The Technology Vent and Rant Thread

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by ratinox

I know it's common but it's not a problem with USB-C. It's a problem with manufacturers implementing non-standard power requirements. My go-to example is Nintendo Switch's off spec 5/15V at 2.6A (39W) causing overheating, melting and possible ignition of chargers and docks supplying on spec 20V at 1.95A (39W). Just because it's common does not mean these devices are not off spec. They ARE off spec, and the only things you can do are replace with on spec kit or using the matching off spec power supplies.

The wall wart if not off spec. It's just that the wall wart is low power. It's a 20 watt wall wart. The cable however is not a standard USB-C cable as it delivers low power even from a 100 watt charger.

[JSWolf]

Why is it that USB-C devices can be all over the place and also non-standard? (rant, rant)

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why is it that USB-C devices can be all over the place and also non-standard? (rant, rant)

Hardly any are non-standard. There are multiple options in the main USB-C standard and USB power just keeps getting extra standards. The Nintendo Switch power is the only one I know that that's not standard. They do supply a PSU and tell you that you can't use a different one.

Also because of makers having too few ports (all only USB) and multi-function USB-C (that are mutually exclusive) I need a box of dongles and special powered USB 3 hubs for my 17″ and 11″ laptops and a box of dongles for my tablet and phone. Even then, functionality on 11″ (no charger port) and 17" is worse than my 2016 laptop which had separate video, ethernet, charger and audio ports as well as a full size SD-Card slot and twice as many USB ports. My 2002 laptop had even more kinds of ports. It also had line in stereo as well as mic. The bigger Lenovo laptop does have a 3.5mm jack, but it's the crippled phone type with mono mic and stereo out on the stupid Apple wiring (sleeve is mic in).

Previously I only ever needed a hub if I was connecting a mouse and keyboard to a tablet.

Now I have three boxes of "dongles" and some interfaces are now impossible on any laptop, that are on PCIe cards for a workstation, and were built in in 2002 (Firewire) or could be added via PCMCIA (the later PC Card format was a failure and never had the variety of interfaces, also some where slower is they really used the USB port in the slot, not the bus interface).

[ratinox]

Originally Posted by PeterT

Either start a new thread per rant or do like P & R does and have a catch all Rant discussion thread.

https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sh....php?p=4531951

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Why is it that USB-C devices can be all over the place and also non-standard? (rant, rant)

As someone has mentioned, the only thing that the USB-C standard does is ensure that a USB-C cord will fit into a USB-C connector on the device. Unfortunately, nothing else is guaranteed. From what I understand, the only way to ensure that a USB-C cord will work with the device is if it is the USB-C cord that came with the device.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

As someone has mentioned, the only thing that the USB-C standard does is ensure that a USB-C cord will fit into a USB-C connector on the device. Unfortunately, nothing else is guaranteed. From what I understand, the only way to ensure that a USB-C cord will work with the device is if it is the USB-C cord that came with the device.

Agree, personally I'd would never even try to see if a 100W plug would damage a device wich has other specs, or if on a standard there might be some safety enclousures. As mentioned in the topic also because it could depend on manufactures how much that plug would fit its quality's specs.
I'm quite surpised how the megastores keeps them up, since some decade several local shops did closed because of them, but honestly, going to search a cable or some other plugs in there will (at least here in EU, but I don't think it may be that different elsewhere) result on adapters/cables/plugs for Apple (ok, them market-policy is also based on support thought), or some specific Samsung, and the cheap rest of the world... like if someone searches a good cable, to buy it once, there is none: also just a choose from few brands, cables made of plastic that doesn't has clear written specifics (as mentioned before).
I mean those buys might fit if someone searches a quick, but implying that most of buyers has internet, choosing the latter opens to a more quality standard (and my rant is that that option isn't even on the megastores, so often there is no "can I pay 3-6$ more and have a silicone cable, a knew brand, ecc..." none.
Often I came back on some specific shops - rare -, that survived the timeline: e.g. a connector that does DVI to VGA: searched on all the stores (several), not one piece of it; then went on that local old shop, the cashier rotated and opened a drawer that was full of that specific connectors, just in there, in the counter's front.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

As someone has mentioned, the only thing that the USB-C standard does is ensure that a USB-C cord will fit into a USB-C connector on the device. Unfortunately, nothing else is guaranteed. From what I understand, the only way to ensure that a USB-C cord will work with the device is if it is the USB-C cord that came with the device.

There are at least 4 kinds of USB-C to to USB-C cords, excluding current rating (power is meaningless for a cable) and ones with chips in them.

There are at least 2 kinds of USB-C to to USB-A cords, excluding current rating (power is meaningless for a cable) and ones with chips in them. USB 3.x and not.

There are two kinds of chips in cords: malicious ones (such doing wireless) or ensuring proprietary operation (Apple with some cords).

[Renate]

There's also the question of shielded/unshielded for USB 2 cables.

I just bought some A to C cables where I needed USB 2.0 A pigtails.
And they weren't shielded.

USB 2 low speed were usually not shielded, but for 480 Mb/s or even 12 Mb/s I prefer shielded.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Renate

There's also the question of shielded/unshielded for USB 2 cables.

I just bought some A to C cables where I needed USB 2.0 A pigtails.
And they weren't shielded.

USB 2 low speed were usually not shielded, but for 480 Mb/s or even 12 Mb/s I prefer shielded.

Portable X-ray to shop?


Oh it's terrible.

I looked at a flimsy 2m USB-C to USB-C cable in the supermarket this morning. Compatible with Apple and Android. On rear the only thing specified was "rated 100W".

Cables are ONLY rated by current, and if for data, the number pairs/revision and maybe speed (Ghz etc). Never by power.

[Renate]

Actually, that do have chips in them to enforce advertise power rating.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by PeterT

[RANT]

PLEASE could we stop polluting the rant threads with discussions on the rants.

Either start a new thread per rant or do like P & R does and have a catch all Rant discussion thread.

[/RANT]

I think a catchall thread is an excellent idea and anyone should feel free to start one. Please, people, don't go on extended explications that don't qualify as rants. That said, we do tolerate a certain amount of thread drift here and IMO short responses are better in situ. But let it go at that. Don't engage in off-topic back-and-forths and please don't post long screeds in this thread. Always remember that people are entitled to their rants even if you know they're wrong, wrong, wrong!