> GX12 or GX16 4-pin aviation connector (Aliexpress) for decoration.<p>Aesthetics is subjective of course, but I've never really liked things that are added for decoration but have no functional purpose. It's like fake drawers on cabinets or fake pockets on shirts or blazers. In this case, I imagine that connector even adds weight to the cable for no reason at all. It's got to make it a bit uncomfortable when using the keyboard off the desk which I imagine is the purpose of the coiling.<p>My kind of beauty is the adminbook[1]. Everything has a functional purpose in that. Nothing is added simply because it looks pretty.<p>Is there a name for this kind of aesthetics?<p>[1] <a href="https://habr.com/en/post/437912/" rel="nofollow">https://habr.com/en/post/437912/</a>
I wonder if it works at the higher USB speeds. It would be interesting to use a time domain reflectometer on that to see if the big 4-pin connector causes an impedance mismatch.<p>Here's a TI document on USB signal PC board layout.[1] Look at all those touchy requirements. Differential lines must be the same length, down to a millimeter or so. Stubs off to the side are bad, even stubs the thickness of a PC board. They cause reflections.<p>USB, despite how common it is, has tough electrical specs. USB-C (which is only vaguely related to USB A and B) is even worse.<p>[1] <a href="http://www.ti.com/lit/an/spraar7h/spraar7h.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.ti.com/lit/an/spraar7h/spraar7h.pdf</a>
This is cool, and for an art project, sensible, but USB is far to much of a pain in the rear for regular cable-making if you, "need" a USB cable. I prefer to cut my own CAT 5/6 over buying premade in a lot of situations, but that doesn't require I heat up the soldering iron.
I suppose this is more of an aesthetic thing than a tech thing considering that a cable like this probably doesn't match the USB spec very well ;-)
I've been trying to turn old broken micro/mini usb cables into new ones using these <a href="https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-LOT-YT2153B-Micro-USB-4Pin-Male-connector-plug-Black-White-welding-Data-OTG-line-interface/32832871275.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.aliexpress.com/item/10PCS-LOT-YT2153B-Micro-USB-...</a><p>But they're a tad too tiny/frail. Anyone knows some larger micro usb connector kits ?
I'd like a USB cable with a flat right-angle low-profile soft connector. Like a USB mouse/keyboard wireless dongle, but instead of the hard plastic hardware, that's just the start of the cable. Starting with a slight angle, so it works with a row of inline USB ports. For always-in on-the-go USB cables, without the socket-destroying mechanical advantage lever of traditional connectors.<p>I use laptop USB ports for hand tracking cameras, an HMD, and related cruft. Frequent mobile use, and unfortunate ThinkPad port placement, has those port sockets mechanically distressed. I now have sticks which slide onto the laptop to brace the cables, but... a cleaner solution would be nice. A new laptop might have better placement, but would still need protective sticks.
Reminded me of this project: Flash drive disguised as a sawed-off usb cable.<p><a href="https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2008/how-to-make-a-sawed-off-usb-key/" rel="nofollow">https://www.evilmadscientist.com/2008/how-to-make-a-sawed-of...</a>
Worth of note:<p>>USB connectors. In my case USB-Mini and USB-A but you can buy USB-Micro and USB-C too.<p>Sure I can buy the connectors, but soldering a USB-Micro is not exactly the same of a USB-A or a USB-Mini, let alone a USB-C.<p>And no, those pre-soldered to a breadboard don't count for a DIY cable.
Better build two; a backup of a special cable is always nice to have and it's much more convenient to order the parts and build both at the same time.
Sigh, whipping up a cable when needed has become something to post about? Does having stacks of pin-out diagrams and a hot soldering iron near my desk make me look old?