USB Switch?

[Welder]

I have 3 computers; 2 laptops and a PC.
I have one Dac with only USB connectivity.
Atm I have to unplug a USB cable from the Dac to swap source computers and external drives.
USB connectors are not the strongest of plugs at the best of times and the simple fact is a USB plug has a limited life and in my somewhat heavy handed paws it seems a great deal shorter than the manufacturers specify :eyebrows:
In an average day I might swap source and therefore leads half a dozen times; main music from one laptop, games from the PC, etc. Over a few months this mounts up to a considerable amount of wear
So far I’ve destroyed 3 USB leads, bought 3 that were faulty and I really need to find a way to implement a switching system without degrading audio quality.
Anyone got any bright ideas? :scratch:

[Welder]

Looks like a DIY then :eyebrows:

[Rare Bird]

You can buy manual USB switch boxes for multiple printers

[Reid Malenfant]

I saw this yesterday & thought someone might comment ;)

If i knew what connections were what in a USB lead i could possibly help out in recommending possible solutions :)

Without knowing i'd suggest a 4 pole (however many ways you require for kit) break before make rotary switch in a screened case.

You might be able to get away with less poles on the switch, but i don't know what's what with the USB leads :eyebrows:


You can buy manual USB switch boxes for multiple printers
Problem solved :)

[Alex_UK]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Manual-4-Way-USB--Switch-Box_W0QQitemZ370220430110QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=151 759556342&rvr_id=151759556342&cguid=3b5830e31280a0aad5b225b2fe2158d0#ht_1941wt_9 05 ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-WAY-PORT-USB-MANUAL-DATA-SWITCH-BOX-/160461210051?pt=UK_Computing_CablesConnectors_RL&hash=item255c3bc1c3#ht_2135wt_1186 ?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-Port-USB-2-0-Manual-sharing-Switch-Box-4-USB-Cables-/300474807862?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item45f5b1b636#ht_1228wt_1139 ?

[Welder]

Thanks for the replies Andre, Mark and Alex :)
I had looked at a few of the USB switch boxes available; not impressed with the quality of most and it seems many are computer controlled rather than a manual switch :eek:
I was thinking of something along the lines of http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-WAY-PORT-USB...ht_2135wt_1186

I think I may still end up building something myself and incorporating my 5Volt USB power supply into the box.
In theory, because this unit would be between the computers and the Dac and the Dac having in excess of 20M Ohm noise isolation, switch and power generated noise this side of the Dac shouldn’t get transferred to the analogue side. However, I can feel a bout of audio nervosa coming on so it may well need to be a belt and braces approach to this problem :mental:

The USB cable problems have all been at the B plug end for some reason and apart from the one I trod on the D- pin on the other has either had a bad internal connection or has broken off about 3mm inside the plug :steam:
Once I’ve built the switch and power box I intend to dispense with the plugs between the switch box and Dac by soldering the wires.

[Rare Bird]

Can't you fit the PSU into the metal switch box, i'm sure they'll not much in there anyway! Hard wiring a USB will have no difference to the plug fitting method, once your plugs in why touch it again? I think i know what your trying to acomplish, if you need two inputs just buy a USB 'Standard A' spitter

[Welder]

Andre.
Unfortunately I don’t think the power supply will fit in the switch box. No worries, I can do boxes.
What I may not be able to do is afford a decent quality multi-pole selector switch :eek:

(Andre, are you a Hertfordshire lad? )

[Rare Bird]

(Andre, are you a Hertfordshire lad? )

What makes you say that John?..Na very good looking bloke hence Yorkshire

:lolsign:

[Marco]

Indeed, and it should be included in your profile details ;)

Marco.

[Welder]

Andre.
Not quite sure why I thought you might be from Hertfordshire.
I must have got mixed up with the Tring/Radlet contributors for some strange reason.
I was dragged up in Hertfordshire and its been on my mind recently.

[Rare Bird]

Indeed, and it should be included in your profile details ;)

Marco.

Won't let me keep getting the below:

''You did not enter the correct format for the Name field. Please read the field description for the expected format''