USB :"null-modem": cable? From the Dollar Store?

The other day, my sister and I were shopping at one of the local dollar
stores, and came across a self-coiling USB cable, A-to-A, basically both
ends being the connectors one plugs into the back of the computer. The
packaging claimed one could plug such a cable between two computers, and
use it to transfer files back and forth.

I know it's not entirely implausible, I used to use null-modem RS232C
cables back in the day. But I've never heard of doing such a thing with
USB cables, except for those devices that create a "phony Ethernet
network" in the middle. All this appears to be is a thin cable with two
USB connectors. Does any of this make sense? Is it worth trying, or did
my sister get a dollar's worth of nothing in particular?

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.

What you got is an extension cable by the sound of it. I use these when I
have printers more than 1.8m from the pc but no more than 5m or you require
a booster to prevent signal loss. There are USB cables which work like
network/null modem cables but the only ones I have worked with came with the
motherboard I was installing. I wasn't overly impressed with them, I found
the data transfer rate inferior to a standard 10/100 network.

FWIW
Trace

PCTECH
For all your computer requirements

Jeffreys Bay +27-42-296-0425
South Africa +27-82-485-0672

-----Original Message-----
From: Computer_Help_and_Discussion%40yahoogroups.com">Computer_Help_and_Discussionyahoogroups.com
[mailto: Computer_Help_and_Discussion%40yahoogroups.com">Computer_Help_and_Discussionyahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of David
Smith
Sent: 31 May 2007 05:18
To: Computer_Help_and_Discussion%40yahoogroups.com">Computer_Help_and_Discussionyahoogroups.com
Subject: [CHAD] USB :"null-modem&quot;: cable? From the Dollar Store?

The other day, my sister and I were shopping at one of the local dollar
stores, and came across a self-coiling USB cable, A-to-A, basically both
ends being the connectors one plugs into the back of the computer. The
packaging claimed one could plug such a cable between two computers, and
use it to transfer files back and forth.

I know it's not entirely implausible, I used to use null-modem RS232C
cables back in the day. But I've never heard of doing such a thing with
USB cables, except for those devices that create a "phony Ethernet
network" in the middle. All this appears to be is a thin cable with two
USB connectors. Does any of this make sense? Is it worth trying, or did
my sister get a dollar's worth of nothing in particular?

--
Grizzly <grizzly at grizzly.podzone.org&gt;
Podcast:
<http://feeds.feedburner.com/grizzlysgrowls>
Blog:
<http://feeds.feedburner.com/grizzlysblog>
The Life and Times of a Minor Local Celebrity

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.

No, an A-to-A cable is not an extension cable, because the plugs at both ends are identical. It is used to connect an USB port to another USB port. An USB extension cable has different plugs at each end, one, an A plug, to insert in an USB port and the other (I don't remember offhand its spec) to insert the A plug in (similar to the one found in an USB port).
Wilson

At 08:04 31/5/2007,PCTECH wrote:
&gt;What you got is an extension cable by the sound of it. I use these when I
>have printers more than 1.8m from the pc but no more than 5m or you require
>a booster to prevent signal loss. There are USB cables which work like
>;network/null modem cables but the only ones I have worked with came with the
>motherboard I was installing. I wasn't overly impressed with them, I found
&gt;the data transfer rate inferior to a standard 10/100 network.

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.

A transfer in that manner will be slow. A crossover ethernet cable is a
much better choice.

David Smith wrote:
&gt; The other day, my sister and I were shopping at one of the local dollar
> stores, and came across a self-coiling USB cable, A-to-A, basically both
> ends being the connectors one plugs into the back of the computer. The
> packaging claimed one could plug such a cable between two computers, and
> use it to transfer files back and forth.
&gt;
> I know it's not entirely implausible, I used to use null-modem RS232C
> cables back in the day. But I've never heard of doing such a thing with
> USB cables, except for those devices that create a "phony Ethernet
> network&quot; in the middle. All this appears to be is a thin cable with two
> USB connectors. Does any of this make sense? Is it worth trying, or did
> my sister get a dollar's worth of nothing in particular?
>
>

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.

David,
It's possible that I misunderstood
but during my Google search for "usb connectors"
I read that a USB A-A (same on both ends)
is commonly available but is illegal and that
fire is very likely if used to connect 2 computers
without some sort of special bridge
due to incorrectly connecting 2 power sources.
I've been trying to find the article to verify for you
and will try again when I have more time,
so unless an expert chimes in to the contrary
I highly recommend against trying it.
Rick

David Smith wrote:
&gt;
> The other day, my sister and I were shopping at one of the local dollar
&gt; stores, and came across a self-coiling USB cable, A-to-A, basically both
>; ends being the connectors one plugs into the back of the computer. The
> packaging claimed one could plug such a cable between two computers, and
> use it to transfer files back and forth.
&gt;
> I know it's not entirely implausible, I used to use null-modem RS232C
&gt; cables back in the day. But I've never heard of doing such a thing with
>; USB cables, except for those devices that create a "phony Ethernet
> network&quot; in the middle. All this appears to be is a thin cable with two
> USB connectors. Does any of this make sense? Is it worth trying, or did
> my sister get a dollar's worth of nothing in particular?
>

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.