MSolutions, a leading supplier of AV test devices and collaboration solutions, is now shipping its new USB cable test (UCT) module, the AV industry’s first solution for qualifying today’s wealth of USB cables, signal types and connectivity options. The UCT module also helps users understand the power consumption of a USB device in relation to the host, as well as bandwidth, data speeds and the presence of specific wires across the cable that match varied USB specifications.
Introduced at the InfoComm show in June, the UCT joins the growing family of modules for the company’s handheld MS-TestPro (MS-104B) device. MSolutions also offers HDMI, HDBaseT, IP and DC Resistance modules for its all-in-one AV tester.
The UCT module arrives on the market at a time of need for installers and tech managers tasked with modernising meeting and learning spaces. Modernising these spaces means an increased reliance on the USB transmission of AV signals, which also raises compliancy issues between transmitting and receiving devices.
The UCT removes the mystery of which cables are compatible between cameras, extenders and displays or computers by identifying what USB signal types the cable can pass. Upon attaching the module to a USB cable, MS-104B users receive accurate test measurements for USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to USB 3.0 (Type A), and USB 3.0 (Type B) to USB 3.0 (Type A), for example. The tester will also identify and qualify the USB version that the cable is specified to, which is often the root of compatibility issues – especially when laptops are involved.
“We see many cases where the presenter unknowingly buys and connects a USB 2.0 cable, which only accommodates charging, between a laptop and a USB 3.0 camera,” said Eliran Toren, CEO, MSolutions. “The problem is not a failed cable; it’s a mismatched cable that cannot pass the required data. The UCT module identifies these compatibility issues within seconds, eliminating the need for return visits and troubleshooting expenses for the end user.”
