I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!

Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
type of connector is on both ends. So, little more than
VERY short "extensions".

I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they would
serve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".
And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...

[short cables with *different* connectors can be regarded
as converters so the question, there, would be "why have any
wire between the connectors instead of just potting them
in the same shell?"]

On 12/01/2023 11:25, Don Y wrote:
> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
> them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>
> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
> find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
> type of connector is on both ends.  So, little more than
> VERY short "extensions".

I always thought they were intended for charging your phone.

The only true extenders I have lying around are 0.5m and 1m. They are
sometimes useful for getting a mobile internet dongle nearer a window
(of the glass and opening variety).
>
> I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they would
> serve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".
> And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...
>
> [short cables with *different* connectors can be regarded
> as converters so the question, there, would be "why have any
> wire between the connectors instead of just potting them
> in the same shell?"]

The short ones micro connector and a standard sized UBS male are for
recharging your phone out of sight in the handrest between the seats.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On 1/12/2023 5:05 AM, Martin Brown wrote:
> On 12/01/2023 11:25, Don Y wrote:
>> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
>> them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>>
>> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
>> find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
>> type of connector is on both ends.  So, little more than
>> VERY short "extensions".
>
> I always thought they were intended for charging your phone.

I don't see how. All they do is move an A (or B) connector a
few inches farther than it would have been, originally.

> The only true extenders I have lying around are 0.5m and 1m. They are sometimes
> useful for getting a mobile internet dongle nearer a window (of the glass and
> opening variety).

Yes, I have a number of *long* extenders (several feet). There, I can see
the value *as* an extension. E.g., I use a 3 ft A-A to lengthen the cord
to one of my keyboards (PC is on the floor, cord has to climb to the desktop,
traverse the 32 in depth of the desk and then come out to the *extended*
keyboard drawer).

But, a short little thing doesn't seem to have much value...

>> I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they would
>> serve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".
>> And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...
>>
>> [short cables with *different* connectors can be regarded
>> as converters so the question, there, would be "why have any
>> wire between the connectors instead of just potting them
>> in the same shell?"]
>
> The short ones micro connector and a standard sized UBS male are for recharging
> your phone out of sight in the handrest between the seats.

But 3-6 inches? Well, I guess that would work if you were
going to drop the phone *into* the handrest/console and
didn't want a long service loop. But, then the phone is
tucked away and not directly accessible.

torsdag den 12. januar 2023 kl. 12.25.53 UTC+1 skrev Don Y:
> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
> them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>
> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
> find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
> type of connector is on both ends. So, little more than
> VERY short "extensions".
>
> I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they would
> serve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".
> And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...

makes it easier (or possible) to fit usb sticks next to eahc other in closely spaced USB connectors on the back or af a PC

when you don't want a long device with usb A male sticking out of the side of your laptop

as a makeshit safe break away, because it makes the connectors in line with the cable

Lasse Langwadt Christensen <langwadt@fonz.dk> wrote:
> makes it easier (or possible) to fit usb sticks next to eahc other in closely spaced USB connectors on the back or af a PC
>
> when you don't want a long device with usb A male sticking out of the side of your laptop
>
> as a makeshit safe break away, because it makes the connectors in line with the cable

Reduces bending stress on the USB port when a long device is plugged into
it.

Moves RF dongles (Bluetooth, wifi, LTE, etc) away from a potentially noisy
computer.

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA512

On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
> them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>
> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
> find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
> type of connector is on both ends. So, little more than
> VERY short "extensions".
>
> I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they would
> serve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".
> And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...

I've seen USB A(Male)->A(Female) come with USB WiFi / WWAN dongles,
where you only need a bit of cable to get something a little bit away
from the big RF-blocking case of a desktop / tower PC.

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--
|_|O|_|
|_|_|O| Github: https://github.com/dpurgert
|O|O|O| PGP: DDAB 23FB 19FA 7D85 1CC1 E067 6D65 70E5 4CE7 2860

On 1/12/2023 5:54 AM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> torsdag den 12. januar 2023 kl. 12.25.53 UTC+1 skrev Don Y:
>> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
>> them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>>
>> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
>> find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
>> type of connector is on both ends. So, little more than
>> VERY short "extensions".
>>
>> I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they would
>> serve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".
>> And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...
>
> makes it easier (or possible) to fit usb sticks next to eahc other in closely spaced USB connectors on the back or af a PC
>
> when you don't want a long device with usb A male sticking out of the side of your laptop

Ah, that's a good idea -- too easy for someone to break a USB port
(mechanically) if something LONG and rigid (thumb drive) is directly
plugged!

