can be pressed without Fn. These are separate keys that are even divided into groups of 4 using color coding and location. > That is, it’s an LED above the display, illuminating the keyboard from the top. In this case, it is better than a backlight from below, because it allows you to distinguish the color of the keys. > Indicators are color-coded. With regards to: > I think there's a certain "it's extra bulky and ugly because it looks more functional that way" to both the Adminbook and the 4-pin industrial connector, and that's fine. I don't think the industrial connector itself is not functional, but rather its inclusion in a USB cable. On the keyboard coloring scheme of the Adminbook, whether you would use it or not, it definitely can be used to distinguish different key groups. Besides the ones mentioned in the parts I quoted, there's also the light background color for the keypad buttons, the dark background color for the '0', '-', and '=' keys which are used for controlling zooming in multiple applications. The F key is where the nub for your index finger is to quickly position your hand correctly, etc.

jascii 7y ago

Sigh, whipping up a cable when needed has become something to post about? Does having stacks of pin-out diagrams and a hot soldering iron near my desk make me look old?

irq 7y ago
No, but it might make you stand out a bit from the almost entirely software focused nature of this web site.
kevin_thibedeau 7y ago
Using paracord for sleeving is a good idea. Could be useful in practical applications.
- lbotos 7y ago
  Is it tho? I have paracord on my HyperX headset and it's HORRIBLE, tangles constantly. I'm considering cutting it off just to avoid the tangle. On something that never moves, maybe, but I abhor it.
  - HeWhoLurksLate 7y ago
    Maybe replace it? There's a huge difference in quality between what manufacturers use and the 550 paracord that was used in this project.
    - moftz 7y ago
      Paracord is usually a bit more rough than the smooth nylon that you find on lots of fancy cables.
  - kuzimoto 7y ago
    Odd, everything I've seen (that's at least paracord-like) was less prone to tangles than regular cable.
  - psweber 7y ago

Animats 7y ago

I wonder if it works at the higher USB speeds. It would be interesting to use a time domain reflectometer on that to see if the big 4-pin connector causes an impedance mismatch. Here's a TI document on USB signal PC board layout.[1] Look at all those touchy requirements. Differential lines must be the same length, down to a millimeter or so. Stubs off to the side are bad, even stubs the thickness of a PC board. They cause reflections. USB, despite how common it is, has tough electrical specs. USB-C (which is only vaguely related to USB A and B) is even worse. [1] http://www.ti.com/lit/an/spraar7h/spraar7h.pdf http://www.ti.com/lit/an/spraar7h/spraar7h.pdf

edoo 7y ago
USB high speed or slower is actually quite forgiving but you will eat up bus bandwidth on a range leading up to non-workability because if the minimum quality is met it will keep retrying. I've pulled off some designs without impedance matched traces with lengths beyond 40% of the signal wavelength (well into transmission line worry territory) that had no issues and helped keep production costs down.
epx 7y ago
Probably not. Assembled a keyboard with a CircuitPython controller, used the bundled mini-USB daughterboard and soldered a short piece of micro-USB cable to connect the controller (to keep the controller side unpluggable). Frozen at random times, solved by using a whole cable straight out from the controller. The original controller used software USB, meaning 1.1 speeds, and the new controller was of course high-speed 2.0.
willis936 7y ago
I like TDRs and they have a lot of uses in characterizing channels (especially with time gating). I think you could get away with much less expensive and much more friendly hardware in this case, since all you need is RL or VSWR.
cushychicken 7y ago
It's not the electrical performance that bones you - it's the emissions performance. USB stands out like a Dutch brothel in the emissions chamber if you mess up the routing or return path. In signal integrity terms, I've found it quite robust.

jaclaz 7y ago

Worth of note: >USB connectors. In my case USB-Mini and USB-A but you can buy USB-Micro and USB-C too. Sure I can buy the connectors, but soldering a USB-Micro is not exactly the same of a USB-A or a USB-Mini, let alone a USB-C. And no, those pre-soldered to a breadboard don't count for a DIY cable.

x62Bh7948f 7y ago

Nice cable! I’m yet to meet someone who actually uses the hiragana layout for writing japanese.

gwilkes 7y ago
Indeed, I don't even know any Japanese people that use the kana keys. I don't know the recent data but in 2009 there was a study that found only 12% of Japanese people used kana input. Something that is disappointing about these keycaps is that they mostly only make these for US keyboard layouts not actual Japanese keyboard layouts. I have a Japanese keyboard that the keys were getting worn on and something like this seems like it would be a good replacement but it isn't because several of the keys that aren't letters such as shift characters on numbers and other special characters are labeled wrong for a real Japanese keyboard. There are some Japanese layout replacement keycaps but the selection is very limited compared to how many of these stylistic kana keycaps they make for US layouts. I cringe a little bit every time I see these keycaps. I mean I get it, but still.
corey_moncure 7y ago
I couldn't find け or む on this keyboard...

agumonkey 7y ago

I've been trying to turn old broken micro/mini usb cables into new ones using these https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-LOT-YT2153B-Micro-USB-4Pin-Male-connector-plug-Black-White-welding-Data-OTG-line-interface/32832871275.html https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-LOT-YT2153B-Micro-USB-... But they're a tad too tiny/frail. Anyone knows some larger micro usb connector kits ?

mb_72 7y ago

Better build two; a backup of a special cable is always nice to have and it's much more convenient to order the parts and build both at the same time.

mrtweetyhack 7y ago

Need a pencil? Build One. Need underwear? Build One.

xyzal 7y ago

Reminded me of this project: Flash drive disguised as a sawed-off usb cable. https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2008/how-to-make-a-sawed-off-usb-key/ https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2008/how-to-make-a-sawed-of...

mncharity 7y ago

I'd like a USB cable with a flat right-angle low-profile soft connector. Like a USB mouse/keyboard wireless dongle, but instead of the hard plastic hardware, that's just the start of the cable. Starting with a slight angle, so it works with a row of inline USB ports. For always-in on-the-go USB cables, without the socket-destroying mechanical advantage lever of traditional connectors. I use laptop USB ports for hand tracking cameras, an HMD, and related cruft. Frequent mobile use, and unfortunate ThinkPad port placement, has those port sockets mechanically distressed. I now have sticks which slide onto the laptop to brace the cables, but... a cleaner solution would be nice. A new laptop might have better placement, but would still need protective sticks.