Questions tagged [cable]

In electronics, a cable is 1 or more wires (fibers) bound together and running parallel to each other such that larger amounts of data/current can be transmitted at faster speeds than would be accomplished with a lower amount of wires. A cable can refer to an audio, visual, data, electrical or any other numerous types of cables.

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How does the retaining mechanism work on USB-C, and what will wear out?

I’ve looked for a good crossection of the mechanical elelements of a usb-c connector, and I can’t find a good one. I’m curious how the retaining mechanism (the thing that makes it “click” in to place) ...
Dr-McGillicuddy's user avatar
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I have an Ethernet cable with no printed markings - how can I determine what Category it is? [duplicate]

Whilst upgrading a switch and re-cabling to suit I discovered on of my ethernet cables has no printed markings on it. Is there a non-invasive way for me to tell if it's Cat5, 5e or 6?
LRE's user avatar
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Home networking: Do I need a patch panel, or just connectors?

Context: My current network layout is as follows: cat cables coming from the walls into a patch panel, from which Ethernet cables are going into a switch, which is connected to a router: An ...
Amit's user avatar
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VGA Cable gave me an Electric Shock when connecting a Projector to a Laptop

Yesterday I was trying to connect a Viewsonic Projector to my Samsung RC420 laptop... I followed this steps: I Plugged the Projector to a power source, in parallel I did the same thing with the ...
Felipe Luarte's user avatar
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Effects of extending RJ11 cable length to modem

I have a VDSL home network that consists of a tp-link modem-router (Archer VR400), connected to a splitter (filter) by a 1 meter RJ11 cable. My current speed by Ethernet connection is 90-95/100 Mbps, ...
Pizza's user avatar
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6 answers
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Serial to Stereo cable?

While going through some (really) old computer parts I came across a very interesting cable: a female RS232 (9-pin serial) to 3.5mm stereo jack. Any ideas what this cable might have been used for? (...
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What is this port on my computer?

What is the name of the port shown in the picture? This port is on my old NEC Versa LitePad Tablet PC http://www.superwarehouse.com/NEC_Versa_LitePad_Tablet_PC/VL-PAD-933/p/243017 http://www....
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What kind of power cable is this and what is it used for?

I was digging through some cables and came across this weird looking one. Not sure what it is for and what kind of plug it even uses. Searched online but couldn't find anything that pointed me in the ...
C-dizzle's user avatar
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Risks of using WiFi instead of Cable Internet

I want to know what are the risks of using the WiFi internet instead of the cable. why the cable is more secure ? why the the WiFi is more vulnurable ?
wassim-azirar's user avatar
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Is there a difference between LAN cable connecting two PCs and one connecting a PC to a router?

I went to a computer store to buy a LAN(Ethernet) cable and they asked me whether I want to connect two PCs or a PC to a router. I used to do both using same cable and it worked for me till I lost the ...
Thomas's user avatar
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What types of Ethernet cables are there?

There seems to be various type of Ethernet cable: Category 3, 4, 5, 5e UTP cable, Ethernet over twisted pair, RJ45, 100Base-Tx. I cannot tell the difference among these ethernet cable, and I do not ...
KMC's user avatar
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Cable management ideas? [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How to declutter and organize the cables on and under my desk? Anyone have any good ideas on how to manage cables?
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Why does a cat-5 cross cable work when connected between my computer and my switch?

By accident I've used a cross LAN cable to connect my computer with my switch, and I was very surprised that it worked. On the early days of LAN, this did not work. What I'm missing?
Atmananda's user avatar
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Does a cable / adaptor for my needs exist? (photos)

I recently bought a UPS, however, the only outlets take this sort of connector: But, the other end of the cables is like this (right): The thing is, I really need to connect it to a power bar, so I ...
Eva's user avatar
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What type of SATA cable should I buy?

I've bought a new optical drive. It's a Samsung SH-S223C with SATA connection (see the below image). Since it is OEM with no box, no cable came with it, so I need two cables now. Since I have an extra ...
Mehper C. Palavuzlar's user avatar
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4 answers
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Can cheap HDMI cables really give a poorer image?