OK, so I'll hold onto the A-A M/F shorties.

Now, why need a B-B?

> as a makeshit safe break away, because it makes the connectors in line with the cable
>

On 1/12/2023 6:19 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:
> On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
>> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
>> them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>
>> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
>> find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
>> type of connector is on both ends. So, little more than
>> VERY short "extensions".
>
>> I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they would
>> serve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".
>> And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...
>
> I've seen USB A(Male)->A(Female) come with USB WiFi / WWAN dongles,
> where you only need a bit of cable to get something a little bit away
> from the big RF-blocking case of a desktop / tower PC.

OK, that makes sense, as well.

But, why B-B (short) "extensions"?

Don Y wrote:
> Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
>> skrev Don Y:
>>> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
>>> them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>>>
>>> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
>>> find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
>>> type of connector is on both ends. So, little more than
>>> VERY short "extensions".
>>>
>>> I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they would
>>> serve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".
>>> And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...
>>
>> makes it easier (or possible) to fit usb sticks next to eahc other in
>> closely spaced USB connectors on the back or af a PC
>>
>> when you don't want a long device with usb A male sticking out of the
>> side of your laptop
>
> Ah, that's a good idea -- too easy for someone to break a USB port
> (mechanically) if something LONG and rigid (thumb drive) is directly
> plugged!
>
> OK, so I'll hold onto the A-A M/F shorties.
>
> Now, why need a B-B?

My ~six inch A-A shorties, as you say, are always welcome because, in
addition to the rigidity relief already mentioned above, too many USB
cables are also about six inches too short.
If I remember correctly, the sole B-B in my bone pile, came out of a
device where it was used to internally extend to the outside world a B
port soldiered on a PCB deeply buried in its innards.

Danke,

--
Don, KB7RPU, https://www.qsl.net/kb7rpu
There was a young lady named Bright Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day In a relative way And returned on the previous night.

On Thu, 12 Jan 2023 04:25:38 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

>I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
>them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>
>Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
>find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
>type of connector is on both ends. So, little more than
>VERY short "extensions".
>
>I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they would
>serve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".
>And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...
>
>[short cables with *different* connectors can be regarded
>as converters so the question, there, would be "why have any
>wire between the connectors instead of just potting them
>in the same shell?"]

I have some 6" USB-C extenders. I use them on my phone when I use it
as a camera. It reduces wear on the phone connector.

On 1/12/2023 9:09 AM, Don wrote:
>> Ah, that's a good idea -- too easy for someone to break a USB port
>> (mechanically) if something LONG and rigid (thumb drive) is directly
>> plugged!
>>
>> OK, so I'll hold onto the A-A M/F shorties.
>>
>> Now, why need a B-B?
>
> My ~six inch A-A shorties, as you say, are always welcome because, in
> addition to the rigidity relief already mentioned above, too many USB
> cables are also about six inches too short.

Ah, I always have the opposite problem -- cables (power, SCSI, SAS, CAT5,
USB, etc.) that are too *long*; all those service loops take up space.

Mailman (lady) just dropped off some *2* ft USB A-B cables. Each
of my workstations has a UPS (for that workstation) sited atop.
USB cable connects workstation to UPS. So, anything more than two
feet is just getting in the way (1 ft is a bit too short). Power
cord for workstation is similarly trimmed -- just a foot long
from UPS outlets to workstation inlet.

My need for *long* USB cords is typically for scanners that I
want to site away from the workstations (more benchtop space
available the farther you go!).

> If I remember correctly, the sole B-B in my bone pile, came out of a
> device where it was used to internally extend to the outside world a B
> port soldiered on a PCB deeply buried in its innards.

Dunno as I typically encounter these things after they've been
removed from <whatever>: "Hmmm... this looks like it might come
in handy, some day..."

I've decided I can use a couple on my scanners. Some are sited
high (chest height) so accessing the USB *connection* on the
rear is tedious (B-size scanners aren't trivial to shove around).
Short B-B "pigtail" that you leave connected to the scanner's
hard to access connection point would be relatively easy to find,
by feel, and mate/unmate while straining to reach the back of
the device.

But, I can't believe that's their intended purpose... (?)

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 4:54:54 AM UTC-8, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
> torsdag den 12. januar 2023 kl. 12.25.53 UTC+1 skrev Don Y:
> > I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store
> > them than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
> >
> > Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I
> > find lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same
> > type of connector is on both ends. So, little more than
> > VERY short "extensions".
> >
> > I can't fathom why these would be made ...
> > And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...

