Why so many cables?
So. Many. Cables! White ones, black ones, green ones, purple ones. Whatever the color, the result is the same: headaches for users and technicians alike. Devices connect to computers through various connections that let data and power flow. When we’re assisting remotely, a partner who can identify connections correctly saves time for dental offices and IT teams alike. Welcome to our mini-course, Cable Identification in a “Wireless” World. Put on your spectacles, grab your notebook and a favorite study snack, and dive into the industry-standard cables in your office.
01Power cables
Most desktops, printers, and monitors use industry-standard power cables: a three-prong male end into the wall and a three-port female end into the device, providing stable power.
02USB cables
The original USB. Being phased out, but some older devices still use it. Slow charging and data transfer.
The most common standard today, gradually giving way to 3.x. Faster charging and data transfer than 1.x.
The latest of the three, with the highest data transfer and charging rates.
Cables and ports share the same colors, so a blue USB port on a computer is a USB 3.x port. Ports are backward compatible, meaning a USB 3.x cable works in a USB 2.x port or lower, but for full speed and charging, match colors (black to black, blue to blue). Some devices require a USB 3.x port to work fully; their documentation should say so.
03Ethernet cables
The ever-loved and greatly feared network cable connects devices to your office’s internal network. It looks a lot like a phone cable but is slightly larger, and both have a lever on top you press to release the cable. A phone cable uses an RJ11 port; an Ethernet cable is referred to as RJ45, Cat 6, or simply Ethernet.
04Video cables
- 1DisplayPortPretty straightforward, eh? Display cables put images on screen. They look a lot like HDMI and have one beveled side on the port. Some have thumb buttons to release them, some don’t, but either way they seat firmly into the computer and monitor.
- 2HDMIThe standard most modern monitors and computers use, and nearly all modern TVs. HDMI carries video and audio, but it doesn’t have to use the audio channel, so don’t be afraid to run HDMI to a single monitor with no speakers.
- 3Mini DisplayPort / ThunderboltMiniaturized ports usually found on laptops and mobile devices, and sometimes on higher-end graphics cards. If your practice uses 3D imaging software on a computer with a higher-grade graphics card, you may use this port.
- 4Mini and Micro HDMISmaller plugs usually found on mobile devices and laptops, offering full HDMI function in less space.
- 5USB Type-C / ThunderboltUSB-C deserves a special mention. It’s being pushed as the standard for mobile devices and carries audio, video, data, and power. Found on Android and Apple devices and now many PC laptops, it’s an attempt to further standardize ports with much faster data transfer and reliable power.
05Vintage-style cables
Techs remember the bad old days of non-standardized video ports, and we still occasionally deal with older monitors and servers that use them. VGA and DVI are older video connections: hard-lined and extremely reliable, but with no audio or power. Full-size VGA and DVI connectors have thumb screws on the sides to secure them. Smaller versions exist, but we rarely see them in the field these days.
06Hubs and extenders
Sometimes you need just a few more inches, or feet, to reach. All of the cables above can go into an extender or a hub, a device that extends range and sometimes brings multiple signals into one... hub.
A USB hub is a prime example. If you have a card reader, mouse, printer, hand scanner, label maker, keyboard, a this, a that, and not enough USB ports, a hub is a lifesaver. They’re mostly used on laptops but sometimes on PCs, and they come powered or unpowered, with different numbers of ports and USB types supported. Check with us or the manufacturer for full capabilities.
Need help sorting it out?
Different cables support different devices and types of data, and the specifics can be confusing. Reach out to us and we’ll help you weed through the garden of wires, no machete required (that would be a bad idea).
About Darkhorse Tech
Whether you’re just starting out or a well-established organization, Darkhorse Tech has the experience and technology to help get you moving, cut costs, and streamline your operations with unlimited IT support. We help you do what you do best: provide top-notch care and service for patients, not deal with IT problems, time spent on hold with technical support, or complicated technical mishaps. Our additional security services include:
- Unlimited remote and/or on-site IT support of all your hardware and software
- Improved network performance and security
- HIPAA-compliant off-site and local backup service (Darkhorse Secure Backup)
- Managed antivirus, anti-malware, and anti-ransomware (Darkhorse Security Products)
- Compliance and security law standards
- Microsoft security patch management
- Vendor management: we will be on the phone, not your employees
- Secure, remote access to your office
- Firewall management
- Network management
- Long-term planning and budgeting
Contact us anytime to learn more about our dental-specific solutions and unlimited support packages. Read our reviews or call us today at 800.868.4504.
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