I understand it is a digital signal. However, I bought two very cheap cables as spares. My current cable (Amazon basics) seems to be giving me issues (random signal loss, reproduced by wiggling the ...
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Identify this USB cable

I need some help identifying a cable that I found in my house. I hope this is the right place to ask it. It said computer hardware, so a cable would count right? Anyway, I took a couple of pictures ...
Aseem Kishore's user avatar
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Do i need to connect both usb cables?

I have a transcend 1 TB external drive (usb 2); It has two usb cables but also works if i connect the thicker one. Do i need to connect both for it to work properly or prevent damage or something?
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UTP cable for telephone line possible?

One of my customers has build a new house with pre-installed cables for internet. The only thing he didn't think about was installing a cable for his telephone line. Behind his desk, he has a "spare" ...
Chris's user avatar
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Electric shock with plugged in VGA cable [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: Why would I get an electric shock from a VGA cable connected to an LCD monitor? Similar to this question I got shocked today with a new computer I just bought. How is this ...
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Why do USB A and B cables have different contacts?

Why do type A and B USB cables have 4 contacts and most mini and micro have 5? Do the cables actually have 5 wires for mini and micro? All the mini cables I have have 4 terminals on the A end and 5 ...
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Dealing with obstructed SATA ports on motherboard

I have an older motherboard that I can't afford to replace just yet; it's the Biostar TForce 6100 AM2. I recently purchased an expensive video card which is dual-width and quite large. This video ...
inklesspen's user avatar
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Is Satellite internet generally as reliable as cable or DSL? [closed]

I'm trying to determine from a reliability standpoint whether internet service from a satellite provider is as good as a cable or DSL provider. Obviously nothing is perfect nor has a 100% uptime, but ...
Ken Pespisa's user avatar
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How to properly connect shielded twisted pair cables for Ethernet use?

Some time ago I was in a hotel and they gave me what to me looked like S/STP cable to connect my laptop to their router. What caught my attention was that at both ends of the cable, the shielding just ...
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What is this cord called and how can I extend it?

I built a server recently, and the only hitch was that one of the cords running from my case to the motherboard was only just long enough. It is under strain, pulling at the connection point and ...
Kent Boogaart's user avatar
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Mini DisplayPort to DVI-D Dual Link up to 2560 * 1600

I have a ThinkPad T530 with Mini DP++ and NVS 5400M, which are said to support 2560 * 1600 resolution. The display is Dell 3007WFP, which also supports 2560 * 1600. But, I have never seen any cables ...
Steinway Wu's user avatar
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1 answer
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How can I get or make a USB to SATA-power cable?

I have a 2.5 inch SATA SSD that I want to power from an internal USB port. The SSD requires 5 volts, so I see this as being possible. I already have the data connection for the SSD, I just need to ...
Tyler Faile's user avatar
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Ever have bad voltage on an ethernet jack on a router/switch?

So I've got a bit of an odd problem I'm trying to solve. I have an ASUS RT-N66U router which has a desktop, xbox, and my brand new NAS directly wired into it. Whenever I hook the brand new NAS up ...
Michael's user avatar
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9 answers
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Is there an easy way to straighten network cable individual wire pairs?

Is there any easy way to straigten the pairs in a cat 6 cable? I've been making network cables lately, and I was wondering if there was a trick other than just a lot of practice for straigtening out ...
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Suspect a bad SATA cable to hard drive, how do I replace it?

Is replacing the SATA cable to the hard drive and motherboard just a matter of powering off the computer, unplugging the old one and switching for the new one? In other words, will there be any ...
andrz_001's user avatar
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2 answers
6k views

Is cross over and twisted pair cable the same thing

If not please explain the difference in terms of usage
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4 answers
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Cable management techniques [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How to declutter and organize the cables on and under my desk? How do you manage the giant jungle of cables behind your PC? When you have 2 or more PCs next to each other, you ...
Enrico Tuvera Jr's user avatar
3 votes
5 answers
7k views

How can I add a DB9 serial port to a laptop?

I have a device I need a 9 pin serial port to configure. How can I add this capability to my laptop?
Axxmasterr's user avatar
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3 answers
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DVI vs. VGA for Long Run

I have to run a 10ft cable to reach a VGA cable which is another 6ft. The source is DVI, the destination is VGA. Would there be any signal difference if I... Used a DVI>VGA adapter and then a 10ft ...
Josh M.'s user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
3k views

For in-wall home wiring is shielded ethernet cable necessary?

