Mystery Cable...

[uberlax]

Sorry this is a bit of a random query, but we've just found a cable at work that has a male Ethernet connector at one and, and a male USB connector at the other.

There's no hardware inline with it as you'd expect with an Ethernet to USB convertor or suchlike, it's just a dumb lead with a connector on each end.

It's tied up with a cable tie and looks to have fallen out of some box or other. I've googled it and the nearest thing I can find is and MSR206 USB-Cable, but we don't have a magnetic stripe reader...

Anyone know what I'm looking at here? Is it some sort of proprietary lead or is it just an obscure standard?

[Orjan]

can't it be just an attemption to connect a usb thingie via an TP-cable? maybe through a pre-wired wall socket to the next room or similar? I don't know if it would work, but maybe it does.

According to specifications, I think usb cables may be 5 meters long as maximum, so it can't be drawn very far at least.

[Jordan]

Never heard of that. I've seen the same thing with a serial connector on one end (rather than USB) for console connections to routers.

[debtboy]

male Ethernet connector at one and, and a male USB connector at the other.

So it plugs into 2 females at the same time...
Sounds like a DREAM cable!!

[uberlax]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'm pretty sure it's to do with a router or NAS now, so it could well be for console connections.

I think we'll just leave it in the spares box until someone turns up asking for a weird cable.

@debtboy: lol. It's also known as a show-off cable.