USB 3.0 Explained (and USB 3.1! And Gen 1/2!) Please feel free to contact our Sales department with any specific pre-purchase questions you may have! Index:
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What is USB 3.0?USB 3 (now 3.1) is the current version of the ubiquitous Universal Serial Bus standard, which over the last twenty years has come to dominate not just the computer peripheral market, but is now being used as a standard power connector for innumerable phones, gadgets, and toys. With the release of USB 3.1 and its accompanying new physical format, Type-C, the spec's scope has expanded once again to include more speed, power, and versatility. What kind of connectors does USB 3 use?
What's the difference between USB 3.0, USB 3.1 Gen 1, and USB 3.1 Gen 2?Officially, "USB 3.1 Gen 1" is synonymous with "USB 3.0" and they may be used interchangeably. USB 3.1 Gen 2 is the portion of the USB 3.1 spec that allows for 10Gbps data transfer. When specifically referring to speed, the USB-IF has indicated that people should use "SuperSpeed USB" and "SuperSpeed USB 10Gbps." What are the advantages of USB 3.0 and 3.1?Speed: Power: Versatility: What devices can I use with USB 3?Despite the scale and aggressive improvements of the SuperSpeed USB standard, it was fundamentally designed to be backwards-compatible with existing USB technology. A crucial pillar of the USB 3 specification addresses how the USB 3 interface must remain compatible with the millions of existing USB computers and devices in the marketplace. For the most part, all USB 2.0 devices will work on USB 3.0 hardware, and (nearly) all USB 3 devices will work on USB 2.0 hardware. As part of the requirement, all USB 3.0 ports include the necessary pins and logic to process USB 2.0 signals. The exceptions to this rule are a few USB 3 connectors that are physically incompatible with their 2.0 counterparts. These include USB 3 Type-B, USB Type-C, and USB 3 Micro-B. If you're considering whether to use USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 cables for your installation, we recommend using 3.0 for purposes of future compatibility. If installing USB through conduit or as a component of a larger assembly, there is no reason not to integrate USB 3.0 cables. What is the Powered B Connector for?A weakness of earlier USB specifications was the one-sidedness of the bus-powered option. Peripherals connected directly to a host machine were allowed to draw power from the host port and function without an external AC or DC power supply. There was no reciprocal for the device end of the run, however, so USB hardware on device-side (such as USB-Over-Ethernet units and USB-WiFi adapters) required their own power brick. Particularly for in-wall installations and integrated products, this was a hurdle which presented any number of technical issues. USB 3.0 seeks to remedy this situation with an offshoot of the USB B connector called the Powered B connector. When paired with a Powered B-compatible device, USB 3.0 accessories can draw their power from the device just like from a host. The Powered B male plug is only available hard-wired to devices that specifically support it; there are no Powered B cables. The Powered B implementation is also related to the distinct form-factor of the SuperSpeed USB B connector. Standard USB B devices can connect to USB 2.0 hosts by using a USB 2.0 A-to-B cable, which is compatible with the USB 3.0 B port on the device. Powered USB B devices, on the other hand, will always have their cable hard-wired (non-removable), so there is no risk of attempting to run a Powered USB B device over a USB 2.0 cable, nor any risk of plugging a Powered USB B device into a USB 2.0 port. What is USB 3.2?USB 3.2 is a new version of the USB spec, announced in July of 2017 by the USB Promoter Group. It allows two devices with USB 3.2 compatible chipsets to communicate at 20Gbps over a standard USB Type-C cable, as opposed to the previous limit of 10Gbps with USB 3.1, or 5Gbps with USB 3.0. To achieve their orientation-free design, USB Type-C connectors have two mirrored sets of 12 pins, of which USB 3.1 only uses one side. USB 3.2 makes use of both set of pins to double the bandwidth of the connection, similar to how Thunderbolt 3 works. Does USB 3.0 cause 2.4Ghz or WiFi interference?When data passes through a USB cable, it can radiate a small amount of radio frequency "noise." Unfortunately this noise spreads across the 2.4 GHz ISM band, a range of frequencies in which many of our favorite wireless technologies operate. This may interfere with wireless mice and keyboards, Bluetooth devices, and WiFi signals. Generally this interference is mitigated by manufacturers, using careful placement of components and shielding. However in some cases, making a change to your setup may be necessary -- for example, moving wireless dongles away from your computer with a USB extension cable. Related products:
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