Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Macintosh software/hardware discussion and troubleshooting

Moderator: James Steele

Post Reply
User avatar
Rick Cornish
Posts: 1279
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 9:07 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Ely, MN USA
Contact:

Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Post by Rick Cornish »

Hey gang.....
Does anyone know where I can find a Thunderbolt 2 extension cable (M-to-F)? (NOT the new TBolt/USB-C.) Ideally, a 6-footer would meet my needs. I have 4tB a LaCie drive with a built-in TBolt 2 cable, so I need an extension and not a regular (M-to-M) TBolt cable to better use it with my 2013-vintage Mac Pro. Also, even though it's the same size plug, an Apple display port extension will NOT work for this. Must be Thunderbolt 2.

I've tried Sweetwater (no luck) and OWC (no response). All the eBay sellers I've seen advertising TBolt 2 cables really have display port cables.

Pleased let me know if you know where I could find one.

Thanks!
Rick Cornish

DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
User avatar
HCMarkus
Posts: 10410
Joined: Tue Jan 10, 2006 9:01 am
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Rancho Bohemia, California
Contact:

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Post by HCMarkus »

You got me thinking... a lot of studios have probably had to re-think where the computer and computer-connected peripherals are located, given the distance limitations imposed by Thunderbolt.
User avatar
mikehalloran
Posts: 16223
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Sillie Con Valley

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Post by mikehalloran »

I don’t know of a cable but any TB2 device with in and out ports can work as a connector. No one is making them anymore but plenty of used TB 2 docks on eBay. You’ll have to look up the specs of anything you see to make sure it has a pair of TB2 ports.
DP 11.34; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
User avatar
mikehalloran
Posts: 16223
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Sillie Con Valley

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Post by mikehalloran »

Unfortunately, this is discontinued but they sometimes show up used. When I found mine, the seller threw in a 6’ TB2 cable
https://www.owcdigital.com/products/dr ... nderbolt-2

My 828mkII goes from a FW400/800 cable to the Apple FW–TB cable into one of these, then out through the TB2 cable into an Apple TB2–TB3 adapter into my iMac Pro.
DP 11.34; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
User avatar
Rick Cornish
Posts: 1279
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 9:07 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Ely, MN USA
Contact:

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Post by Rick Cornish »

mikehalloran wrote: Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:14 pm I don’t know of a cable but any TB2 device with in and out ports can work as a connector. No one is making them anymore but plenty of used TB 2 docks on eBay. You’ll have to look up the specs of anything you see to make sure it has a pair of TB2 ports.
Hey Mike.....
The next day after I read your suggestion, a lightbulb went off: I own an OWC TBolt2 drive dock. One of the drive bays stopped working awhile ago, but I jacked it in and it works fine as a F-to-F TBolt 2 adapter and solves my problem nicely. I even ran a drive speed test comparing the read/write speed when the drive is plugged directly into my MacPro vs. through the OWC dock and it actually tested faster through the dock (go figure!).

Thanks for helping me realize I had the solution in my own junk box. Guess it's sometimes worth keeping old stuff around.

Cheers, everyone.
Rick Cornish

DP 11 on M2 Mac Studio (64gB mem. + 2tB int. SSD + two 2tB ext. SSDs). VIs from MOTU, Spectrasonics, NI, UVI, 8dio, Soniccouture, East West, Spitfire, Heavyocity, Vir2, and more; plus Waves 14, Brainworx, iZotope, Wavesfactory, Oeksound, Final Mix, JST, SPL, PSP, UVI, Valhalla DSP, and other FX plugs, Roland A-88, Apogee Quartet, iCON Platform Nano, Genelec 1032a and Westlake BBSM4 monitors, Gibson HR Fusion III. rickcornish.net
User avatar
mikehalloran
Posts: 16223
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:08 pm
Primary DAW OS: MacOS
Location: Sillie Con Valley

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Post by mikehalloran »

Rick Cornish wrote: Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:01 pm
mikehalloran wrote: Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:14 pm I don’t know of a cable but any TB2 device with in and out ports can work as a connector. No one is making them anymore but plenty of used TB 2 docks on eBay. You’ll have to look up the specs of anything you see to make sure it has a pair of TB2 ports.
Hey Mike.....
The next day after I read your suggestion, a lightbulb went off: I own an OWC TBolt2 drive dock. One of the drive bays stopped working awhile ago, but I jacked it in and it works fine as a F-to-F TBolt 2 adapter and solves my problem nicely. I even ran a drive speed test comparing the read/write speed when the drive is plugged directly into my MacPro vs. through the OWC dock and it actually tested faster through the dock (go figure!).

Thanks for helping me realize I had the solution in my own junk box. Guess it's sometimes worth keeping old stuff around.

Cheers, everyone.
:woohoo:

Glad to help.
DP 11.34; 828mkII FW, micro lite, M4, MTP/AV USB Firmware 2.0.1
2023 Mac Studio M2 8TB, 192GB RAM, OS Sequoia 15.4, USB4 8TB externals, Neumann MT48, M-Audio AIR 192|14, Mackie ProFxv3, Zoom F3 & UAC 232 32bit float recorder & interface; 2012 MBPs (x2) Catalina, Mojave
IK-NI-Izotope-PSP-Garritan-Antares, LogicPro X, Finale 27.4, Dorico 5, Notion 6, Overture 5, TwistedWave, DSP-Q 5, SmartScore64 NE Pro, Toast 20 Pro
Post Reply