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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: powruser on Tue, 20 December 2011, 17:22:45

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: powruser on Tue, 20 December 2011, 17:22:45

I just received my Filco MJ1 Brown full size yesterday, and I'm totally loving it. However, I do find the USB cable to be a bit short. What USB extender would you folks recommend?

Regards,
Steve

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: sordna on Tue, 20 December 2011, 18:00:41

3ft extender:
http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keyboard-accessories-2/usb-3-ft-extension-cable.html

If you need longer, amazon has several, usually 6ft or more; get the cheapest you can find that has decent reviews, and you'll be happy.

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: trax on Tue, 20 December 2011, 18:02:10

http://www.amazon.com/Extension-Cable-Type-Female-Black/dp/B00182CIB8/ref=pd_cp_e_4
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Go-26686-Female-Extension/dp/B00006HSML
....

their all the same tbh.
I have no idea where I got mine from.

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: biochem on Tue, 20 December 2011, 18:03:32

http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-Hi-Speed-Extension-Male-Female/dp/B001MSU1FS/ref=pd_cp_e_2

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: bienc on Tue, 20 December 2011, 18:10:04

Monoprice. (http://www.monoprice.com/products/search.asp?keyword=usb+extension) Any and all cable needs should be fulfilled by Monoprice. Especially handy if you need lots of different cables.

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: N8N on Tue, 20 December 2011, 18:37:34

meh...  I second the recommend for monoprice for computery stuff but I think next time I need any audio cables I will spend the extra ducats for Blue Jeans Cable.  I got some RCA interconnects for my cheapo HT setup from monoprice and I was underwhelmed by the quality of the connectors.  Some of them are super tight while others are so loose that the weight of the heavy cable tends to pull them loose.  I've heard nothing but good things about BJC although they're kind of expensive for a frugal individual like YT (although their prices are eminently reasonable compared to some of the "esoteric" high end audiophile weenie stuff, and I heartily approve of their no-nonsense, show me the numbers approach to cable design.)

That said, I've been using Monoprice's HDMI and S/PDIF cables without any issues whatsoever, although to be fair, digital is digital, it either works or it doesn't.  That and Monoprice's cables are still cheap as dirt and higher quality than the entry-level crap that you pay 4x as much for at Best Buy.

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: powruser on Tue, 20 December 2011, 18:41:03

Thanks for the recommendations. I had the feeling that it's not like I need gold plated connectors since USB is digital, like the previous poster said it either works or it doesn't.

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: powruser on Tue, 20 December 2011, 19:30:27

I got this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-6-ft-USB-2-0-Extension-Cable-A-M-A-F-Black-/120708215181?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c1ac5318d

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: Clickey on Tue, 20 December 2011, 21:35:00

Any electronics store should have them (Bestbuy, Fry's, probably Walmart). Or you can get one on ebay or amazon.

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 20 December 2011, 22:13:06

I have bought several cables, etc, from various generic Chinese vendors on ebay, and all have been great, except for 3 powered USB hubs that each sucked royally.

They were all ridiculously cheap, so I suppose it would be unfair to complain too much.

Title: Where can I find a USB cable extender?
Post by: sordna on Tue, 20 December 2011, 23:13:21

I've had very good success with the Targus PA050U 4-port desktop USB hub. It's powered, but works fine even without the included power supply (at least with keyboards and USB sticks, for hard-drives you need the power). It's only $8.99 at amazon, so there's really no need to put up with no-name ebay junk for a decent hub.