50 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
50 lines
2.4 KiB
Markdown
The USB micro-B and C cable tester identifies functionalities supported by USB cables.
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It helps figuring out if a USB cable is for charging or to transfer data.
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It supports type A to micro-B, A to C, and C to C USB cables.
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usage
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=====
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- ensure the tester has a non-empty battery in the CR2032/2025, or is externally powered through the USB power port
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- plug one end of the cable in one of the host ports
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- plug the other end of the cable in one of the devices ports
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- the tester will identify the cable's capabilities
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design choice
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=============
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features
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--------
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do:
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- USB micro-B: still wide-spread and popular for charging devices
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- USB type-A: still the de-facto host plug
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- USB type-C: becoming the standard for battery operated devices
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- C to C: often used for high power charging of phones and laptops
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- battery operated: it's a very simple device, and this avoids needing to require external power
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- power port: in case you have no battery or it runs out
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- USB 3.0: because it is hard to identify if C-C cable support Super-Speed
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don't:
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- small: no need to build it as compact as possible
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- A or micro-B 3.0: the connectors that support it are obvious, and it's rare they are used for anything else than Super-Speed transfer (plus they are less common or problematic)
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- Power Delivery capabilities: this requires complex host software communicating with the eMarker chip in the cable
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- OTG: even if detecting this functionality is easy, micro-B OTG adapters are not popular anymore
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future:
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- interpret the supported functionalities to show the cable purpose
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- show a simple cable type result, and not just the individual capabilities
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alternatives
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------------
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- [USB micro-B cable tester](https://www.cuvoodoo.info/cuvoodoo-gadget-micro-usb-cable-tester-v2/): only does micro-B cables
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- [USB A-C cable tester](https://www.cuvoodoo.info/cuvoodoo-gadget-usb-a-to-usb-c-cable-tester-v1/): only does USB type A to type C cables
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- [USB C-C cable tester](https://www.cuvoodoo.info/cuvoodoo-gadget-usb-c-cable-tester-v2/): only does USB type C to type C cables
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- [DT3 Data Cable Detection Board](https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006302832038.html): does not check shield, battery charging, USB 3.0
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- [USB Cable Checker 2](https://www.tindie.com/products/bittradeone/usb-cable-checker-2-assembled/): too complex and expensive
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- [USB Cable Tester](https://github.com/alvarop/usb_c_cable_tester): only for USB-C and you have to understand and interpret the signals
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