5 ms·

> The “cheap” way I suspect my motherboard is using takes advantage of the fact USB 3.x Gen1 only uses one of the two SuperSpeed lanes present on the USB-C conn

> The “cheap” way I suspect my motherboard is using takes advantage of the fact USB 3.x Gen1 only uses one of the two SuperSpeed lanes present on the USB-C connector, and unlike Gen2, it often does not require a redriver to improve signal integrity. In general it would be great to know if there are ways of finding cables, motherboards, power adapters that don't skirt the requirements. I haven't found a way to know this so instead for now I just try to invest in brands like Anker that seem trustworthy.

hayleox 4y ago
For years I've loved Anker cables and hubs and such, but I have a whole lot more skepticism about them after the whole debacle with their security cameras doing sketchy things and them lying about it: https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/30/23486753/anker-eufy-security-camera-cloud-private-encryption-authentication-storage https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/30/23486753/anker-eufy-secu...
- Blackthorn 4y ago
  I wish Blue Jean made usb3 cables. One of the few folks out there I trust not to rip me off on them.
  - exmadscientist 4y ago
    There's always Digi-Key*/Mouser. Their target market is the sort of people who get pissed if things are not exactly as described, so they tend to get things right! The downside is that their cable prices are usually mediocre, and they do charge a separate shipping fee which can be high for single item orders (or is pretty reasonable for big orders shipped overnight early AM!). (* Digi-Key Marketplace is not as trustworthy as regular Digi-Key and has pissed off a great number of their customers. Engineers buy from Digi-Key to have guaranteed parts from guaranteed vendors shipped with guaranteed delivery rates and dates in the same box as everything else in the order. Most vendors are of of course perfectly good -- there are some huge names on there -- but in general Digi-Key Marketplace does not do any of this. It cuts against the Digi-Key brand and has not been a net positive for Digi-Key, in my and many others' opinion. I know I'm ordering a lot more from Mouser recently, for this and other reasons.)
    - zbrozek 4y ago
      I also moved a lot of my ordering to Arrow and Mouser, primarily because I dislike the marketplace concept.
- michaelg7x 4y ago
  Agree. With so many unknown brands on Amazon they had become a go-to, but I plan to spend my pounds elsewhere. A tiny contribution to try to effect change.
- fmajid 4y ago
  Some of the early Anker USB-C stuff pulled shenanigans with USB-C specs as well.
  - Dylan16807 4y ago
    How so? Nothing comes up right away in google.
    - fmajid 4y ago
      Something to do with incorrect implementation of the 56K pull-up resistor found by Benson Leung. That was a long time ago.
      - Dylan16807 4y ago
        Oh, found it, this was the very weird cable that was keeping the voltage going when the device was unplugged. https://www.androidauthority.com/anker-issues-recall-perilous-cable-713222/ https://www.androidauthority.com/anker-issues-recall-perilou... Good response though and I'd generally buy their usb cables.
mattpallissard 4y ago
Startech is trustworthy as well. Their support is excellent to boot. Support is capable of answering questions on the various USB and TB specs. I also have a pair of 3m apple TB4 cables that are used to drive a pair of lenovo monitors to a p14s. Pricey, but 'just worked'. Apple was the only company shipping them [that I could find] at the time.
- Shakahs 4y ago
  Another vote for Startech here. I needed to find a USB hub that could drive 10-20 USB 1.1 devices at full USB 1.1 speed, Startech was one of the few manufacturers to build such a device AND provide the detailed specifications I needed to verify the feature.
- buu700 4y ago
  I've gotten a few odds and ends from Startech before, e.g. a PS/2 to USB-A adapter. No complaints here. Does anyone have any opinion on Satechi? It's US-based (San Diego) and has been around since 2005, but I don't know much about them beyond that. I really like their four-port USB-C GaN charger (https://satechi.net/products/165w-usb-c-4-port-pd-gan-charger https://satechi.net/products/165w-usb-c-4-port-pd-gan-charge...), which I bought because it was the only one I could find without any USB-A ports.
- SpelingBeeChamp 4y ago
  >Apple was the only company shipping them [that I could find] at the time. Last I checked, they still are. What other company makes a 3m TB4 cable?
- wil421 4y ago
  StarTech also makes a great open server rack. It’s no that expensive and is adjustable. Plus they have lots of accessories for it.

