USB 3.0/3.1/3.2 Gen 1 aka the kind that can do 5 gbps can only use cables up to 3m in length. Meanwhile Ethernet uses a similar twisted pair copper cable, but can do 10 gbps over 100m.
What gives, why is USB so limited in terms of cable length?
In: 413
Ethernet cables use twisted pairs. A wire acts as an antenna picking up interference. Each twisted pair sends a signal and the result is a voltage difference at the end of the wire. The twisted pairs mean that both wires experience the same interference over the long distance. The result is that the voltage differential is constant.
A cat5 wire will work at 100meters but if you untwist the wires, it won’t work at 10meters.
Latest Answers