RE: Yes, you posted one example

Posted by AbeCollins (A) on April 27, 2016 at 10:31:18

In Reply to: RE: Yes, you posted one example posted by beppe61 on April 27, 2016 at 08:55:43:

Ethernet USB Extenders don't necessarily offer USB Isolation properties. Good ones will. Similarly an inexpensive Ethernet USB Extender is unlikely to provide protocol translation but is probably just doing signal level conditioning. Not that protocol translation is necessary in order to achieve the benefits of isolation and signal conditioning... think Regen, Intona, etc.

USB 2 "speed" is not the issue here so you can still experiment with your entry level Ethernet USB Extender if you're willing to. Cable it up and plug in your DAC. Does it play music? Perhaps not well at hi-res rates but does it play basic 44/16 PCM? No harm in playing around with your Extenders, point to point. But if it works, that does not mean it is providing any isolation benefit.

A couple things you can try in order to determine if there's isolation between the two ends:

1) Attach the extenders to each other via Ethernet cable, but leave each USB end unattached. Now with a multimeter (ohm meter) or even a cheapie continuity tester determine if there is continuity or isolation between the two USB connector outer metal housings at each end of the extenders. Your measurement should be DC open circuit, (no connection) between the two USB connector metal housings.

An open circuit would indicate isolation properties between the two metal shield ends. This is a good start if it does in fact measure as open circuit. If there is continuity measured between the two ends, there is no isolation.

You can determine if there's isolation for each data line between each USB end by measuring from PIN 2 to PIN 2 in the same way. And between PIN 3 to PIN 3 in the same way. Measure for continuity from end to end. If it measures open circuit that's a good thing. If not, there is no isolation.

If any of the items above do not measure "open circuit", your Extenders do not offer isolation properties.

2) The other challenge is to determine if VBUS power will be passed via the Ethernet cable, or if they left it open. If these Ethernet USB Extenders are meant to be used only with USB devices that require separate (wall wart) power, they may have left VBUS disconnected.

Again, you can measure PIN 1 to PIN 1 between each USB end. And measure PIN 4 to PIN 4 between each end.

Or, attach a USB device that requires VBUS and see if it works. Attach a USB Keyboard, Mouse, small disk drive, etc. If it works, then they did in fact pass VBUSS over a couple extra Ethernet wires. You can fmak hack off the +5V line at the USB device end (or cover PIN 1 & 4) if your DAC does not require +5Vcc over USB. If it requires +5Vcc you can still hack the +5Vcc line and inject your own clean +5VDC.

Sounds like a hassle to me but if you want to experiment, the steps above should give you some insight into what your Ethernet USB Extender setup is doing.... or not doing.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - A potential new "game-changer" - Sordidman 11:49:07 04/26/16 (48)

RE: A potential new "game-changer" - Isaak J. Garvey 17:46:17 04/27/16 (2)

RE: A potential new "game-changer" - Sordidman 09:24:27 04/28/16 (1)

RE: A potential new "game-changer" - Isaak J. Garvey 10:11:01 04/28/16 (0)

Ps Audio video - beppe61 04:34:53 04/27/16 (0)

" Built in Galvanic isolation " - beppe61 23:30:59 04/26/16 (30)

RE: " Built in Galvanic isolation " - fmak 05:06:53 04/27/16 (1)

RE: " Built in Galvanic isolation " - beppe61 06:08:36 04/27/16 (0)

RE: " Built in Galvanic isolation " - Roseval 02:51:36 04/27/16 (27)

RE: " Built in Galvanic isolation " - beppe61 04:13:38 04/27/16 (26)

Yes, you posted one example - Sordidman 07:29:04 04/27/16 (24)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - beppe61 08:55:43 04/27/16 (23)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - AbeCollins 10:31:18 04/27/16 (3)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - beppe61 11:14:48 04/27/16 (2)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - AbeCollins 11:31:40 04/27/16 (1)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - beppe61 11:35:53 04/27/16 (0)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - Sordidman 10:05:03 04/27/16 (18)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - beppe61 10:33:49 04/27/16 (17)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - Sordidman 13:15:14 04/27/16 (15)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - beppe61 06:07:19 04/28/16 (12)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - Sordidman 06:40:25 04/28/16 (11)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - beppe61 06:52:02 04/28/16 (10)

Here's a good rule of thumb - Sordidman 07:10:55 04/28/16 (9)

RE: Here's a good rule of thumb - beppe61 08:51:50 04/28/16 (8)

RE: Here's a good rule of thumb - Sordidman 09:25:46 04/28/16 (7)

RE: Here's a good rule of thumb - beppe61 09:40:49 04/28/16 (6)

RE: Here's a good rule of thumb - Sordidman 10:54:49 04/28/16 (5)

RE: Here's a good rule of thumb - beppe61 11:10:09 04/28/16 (4)

RE: Here's a good rule of thumb - Sordidman 14:37:13 04/28/16 (3)

RE: Here's a good rule of thumb - beppe61 23:45:25 04/28/16 (2)

RE: Here's a good rule of thumb - Sordidman 09:16:50 04/29/16 (1)

RE: Here's a good rule of thumb - beppe61 14:19:16 04/29/16 (0)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - beppe61 05:53:58 04/28/16 (1)

I don't think that the Extron is what you want - Sordidman 06:55:30 04/28/16 (0)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - AbeCollins 10:43:54 04/27/16 (0)

RE: " Built in Galvanic isolation " - Roseval 05:19:13 04/27/16 (0)

network players - Tom Schuman 23:25:49 04/26/16 (2)

This product is not an "audio" product - Sordidman 07:24:02 04/27/16 (0)

RE: network players - Cut-Throat 05:38:37 04/27/16 (0)

Kinda funny... - AbeCollins 14:15:03 04/26/16 (7)

It's $479 - Sordidman 16:09:02 04/26/16 (6)

Says $599.99 USD here - AbeCollins 19:33:20 04/26/16 (5)

Amazon - Sordidman 20:47:46 04/26/16 (4)

RE: Amazon - AbeCollins 08:53:11 04/27/16 (3)

RE: Amazon - SBGK 11:01:48 04/27/16 (2)

RE: Amazon - AbeCollins 11:19:10 04/27/16 (1)

RE: Amazon - SBGK 11:29:18 04/27/16 (0)

RE: A potential new "game-changer" - Roseval 12:40:35 04/26/16 (1)

RE: A potential new "game-changer" - Sordidman 13:37:06 04/26/16 (0)

Follow Ups

RE: Yes, you posted one example - AbeCollins 10:31:18 04/27/16 (3)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - beppe61 11:14:48 04/27/16 (2)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - AbeCollins 11:31:40 04/27/16 (1)

RE: Yes, you posted one example - beppe61 11:35:53 04/27/16 (0)

RE: Yes, you posted one example

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