hayleox 4y ago

For years I've loved Anker cables and hubs and such, but I have a whole lot more skepticism about them after the whole debacle with their security cameras doing sketchy things and them lying about it: https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/30/23486753/anker-eufy-security-camera-cloud-private-encryption-authentication-storage https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/30/23486753/anker-eufy-secu...

Blackthorn 4y ago
I wish Blue Jean made usb3 cables. One of the few folks out there I trust not to rip me off on them.
- exmadscientist 4y ago
  There's always Digi-Key*/Mouser. Their target market is the sort of people who get pissed if things are not exactly as described, so they tend to get things right! The downside is that their cable prices are usually mediocre, and they do charge a separate shipping fee which can be high for single item orders (or is pretty reasonable for big orders shipped overnight early AM!). (* Digi-Key Marketplace is not as trustworthy as regular Digi-Key and has pissed off a great number of their customers. Engineers buy from Digi-Key to have guaranteed parts from guaranteed vendors shipped with guaranteed delivery rates and dates in the same box as everything else in the order. Most vendors are of of course perfectly good -- there are some huge names on there -- but in general Digi-Key Marketplace does not do any of this. It cuts against the Digi-Key brand and has not been a net positive for Digi-Key, in my and many others' opinion. I know I'm ordering a lot more from Mouser recently, for this and other reasons.)
  - zbrozek 4y ago
    I also moved a lot of my ordering to Arrow and Mouser, primarily because I dislike the marketplace concept.
michaelg7x 4y ago
Agree. With so many unknown brands on Amazon they had become a go-to, but I plan to spend my pounds elsewhere. A tiny contribution to try to effect change.
fmajid 4y ago
Some of the early Anker USB-C stuff pulled shenanigans with USB-C specs as well.
- Dylan16807 4y ago
  How so? Nothing comes up right away in google.
  - fmajid 4y ago
    Something to do with incorrect implementation of the 56K pull-up resistor found by Benson Leung. That was a long time ago.
    - Dylan16807 4y ago
      Oh, found it, this was the very weird cable that was keeping the voltage going when the device was unplugged. https://www.androidauthority.com/anker-issues-recall-perilous-cable-713222/ https://www.androidauthority.com/anker-issues-recall-perilou... Good response though and I'd generally buy their usb cables.

mattpallissard 4y ago

Startech is trustworthy as well. Their support is excellent to boot. Support is capable of answering questions on the various USB and TB specs. I also have a pair of 3m apple TB4 cables that are used to drive a pair of lenovo monitors to a p14s. Pricey, but 'just worked'. Apple was the only company shipping them [that I could find] at the time.

Shakahs 4y ago
Another vote for Startech here. I needed to find a USB hub that could drive 10-20 USB 1.1 devices at full USB 1.1 speed, Startech was one of the few manufacturers to build such a device AND provide the detailed specifications I needed to verify the feature.
buu700 4y ago
I've gotten a few odds and ends from Startech before, e.g. a PS/2 to USB-A adapter. No complaints here. Does anyone have any opinion on Satechi? It's US-based (San Diego) and has been around since 2005, but I don't know much about them beyond that. I really like their four-port USB-C GaN charger (https://satechi.net/products/165w-usb-c-4-port-pd-gan-charger https://satechi.net/products/165w-usb-c-4-port-pd-gan-charge...), which I bought because it was the only one I could find without any USB-A ports.
SpelingBeeChamp 4y ago
>Apple was the only company shipping them [that I could find] at the time. Last I checked, they still are. What other company makes a 3m TB4 cable?
wil421 4y ago
StarTech also makes a great open server rack. It’s no that expensive and is adjustable. Plus they have lots of accessories for it.