Page 1 of 1

Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 2:01 pm
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!

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:10 pm
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.

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:14 pm
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.

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:31 pm
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.

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:01 pm
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.

Re: Thunderbolt *2* Extension Cable?

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 3:30 pm
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.