Question USB/ Device not recognized

[u666sa]

Funniest thingy ever guys. Bought two 5 meter USB cables from China ( https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806722888376.html )
On one of my notebooks I have microscope camera. Says device not recognized. Then I tried an iPhone, also says device not recognized. I tried on 3 different ports, 2 USB 3 ports and 1 USB 2 port.

I also have another notebook. On the other notebook, microscope camera is also unrecognized. However, iPhone is recognized.

But here is where it gets messy. On that first notebook if I connect as USB 3 hub and then the cable to it, both microscope camera and iPhone are recognized. 😕

What's happening?


I was going to cut half a meter, make the cables 4.5 meters and use them like that, thinking that I have crappy cables and 5 meters is too long for them. But the thing with the hub is throwing me off. I really have no clue at this point.

 

[helpstar]

is it an active/powered hub?

 

[u666sa]

is it an active/powered hub?

Yep. But the power adapter is not plugged into it.
Besides, I used to have another chinese cable also 5 meters and it worked directly to camera no prioblem.
Plus right now I checked short type c cable also works direct, port to camera.

 

[CountMike]

Yep. But the power adapter is not plugged into it.
Besides, I used to have another chinese cable also 5 meters and it worked directly to camera no prioblem.
Plus right now I checked short type c cable also works direct, port to camera.

5 meters is a maximum recommended length for USB cables unless externally powered and in some cases with signal amplification. Some cheap cables with thin gauge wires may not eve get that far.