> makes it easier (or possible) to fit usb sticks next to eahc other in closely spaced USB connectors on the back or af a PC
>
> when you don't want a long device with usb A male sticking out of the side of your laptop
>
> as a makeshit safe break away, because it makes the connectors in line with the cable

To which, I'd add that a charging station with a power strip in its closed base is made
more useful if one or more of its hidden USB-style warts has a short pigtail extending up to the
user-device-dock shelves. Ipods, tablets, phones, flashlights... there's a lot of chargeables
to be served.

Similarly, a paperweight-style USB socket is a convenient way to dock a thumb drive, while seeking the last
empty socket on the back of the PC is not.

On 1/12/2023 4:35 PM, whit3rd wrote:
> On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 4:54:54 AM UTC-8, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
>> torsdag den 12. januar 2023 kl. 12.25.53 UTC+1 skrev Don Y:
>>> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store them than to
>>> have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>>>
>>> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I find lots of
>>> short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same type of connector is on both
>>> ends. So, little more than VERY short "extensions".
>>>
>>> I can't fathom why these would be made ... And, as such, can't
>>> understand why I should keep them...
>
>> makes it easier (or possible) to fit usb sticks next to eahc other in
>> closely spaced USB connectors on the back or af a PC
>>
>> when you don't want a long device with usb A male sticking out of the side
>> of your laptop
>>
>> as a makeshit safe break away, because it makes the connectors in line
>> with the cable
>
> To which, I'd add that a charging station with a power strip in its closed
> base is made more useful if one or more of its hidden USB-style warts has a
> short pigtail extending up to the user-device-dock shelves. Ipods,
> tablets, phones, flashlights... there's a lot of chargeables to be served.

I'm not sure I follow. Can you find a device, online, and send a pointer?

> Similarly, a paperweight-style USB socket is a convenient way to dock a
> thumb drive, while seeking the last empty socket on the back of the PC is
> not.

That's how we connect thumb drives to the TV. Too hard to try
to find the USB slot when there are HDMI and other "openings"
that the thumb drive tries to mate with when inserted blind.

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 6:26:20 PM UTC-8, Don Y wrote:
> On 1/12/2023 4:35 PM, whit3rd wrote:
> > On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 4:54:54 AM UTC-8, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
> >> torsdag den 12. januar 2023 kl. 12.25.53 UTC+1 skrev Don Y:
> >>> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store them than to
> >>> have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
> >>>
> >>> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I find lots of
> >>> short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same type of connector is on both
> >>> ends.

> > ...a charging station with a power strip in its closed
> > base is made more useful if one or more of its hidden USB-style warts has a
> > short pigtail extending up to the user-device-dock shelves. Ipods,
> > tablets, phones, flashlights... there's a lot of chargeables to be served.

> I'm not sure I follow. Can you find a device, online, and send a pointer?

Like this one
<https://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/L11671448.jpg>
which has a hidden bunch of AC sockets for a variety of chargers...

On 1/12/2023 8:43 PM, whit3rd wrote:
> On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 6:26:20 PM UTC-8, Don Y wrote:
>> On 1/12/2023 4:35 PM, whit3rd wrote:
>>> On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 4:54:54 AM UTC-8, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
>>>> torsdag den 12. januar 2023 kl. 12.25.53 UTC+1 skrev Don Y:
>>>>> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store them than to
>>>>> have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>>>>>
>>>>> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I find lots of
>>>>> short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same type of connector is on both
>>>>> ends.
>
>>> ...a charging station with a power strip in its closed
>>> base is made more useful if one or more of its hidden USB-style warts has a
>>> short pigtail extending up to the user-device-dock shelves. Ipods,
>>> tablets, phones, flashlights... there's a lot of chargeables to be served.
>
>> I'm not sure I follow. Can you find a device, online, and send a pointer?
>
> Like this one
> <https://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/L11671448.jpg>
> which has a hidden bunch of AC sockets for a variety of chargers...

The chargers are wall-wart-ish devices hiding in the "mouse hole"?
But, wouldn't you have mated the appropriate cable to the charger
before sealing it in? What's the value of bringing the wall-wart's
A connector out? You'd then have to mate the appropriate cable to
that!

