USB leads

[419]

I have recently purchased an external CDRW unit (which is a USB 2.0 device) and it was not supplied with a USB connecting lead. As I have plenty of these, I told the salesman I did not need to buy one. He told me that as it was a USB 2.0 bit, the old USB leads I have would not be any good. (they were supplied with USB 1.0 devices).
Is there any difference between USB 1.0, and 2.0 leads? or was the salesman trying to pull a fast one, and sell me a lead I wouldn't need?

419

[spannersatcx]

No the salesman was right. You may have a USB cable that is stictly only USB 1 compliant, that doesn't necessarily mean it won't work, it may, but not at the required speed.

To ensure complete compatibility you should ensure that the cable you use is USB 2 compliant.

Don't ask me what the differences are as I've no idea.

[TR4A]

From Everythingusb.com

Do USB 1.1 cables work with USB 2.0 devices?

Ideally, yes. USB 2.0 architecture uses the same cables and connectors as USB 1.1 compliant products. Unforunately, only 3 out of 11 cables on the market are certified as USB 1.1 compliant. You may run into the cables that cause problems connecting high-speed peripherals. To avoid negative user experience, most vendors include USB 2.0 compliant cables with their USB 2 PCI cards and peripherals.

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

419,

To find out of any of your cables will work at USB 2.0 speeds, run the burn tests, where the Burning software tests the speed of the Drive/Connection to see how fast you can burn at. That will tell you if you have any USB cables up to the USB 2.0 Spec or not.

Take Care,

Richard

[419]

Thanks for the info. I'll buy a sutible lead today.

419

[Naples Air Center, Inc.]

419,

Let us know how it works out.

Take Care,

Richard