An active optical USB cable (AOC) is a USB cable with small converters in each connector that turn the electrical USB signal into light, send it over fiber inside the cable, and turn it back into USB at the other end. That lets a USB camera or video bar run 30 to 150+ feet (10 to 45+ m) from the computer, far beyond the roughly 10 to 16 feet (3 to 5 m) a passive USB 3 cable can reliably carry.
How it works
- The connector at the host end contains a transceiver that converts USB data to optical signals.
- The data travels over thin optical fibers in the cable jacket. Fiber has very little signal loss over distance and isn't affected by electrical interference.
- The far-end connector converts the light back to USB.
- Many AOCs also include copper wires to carry some power to the far end, but a power-hungry device may still need its own power supply.
Because the electronics are built in, AOCs are usually directional: one end must go to the computer (host) and the other to the device. They're labeled.
Why meeting rooms use them
| Situation | Why an AOC helps |
|---|---|
| Room PC in a closet or credenza, camera at the front of a large room | Run exceeds passive USB limits |
| Table connection to a video bar on the far wall | One clean cable instead of extenders and power at both ends |
| Cable run through a ceiling or plenum space | Plenum-rated AOCs are available |
| USB 3 cameras that need high bandwidth for 4K | Passive USB 3 cables are especially short |
AOC vs other ways to extend USB
| Method | Typical reach | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Passive USB 3 cable | ~10 ft (3 m) | Fine for short runs |
| Active copper USB cable | ~15-30 ft (5-10 m) | Signal boosters in the cable |
| Active optical USB cable | ~30-150+ ft (10-45+ m) | Lightweight, thin, immune to interference |
| USB extender over Cat6 (incl. HDBaseT) | Up to ~330 ft (100 m) | Needs a box and power at each end |
See how to extend USB 30 feet or more and USB extenders for conference rooms.
What to look for when buying
- USB version: match the camera's needs. 4K cameras often need USB 3 bandwidth. See USB 3.0 vs 2.0 for cameras.
- Connector types: USB-A to USB-C, C to C, or with video (DisplayPort Alt Mode) for one-cable laptop setups.
- Direction: note which end is host and which is device before pulling it through a wall.
- Fire rating: plenum (CMP) for air-handling spaces, riser for vertical runs. See what is plenum-rated cable.
- Bend radius: fiber dislikes sharp bends and crushing. Don't staple it or pinch it in furniture.
- Manufacturer approval: video bar makers often list cables they've validated.
Catalog cables
- Logitech Strong USB: plenum-rated USB-A to USB-C active optical cable in 10, 25 and 45 m lengths, for Logitech Rally and PC-based rooms.
- Logitech Active USB Cable: 5 m USB-C cable with DisplayPort Alt Mode for one-cable BYOD connections.
- Neat USB-C Cable 5 m: for Neat BYOD and boards.
For a full single-cable laptop setup in larger Rally rooms, see the Logitech Extend.
Planning a long cable run? Tell us the distance and devices and we'll spec the right cable.
Related guides
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