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Let's just review all the various configurations of a "standard" USB-C cable (usb-c is really just the connector pinout). Data channel: yes / no PD support: y

Let's just review all the various configurations of a "standard" USB-C cable (usb-c is really just the connector pinout). Data channel: yes / no PD support: yes / no USB version: 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 Amperage: 3 amp, 5 amp, 6+ amp 48+ possible varieties of "standard" USB-C cable and no practical way to determine what you have without plugging it in. What a great "standard"!

archagon 3y ago
Don’t forget alt mode support of various kinds!
- ProZsolt 3y ago
  There is no such thing. It's only depends on the USB version.
  - archagon 3y ago
    Are you saying that every USB-C cable is required to support DP alt mode? I’ve heard that’s not the case — that active cables, for example, will usually not support DP functionality.
Dylan16807 3y ago
> Data channel: yes / no "no" is violating the standard. > PD support: yes / no "no" is violating the standard. > USB version: 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 Yes, there are a handful of speeds. But I don't see a good way of avoiding that problem while having backwards compatibility. > Amperage: 3 amp, 5 amp, 6+ amp 6+ amp does not exist. There are two 5 amp specs, but the new one obsoletes the old one.
- LorenPechtel 3y ago
  Data channel: no is a charging-only cable, *preferred* for dealing with untrusted sources of power. While it might violate spec it has a very valid use case.
  - tonymet 3y ago
    you are right, i have many "primitive" usb-c devices that only work with a charge-only cable.
    - Dylan16807 3y ago
      So you're saying the data pins inside the device are attached to something, and when that something makes a connection it stops the device from drawing power? Does this happen when you plug them into chargers and when you plug them into hubs?
      - tonymet 3y ago
        If I use a usb-c - usb-c cable on a PD charger nothing happens. When i use a “Dumb” usb-A to usb-c cable charging works.
        Dylan16807 3y ago
        This happens with some devices. It would have been better if the standard had made that failure mode impossible, but it's not the data lines causing the problem. They failed to put a resistor in the device that connects one of the sense pins.
- tonymet 3y ago
  thanks for the corrections which actually reinforce my point: it's impossible for consumers to know what cable they have. Can you remind me how 120watts is achieved? is it 24v x 5 amps? I forget. Most cables that ship with devices are not standard. There's no way to know it -- and that's the USB-IF's job! USB-C is a terrible consumer experience.
  - Dylan16807 3y ago
    > Can you remind me how 120watts is achieved? is it 24v x 5 amps? I forget. It doesn't matter to the consumer. You either have a 240 watt cable or you don't. But yes that's how it does it. > Most cables that ship with devices are not standard. What? That's not true at all.
onewheeltom 3y ago
At least the connector is better.
- tonymet 3y ago
  better than microUSB that's fair, but far worse than lightning. Engagement is terrible, it collects debris and it's inconsistent (often too tight or too lose).
  - ranguna 3y ago
    In theory yes, in practice I think I've had problems with two cables in the last 5 years using dozens of cables.
rstuart4133 3y ago
You forgot at least one: 5V / 48V.

archagon 3y ago

Don’t forget alt mode support of various kinds!

ProZsolt 3y ago
There is no such thing. It's only depends on the USB version.
- archagon 3y ago
  Are you saying that every USB-C cable is required to support DP alt mode? I’ve heard that’s not the case — that active cables, for example, will usually not support DP functionality.

Dylan16807 3y ago

> Data channel: yes / no "no" is violating the standard. > PD support: yes / no "no" is violating the standard. > USB version: 2.0, 3.0, 3.1, 3.2 Yes, there are a handful of speeds. But I don't see a good way of avoiding that problem while having backwards compatibility. > Amperage: 3 amp, 5 amp, 6+ amp 6+ amp does not exist. There are two 5 amp specs, but the new one obsoletes the old one.

LorenPechtel 3y ago
Data channel: no is a charging-only cable, *preferred* for dealing with untrusted sources of power. While it might violate spec it has a very valid use case.
- tonymet 3y ago
  you are right, i have many "primitive" usb-c devices that only work with a charge-only cable.
  - Dylan16807 3y ago
    So you're saying the data pins inside the device are attached to something, and when that something makes a connection it stops the device from drawing power? Does this happen when you plug them into chargers and when you plug them into hubs?
    - tonymet 3y ago
      If I use a usb-c - usb-c cable on a PD charger nothing happens. When i use a “Dumb” usb-A to usb-c cable charging works.
      - Dylan16807 3y ago
        This happens with some devices. It would have been better if the standard had made that failure mode impossible, but it's not the data lines causing the problem. They failed to put a resistor in the device that connects one of the sense pins.
tonymet 3y ago
thanks for the corrections which actually reinforce my point: it's impossible for consumers to know what cable they have. Can you remind me how 120watts is achieved? is it 24v x 5 amps? I forget. Most cables that ship with devices are not standard. There's no way to know it -- and that's the USB-IF's job! USB-C is a terrible consumer experience.
- Dylan16807 3y ago
  > Can you remind me how 120watts is achieved? is it 24v x 5 amps? I forget. It doesn't matter to the consumer. You either have a 240 watt cable or you don't. But yes that's how it does it. > Most cables that ship with devices are not standard. What? That's not true at all.

onewheeltom 3y ago

At least the connector is better.

tonymet 3y ago
better than microUSB that's fair, but far worse than lightning. Engagement is terrible, it collects debris and it's inconsistent (often too tight or too lose).
- ranguna 3y ago
  In theory yes, in practice I think I've had problems with two cables in the last 5 years using dozens of cables.

rstuart4133 3y ago

You forgot at least one: 5V / 48V.