• Registered: 2019-03-12
  • Posts: 42

Topic: USB 2.0 extenders, etc

Has anyone here ever had their RME interface connected to a computer a few rooms away, and made use of a basic active USB extender? I just tried and it didn't work. I have an older interface (UCX) , no ethernet ports-just USB.
It's purely so I can review mixes (using the computer's headphone-out jack) using totalmix when it's late at night and don't require the inputs, and want to sit downstairs instead. I realise I need to configure the HW outputs and all that.
I just wondered if (a) it's a shit usb cable, (b) the interface doesn't like the break in USB connection, where the RME's USB out cable joins the extender, or (c) something else relating to the UCX's USB 2.0 digestive/transmission system.
USB over ethernet is probably a better solution but I'll wait to hear what RME users say first! Or buy a second interface - a cheap used UC just so I can keep in Totalmix

2 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2023-09-02 10:01:16)

  • ramses
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  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 12,850

Re: USB 2.0 extenders, etc

Hi Sleizen,

I had two extenders. Corning USB3 and one from Startech, both are USB3 and USB2 compatible.

The Corning cable I can't recommend
- high price
- cable lays very poorly and tends to loop very much
- fragile cable, damaged after only a few month

I read from a forum member that also those from Startech are very well
- lower price compared to corning
- cable lays excellent and doesn't loop
- am having two running without any issues to UFX III (USB3) and ADI-2 Pro FS R BE (USB2)

URLs, see in this posting, last link, see also my recommendation for USB cables from Lindy:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 55#p205655

With this combination of cables you can go up to 10+3=13m, costs around €135
https://www.startech.com/de-de/kabel/usb3aaext10m (€121)
https://www.lindy.de/3m-USB-3-2-Typ-A-a … ;ci=800504 price around (€14)

If you need longer cable runs, you need to use the Corning cable up to 50m (available in 10m, 15m, 30m, and 50m lengths).
https://www.corning.com/oem-solutions/w … ables.html

Although they call it an "optical cable", you have no full galvanic isolation. Besides the optical cable, the use thin copper cables for power delivery for the electronic of the plug on the other side of the cable. These very thin copper cables might also be the reason, what some people are getting issues quickly. After only a few months of operation, USB3 didn't work any more, only USB2 through the corning cable. Luckily, I could give it back because the Portuguese dealer didn't have a replacement cable and Corning Germany didn't feel responsible for a purchase outside of Germany through eBay.

I am much happier with the two Startech cables now ...

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13
  • Registered: 2019-03-12
  • Posts: 42

Re: USB 2.0 extenders, etc

yeah, I've been looking at the Startech ones. I'll probably go for a cheaper no-name version which offers the same capabilities. Cable I can make up, I've got kilometeres of the Cat 6 stuff which is gigabit cable. Just need to drill a few holes in my house first ho ho

  • ramses
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 12,850

Re: USB 2.0 extenders, etc

sleizen wrote:

yeah, I've been looking at the Startech ones. I'll probably go for a cheaper no-name version which offers the same capabilities. Cable I can make up, I've got kilometeres of the Cat 6 stuff which is gigabit cable. Just need to drill a few holes in my house first ho ho

Good luck :-)

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub13