Libra Libra special usb lead?

[Valkrider]

Does the Libra require a special usb lead? If so what does it require?

The reason for the question is that yesterday I had just finished doing some file management on my Android tablet and ejected it. I then grabbed the Libra to stick a couple of books on it, plugged it into the same lead and it did not show up in Finder (Mac) but the Libra had asked if I wanted to connect to the computer as usual and I answered yes and I got the usual screen on the Libra. I tried a different usb port and still the same. Got the lead out that came with the Libra and it then appeared correctly in Finder and Calibre.

[davidfor]

No, the Libra H2O, or any other Kobo ereader, does not need a special cable. But, some of them can be fussy. I have found that some of the cables I have don't work with some of the devices. The Kobo supplied cables all seem to work, but, some cheap cables I have bought don't.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by davidfor

No, the Libra H2O, or any other Kobo ereader, does not need a special cable. But, some of them can be fussy. I have found that some of the cables I have don't work with some of the devices. The Kobo supplied cables all seem to work, but, some cheap cables I have bought don't.

What would be different with those cheap cables?

[davidfor]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What would be different with those cheap cables?

The only difference that I know of is the price and that they don't work.

[Valkrider]

Thanks for the comments, I have tried 3 different cables now and 2 of them were bundled with devices (one expensive and one cheap device) and one 'Chinese' shop lead and none of them work with the Libra even though they work fine with lots of other devices. It is only the Kobo one that works with the Libra most odd.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What would be different with those cheap cables?

in my experience: tolerances
the micro usb cable end is a tiny bit smaller so it does not fit snugly into the device, it wobbles...
OR the depth at the moulded cable end is not right ( the protruding metal thing is too short) thus the pins do not make contact properly

3rd possibility is user error - confusing charge-only cables with charge and transfer data cables

once I have a reliably working cable ( which is probably not a kobo supplied one) I leave it permanently connected to the USB hub on my PC, and just attach whatever reader device I wish to update: so kindle, kobo ... will use the same cable

if you studiously avoid buying cheap/unbranded cables you may not have experienced this

[Ripplinger]

Originally Posted by stumped

once I have a reliably working cable ( which is probably not a kobo supplied one) I leave it permanently connected to the USB hub on my PC, and just attach whatever reader device I wish to update: so kindle, kobo ... will use the same cable

This is exactly what I do as well.

Back when I had a Samsung S4 phone I noticed that the Kobo supplied cables would not work with the phone. Same thing with my Harmony remotes, Kobo cables were useless. So once I found a good brand with reviews saying it worked with Samsung at least, those are the only ones I now buy. They will work with my Harmony remotes and all Kobo, Kindle and Sony readers that I have and any other device.

What the internal differences are, I couldn't tell you. I just know that not all cables are created equal.

[4691mls]

I've had charging cables that would work with one device and not another. One cable I have worked on my old phone, current tablet, and Tolino reader. The same cable didn't work at all on my Sony reader. On my Kobo reader it works but causes the "connected to a computer" message to pop up frequently so it can't be used to charge while reading.

[stumped]

Originally Posted by Ripplinger

This is exactly what I do as well.

..

What the internal differences are, I couldn't tell you. I just know that not all cables are created equal.

thinking about it, not all usb sockets ( as featured in reader devices) are created equal either.

so the usb socket in one device may want slightly longer, or shorter pins, or a thinner or fatter wrap around to grip....
a kobo cable is likely to play nice with a kobo device because kobo have sourced both halves of the connection...
same with a kindle device and a kindle cable...

[JSWolf]

I find cables bought from Monoprice are rather good quality. I have this one white one I bought there that I use a lot. It even goes on vacation with us when I take my Surface Pro 2 and my Kobo.

[geek1011]

I generally prefer Anker cables. They fit quite well in all my devices, are durable, and are quite inexpensive when buying multiple at once on sale.

[tourneur]

I've run into the same issue with the Libras that I've had. Only worked with the cable that came with it. I have a shorter usb cable that I would prefer to use but it never worked with any of the Libras, while that cable works fine with other devices.

[Quoth]

I've cables that work with Nook ST, Libra, H2O original, Sony PRS350, Binatone readme (version with Micro) and NOT reliably for data with a Kindle DXG, Keyboard or PW3.

Never had any problems with full size USB-B or mini-USB. Micro-USB sockets and plugs seem to break more (never had sockets or cables of other USB break). It seems a poor design and poor compliance. It's also visually and mechanically more awkward to see orientation than micro USB. A wider 6 or 7 pin reversible connector able to also be on a charging / USB hub dock would have been better than 5 pin micro USB.

[Katsunami]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What would be different with those cheap cables?

There are some cheap cables that are sold as "charing cables" or "data cables"; I have found that some of the "charging cables" actually only work for charging and not connecting to the computer, and some of the "data cables" only work for passing data and they don't charge.

I don't know the intricacies of USB, but if they have 4 leads inside, 2 for data and 2 for charging, you could presumably build a cheap charging or data-only cable by leaving out two of the leads.

Originally Posted by geek1011

I generally prefer Anker cables. They fit quite well in all my devices, are durable, and are quite inexpensive when buying multiple at once on sale.

Same. All of my cables and chargers are from either Anker, or RAVPower. Never had a problem with either.

[Quoth]

Two for data (a twisted pair for a bidirectional channel, not separate Transmit and receive) and two are for power, not specifically actually for charging. Originally no USB devices had batteries. Like wired mouse, keyboard, serial adaptor, Memory stick, DVD drive or HDD today.
Micro USB has a 5th pin only used in the plug to "tell" a gadget to be in USB Host mode instead of USB slave mode. Very few gadgets can charge on the same connector when in USB Host mode and if they can, you need a Y cable. Not all micro USB gadgets support host mode, such switching is called USB2Go.