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 8:56:17 PM UTC-8, Don Y wrote:
> On 1/12/2023 8:43 PM, whit3rd wrote:
> > On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 6:26:20 PM UTC-8, Don Y wrote:
> >> On 1/12/2023 4:35 PM, whit3rd wrote:
> >>> On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 4:54:54 AM UTC-8, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
> >>>> torsdag den 12. januar 2023 kl. 12.25.53 UTC+1 skrev Don Y:
> >>>>> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store them than to
> >>>>> have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
> >>>>>
> >>>>> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I find lots of
> >>>>> short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same type of connector is on both
> >>>>> ends.
> >
> >>> ...a charging station with a power strip in its closed
> >>> base is made more useful if one or more of its hidden USB-style warts has a
> >>> short pigtail extending up to the user-device-dock shelves. Ipods,
> >>> tablets, phones, flashlights... there's a lot of chargeables to be served.
> >
> >> I'm not sure I follow. Can you find a device, online, and send a pointer?
> >
> > Like this one
> > <https://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/L11671448.jpg>
> > which has a hidden bunch of AC sockets for a variety of chargers...
> The chargers are wall-wart-ish devices hiding in the "mouse hole"?
> But, wouldn't you have mated the appropriate cable to the charger
> before sealing it in? What's the value of bringing the wall-wart's
> A connector out? You'd then have to mate the appropriate cable to
> that!

Yes. The 'appropriate cable' being an octopus gizmo, which serves two generations
of iPhones and most iPods (but not the Firewire ones) plus mini-B, micro-B; the last-four-inch
problem remains, but at least there's a socket in visible range.
Chargers hidden in the mouse-hole aren't all USB-A types, though; USB is only part of
the charger solution space.

On 1/13/2023 12:22 AM, whit3rd wrote:
> On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 8:56:17 PM UTC-8, Don Y wrote:
>> On 1/12/2023 8:43 PM, whit3rd wrote:
>>> On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 6:26:20 PM UTC-8, Don Y wrote:
>>>> On 1/12/2023 4:35 PM, whit3rd wrote:
>>>>> On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 4:54:54 AM UTC-8, lang...@fonz.dk wrote:
>>>>>> torsdag den 12. januar 2023 kl. 12.25.53 UTC+1 skrev Don Y:
>>>>>>> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to store them than to
>>>>>>> have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), I find lots of
>>>>>>> short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the same type of connector is on both
>>>>>>> ends.
>>>
>>>>> ...a charging station with a power strip in its closed
>>>>> base is made more useful if one or more of its hidden USB-style warts has a
>>>>> short pigtail extending up to the user-device-dock shelves. Ipods,
>>>>> tablets, phones, flashlights... there's a lot of chargeables to be served.
>>>
>>>> I'm not sure I follow. Can you find a device, online, and send a pointer?
>>>
>>> Like this one
>>> <https://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/L11671448.jpg>
>>> which has a hidden bunch of AC sockets for a variety of chargers...
>> The chargers are wall-wart-ish devices hiding in the "mouse hole"?
>> But, wouldn't you have mated the appropriate cable to the charger
>> before sealing it in? What's the value of bringing the wall-wart's
>> A connector out? You'd then have to mate the appropriate cable to
>> that!
>
> Yes. The 'appropriate cable' being an octopus gizmo, which serves two generations
> of iPhones and most iPods (but not the Firewire ones) plus mini-B, micro-B; the last-four-inch
> problem remains, but at least there's a socket in visible range.
> Chargers hidden in the mouse-hole aren't all USB-A types, though; USB is only part of
> the charger solution space.

We have three spots where devices get charged. The majority are
charged on top of an old ~1950's era "radio" (i.e., a large piece
of furniture) where the chargers are tucked inside the radio
(back is open).

In my office, BT speakers, tablets and headphones get charged
from a 6-port USB charger mounted to the underside of a table.

SWMBO has a similar arrangement in her art studio.

In each case, all you end up seeing is a bunch of cables
dangling... find the one that fits.

Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> Wrote in message:r
> I tend to collect cables -- easier to find space to storethem than to have to make/buy one when you need it *now*!Digging through my stash (time to get rid of stuff!), Ifind lots of short (3-6 in) M-F cables where the sametype of connector is on both ends. So, little more thanVERY short "extensions".I can't fathom why these would be made -- what use they wouldserve ("When you need just another couple of inches (TmReg)".And, as such, can't understand why I should keep them...[short cables with *different* connectors can be regardedas converters so the question, there, would be "why have anywire between the connectors instead of just potting themin the same shell?"]

They were for high current devices like usb cdrom burners.

Cheers
--

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