From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

I ordered a new (used) A1242 keyboard to use with my G4, and a 3' USB extension cord so it would reach down to the G4 tower on the floor.

The cursor would freeze immediately when I used the USB extension cord,
but it works fine when I plug it directly into the G4 (as it did when I
tested it last week without an extension).

You think the keyboard requires some kind of special USB extension
other than the ones that are normally sold in order to work? I bought
the USB extension new and unused from an eBay dealer so I don't think
there's anything particularly defective about it.

Any other hardware experts are welcome to chime in.

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

On 2025-08-25 14:12, super70s wrote:

I ordered a new (used) A1242 keyboard to use with my G4, and a 3' USB extension cord so it would reach down to the G4 tower on the floor.

The cursor would freeze immediately when I used the USB extension cord,
but it works fine when I plug it directly into the G4 (as it did when I tested it last week without an extension).

You think the keyboard requires some kind of special USB extension other than the ones that are normally sold in order to work? I bought the USB extension new and unused from an eBay dealer so I don't think there's anything particularly defective about it.

Any other hardware experts are welcome to chime in.

I don't have an answer to your question, but since you're dealing with
fairly old hardware you might want to also post on comp.sys.mac.vintage.

Andr|-
--
To email remove 'invalid' & replace 'gm' with well known Google mail
service.

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

On 2025-08-25 20:12:20 +0000, super70s said:

I ordered a new (used) A1242 keyboard to use with my G4, and a 3' USB extension cord so it would reach down to the G4 tower on the floor.

The cursor would freeze immediately when I used the USB extension cord,
but it works fine when I plug it directly into the G4 (as it did when I tested it last week without an extension).

You think the keyboard requires some kind of special USB extension
other than the ones that are normally sold in order to work? I bought
the USB extension new and unused from an eBay dealer so I don't think there's anything particularly defective about it.

Any other hardware experts are welcome to chime in.

Most likely answer is that the extension is too long to give enough
power by the time it reaches the keyboard. You might be better to plug
the keyboard into a wall-powered hub that is connected to the computer
via the extension cable - that way power is coming from the wall / hub,
and the cable is only sending the data.

There's also the fact that "USB" comes in numerous different versions,
which doesn't help. A "USB 1" cable might not work properly with a "USB
2" device, or vice versa ... depsite newer versions supposedly being
backwards compatible.

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

On 2025-08-25 22:10:05 +0000, Your Name said:

On 2025-08-25 20:12:20 +0000, super70s said:

I ordered a new (used) A1242 keyboard to use with my G4, and a 3' USB
extension cord so it would reach down to the G4 tower on the floor.

The cursor would freeze immediately when I used the USB extension cord,
but it works fine when I plug it directly into the G4 (as it did when I
tested it last week without an extension).

You think the keyboard requires some kind of special USB extension
other than the ones that are normally sold in order to work? I bought
the USB extension new and unused from an eBay dealer so I don't think
there's anything particularly defective about it.

Any other hardware experts are welcome to chime in.

Most likely answer is that the extension is too long to give enough
power by the time it reaches the keyboard. You might be better to plug
the keyboard into a wall-powered hub that is connected to the computer
via the extension cable - that way power is coming from the wall / hub,
and the cable is only sending the data.

I did also try plugging it into my Belkin hub, I got the dreaded "not
enough power" dialog.

There's also the fact that "USB" comes in numerous different versions,
which doesn't help. A "USB 1" cable might not work properly with a "USB
2" device, or vice versa ... depsite newer versions supposedly being backwards compatible.

You think the A1242 keyboard would be USB 2? I would think so since
it's fairly modern.

The cord I bought has a listing title of "High-Speed USB to USB
Extension Cable USB 2.0 Adapter Extender Cord Male/Female."

I'm at a dead end. Other than buying a new hub, the one I'm using with
the G4 is pretty ancient and I'm not even sure its external power
supply function is even working (or supplies enough power for newer accessories).

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From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

On 2025-08-26 00:05:57 +0000, super70s said:

On 2025-08-25 22:10:05 +0000, Your Name said:

On 2025-08-25 20:12:20 +0000, super70s said:

I ordered a new (used) A1242 keyboard to use with my G4, and a 3' USB
extension cord so it would reach down to the G4 tower on the floor.

The cursor would freeze immediately when I used the USB extension cord, >>> but it works fine when I plug it directly into the G4 (as it did when I >>> tested it last week without an extension).

You think the keyboard requires some kind of special USB extension
other than the ones that are normally sold in order to work? I bought
the USB extension new and unused from an eBay dealer so I don't think
there's anything particularly defective about it.

Any other hardware experts are welcome to chime in.

Most likely answer is that the extension is too long to give enough
power by the time it reaches the keyboard. You might be better to plug
the keyboard into a wall-powered hub that is connected to the computer
via the extension cable - that way power is coming from the wall / hub,
and the cable is only sending the data.

I did also try plugging it into my Belkin hub, I got the dreaded "not
enough power" dialog.

There's also the fact that "USB" comes in numerous different versions,
which doesn't help. A "USB 1" cable might not work properly with a "USB
2" device, or vice versa ... depsite newer versions supposedly being
backwards compatible.

You think the A1242 keyboard would be USB 2? I would think so since
it's fairly modern.

The cord I bought has a listing title of "High-Speed USB to USB
Extension Cable USB 2.0 Adapter Extender Cord Male/Female."

The keyboard does work with the computer, so the problem is obviously
the USB connection between the two is creating a problem somewhere. A double-USB adpater could give more power via the hub, or a shorter
extension cable may work, but it is more expense that might not work.

I'm at a dead end. Other than buying a new hub, the one I'm using with
the G4 is pretty ancient and I'm not even sure its external power
supply function is even working (or supplies enough power for newer accessories).

Sounds similar to my USB hub. Depsite the hub having its own power
supply via a wall socket, external drives (hard drives, DVD burner)
still won't work through it and have to be plugged directly into the
computer.

Weirdly, the external USB floppy disk drive often doesn't work
connected to the computer, but works fine via the hub.


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