I want to wire my house with ethernet. Mostly this is going to before internet access, but also some NetFlix streaming and gaming. I am not running any home servers and not expect to go above gigabit (...
Sled's user avatar
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2 answers
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straight SATA cable vs angled SATA cable

Is that possible straight SATA cable is for ASATA3 slots and angled SATA cable is for SATA3 slots? I've ever bend a straight SATA cable into almost 90 degree and found it not working , but I pretty ...
elliotching's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

Specific reason to use the shorter default cable between the router and the modem?

In my newly purchased router; I received a cable which is supposed to connect the modem and the router. Thanks. But my router is going to be placed in another room, about 20-cable-meters away, while ...
Zar's user avatar
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2 answers
14k views

Ethernet cable stuck in laptop [duplicate]

An ethernet cable is stuck in the laptop. The laptop is a Lenovo G50 and its Ethernet port is compact and sort of expands when you push the cable in. The cable is thinner and narrower than most, but ...
Celeritas's user avatar
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2 answers
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How is a Usb Y cable designed?

Ok, Recently I have purchased this USB Y cable from Amazon. Storite USB 2.0 Type A Male to Dual USB A Male Y Splitter Cable Cord Black -50cm I purchased it so I can use it with external hard disk to ...
Bharat G's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
8k views

Can one damage a PC video card by unplugging the monitor cable?

I have had an argument with a friend of mine, he was trying to prove that unplugging a DVI or VGA monitor cable can cause damage to the video card. I have never heard this before and decided to pull ...
errordeveloper's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
3k views

Does anyone understand why the G700 mouse charging cable must not be extended?

[Its manual suggests to not use the extension (which is aimed for the receiver) when charging the mouse.] I wonder why that is. Here is a photo of it. You can also find plenty of them on the ...
j riv's user avatar
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Why can't my router connect to Internet?

I have UPC internet connection (chello.pl). My router is D-Link DIR-300. When I use provided modem to connect to the internet there is no problem. When I try to do it via router, I can't get a ...
Jan Ajan's user avatar
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3 votes
4 answers
3k views

Wifi antenna extension with F-connector/RG-6(RG-59) cable?

In an older house, the wire mesh in walls surrounding the furnace behave like a Faraday cage and block wifi signals. It is also difficult to lay new cable, however there is television cable to ...
Randall65378's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
11k views

Will cold weather slow my cable internet connection down?

Internet connection speed was fine up until about a month ago, when things started to get colder. Now things are barely dial-up speed, and getting worse. Is this a reasonable cause and effect, or ...
JW.'s user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
16k views

Mac Mini HDMI-to-DVI to VGA-to-Monitor?

I just purchased a Mac Mini and totally forgot that Apple upgraded to Mini DisplayPort (I still have the mini-vga to vga cable on my MacBook). So what next? Do I have to buy a Mini DisplayPort to VGA ...
Norbert's user avatar
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3 votes
4 answers
6k views

Running computer from separate room

I want my computer to be in the basement, but to use it on the first floor. Which cables should I run through the floor? Can some be wireless or other methods? Here are some of the options I've ...
Jarvin's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can Cat6 UTP stranded cable fit regular Cat6 Jacks?

I have some stranded Cat6 UTP cable and want to use it to wire an Ethernet connection to a faceplate in a wall. Normally you use Solid rather than Stranded cable for this and I am concerned that the ...
Howard May's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
8k views

USB switch for both data and power

I would like to make a switch for my USB cable. It's a microscope, so its data is important. Question is, in the "off" state, after disconnecting the two power cables, do I have to disconnect both D-...
hello's user avatar
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3 votes
4 answers
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What is the best way to keep a VGA cable plugged into a laptop

I am looking for the best way to keep a VGA cable plugged into a laptop for an extended period of time. The laptop doesn't have the female end threads like you may see on a video card. Between the VGA ...
Ryan B's user avatar
  • 221
3 votes
3 answers
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What DVI splitter cable do I need?

I have a Dell Precision T5400, with a single graphics output port. In the box came a splitter to split it to two standard monitor cables. I have two monitors with DVI inputs, so I'd rather use those, ...
Neil Barnwell's user avatar

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