On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:56:24 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:07:34 -0400, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

ASI says that USB extension cords "risk signal degradation and power >>issues, especially for USB-C".

What is ASI? Artificial Super Intelligence? ><https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/artificial-superintelligence>
Hint: Thou shalt not abrev.

By signal degradation, do they not mean the data signal,

Yes, depending on the USB-C mutation and what you define as a signal.
For example:

USB 2.0 (via USB-C):
480 Mbps (common on budget phones/charging cables).

USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps):
5 Gbps (standard for many peripherals).

USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps):
10 Gbps (standard on many modern laptops).

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gbps):
20 Gbps (supported by some high-speed external drives).

USB4/Thunderbolt 3 & 4:
40 Gbps (high-performance docks, monitors, and SSDs).

USB4 Gen 4:
Up to 80 Gbps (emerging standard). ><https://www.onlogic.com/blog/usb-type-c-and-usb-3-1-explained/>

For the various speeds (data rates), there are also cable length
limitations. Too long a cable means the higher speeds don't work
because of distorted waveforms, cable losses, timing issues, etc. For
DC power, increased cable resistance might introduce losses.

That's an excellent summary but would have been better yet had you
said what color (e.g. white, blue, red etc) meant and which of these
ports they go into.

I think I know but you sound fairly authoritative and there are a lot
of people here in this newsgroup I expect would benefit from this.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 28 Apr 2026 10:26:57 GMT, Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid>
wrote:

Just connect the fast stuff, i.e. the disk drive, directly to the
laptop and connect the slow stuff, i.e. keyboard and mouse and if need
be the USB memory sticks, to the hub. You can use extension cables for
the keyboard and mouse, but I would use no or only a short extension
cable for the USB memory sticks.

FWIW, I also have a laptop which has only 3 USB ports, but I do not
use a hub. If I'm out of ports for a certain task, I just disconnect the >mouse and use the built-in touchpad.

Of course there are a lot of non-computer USB devices - and while I
have a lot of USB ports on the back of my machine, for temporary stuff
I use the ports on the front of my box. For instance I have a USB hub
sitting on top of my mini-tower that also has a port for camera chips
which when plugged into the hub appear to be a small external disk. I
also have a recharging plug into my blood sugar remote monitor (which
is something probably familiar to any diabetic readers reading this
but few people otherwise) which I keep my monitor charged with. (This
is a 24x7 monitor that is WiFi'd to a sensor in one's arm and
transmits to the monitor which is connected to the computer - and
right now it's higher than normal as I've been enjoying late night
snacks I shouldn't have...)

My point is that in the last 5-10 years all kinds of handy
non-computer devices have been invented that go well beyond your
garden variety USB stick. (Which are now pretty cheap - 2 years ago I
got 8 64gb sticks for $5 ea)

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On Fri, 6/5/2026 2:26 AM, The Horny Goat wrote:

On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:56:24 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:07:34 -0400, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

ASI says that USB extension cords "risk signal degradation and power
issues, especially for USB-C".

What is ASI? Artificial Super Intelligence?
<https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/artificial-superintelligence>
Hint: Thou shalt not abrev.

By signal degradation, do they not mean the data signal,

Yes, depending on the USB-C mutation and what you define as a signal.
For example:

USB 2.0 (via USB-C):
480 Mbps (common on budget phones/charging cables).

USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5Gbps):
5 Gbps (standard for many peripherals).

USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10Gbps):
10 Gbps (standard on many modern laptops).

USB 3.2 Gen 2x2 (20Gbps):
20 Gbps (supported by some high-speed external drives).

USB4/Thunderbolt 3 & 4:
40 Gbps (high-performance docks, monitors, and SSDs).

USB4 Gen 4:
Up to 80 Gbps (emerging standard).
<https://www.onlogic.com/blog/usb-type-c-and-usb-3-1-explained/>

For the various speeds (data rates), there are also cable length
limitations. Too long a cable means the higher speeds don't work
because of distorted waveforms, cable losses, timing issues, etc. For
DC power, increased cable resistance might introduce losses.

That's an excellent summary but would have been better yet had you
said what color (e.g. white, blue, red etc) meant and which of these
ports they go into.

I think I know but you sound fairly authoritative and there are a lot
of people here in this newsgroup I expect would benefit from this.

Here's a reference, but this isn't the whole story.

https://www.corsair.com/ca/en/explorer/diy-builder/storage/usb-port-colors-explained/

Paul

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)

On 2026/6/5 10:13:26, Paul wrote:
[]

On Mon, 27 Apr 2026 18:07:34 -0400, micky <NONONOmisc07@fmguy.com>
wrote:

ASI says that USB extension cords "risk signal degradation and power
issues, especially for USB-C".

That will be true, though sometimes they will work fine. With the
possible exception of the power aspect, I don't think using them will
actually do any _harm_ - they'll just either work at a slower speed, or
not work at all.

I have also noticed a tendency in the last decade or two to use the word "cable" (or "lead") to include something that has actual electronics in
it. I have seen (though not recently) USB extension "cables" that have
some sort of repeater in them; I think their intention is to extend the distance, and they will have some negative effect on speed.
[]

Here's a reference, but this isn't the whole story.

https://www.corsair.com/ca/en/explorer/diy-builder/storage/usb-port-colors-explained/

Paul

Thanks, bookmarked (and accepted that isn't the whole story).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()ALIS-Ch++(p)Ar++T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Never be led astray onto the path of virtue.

--- PyGate Linux v1.5.15
* Origin: Dragon's Lair, PyGate NNTP<>Fido Gate (3:633/10)