IIUC any required signal can be generated/converted based on received optical signal and is referenced to device ground resulting in no difference compared to differential signal sent with reference to common ground. Device sends back to the host signal by another optical fiber line and again access to host ground shouldn’t be necessary.
Yes, it's doable with another isolated side-channel and some logic (there are several HS isolation chips available today 🙂 ). But it is a major complication to the rather simple differential line -> long-run of optics -> differential line design of that existing cable (IIUC the current design).
Ok, there seem to be three versions:
$16.50 USB 3.0/2.0/1.0 -- this is cable based, so not wanted
$42 USB 3.2 Gen. 1 5 GBPS -- what's wrong with this one? in the pic there is the disclaimer "only supports 3.0" . Is that what is wrong? How can it be USB3.2 when it only supports 3.0? why doesn't it have fallback to 2.0?
$55 This is the USB3.2 Gen2 10 GBPS the op meant
Now unfortunately I this seller (Beilink store) does not ship to Germany. I have been tying to find other shops on and off Ali but to no avail. Can anyone help out with a different source?
Shared power and ground at both ends, seems most likely. How else would the optical receiver back to wired USB work? Its gonna need power from somewhere.
OTOH, if the receiver/device end requires external power then probably no need for shared ground at both ends.
OTOH, if the receiver/device end requires external power then probably no need for shared ground at both ends.
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Good find! Not sure if it is a different manufacturer than Beilink. It is also USB3.2 Gen 1 and 5 GBps, which we were told not to buy from Beilink
Not likely but confirmed from the beginning that there is no ground isolation – post #8.
I can’t find any problem with that, while using 7.5 m long cable, by detailed DAC measurements (noise, distortion and jitter) or careful listening. There are no reasons to exchange standard quality USB cable, below 2 m length, with optical USB. However, I need more and there is no going back for me from this solution.
Doesn’t matter if it is USB3.2 with only 5 Gbps. What matters is backward compatibility with USB 2.0, required by DAC. It is mentioned in the specification but I can’t vouch for that.
