Modular AV faceplate component - USB B (on front) to A module - A type socket on the rear and square B type socket on the front - USB 3.0 backward compatible with 2.0 - uses USB 5v to boost - for longer cables use a generic 5 volt / 2 amp power supply to boost - plastic - white

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

For £27.60 ex-VAT, this is the sort of “get it working properly” accessory that’s genuinely handy in install environments—especially if you’re using Vision’s modular AV faceplates and you need a USB-A style rear connection but want a USB-B port on the front. The front USB-B is often what you end up needing for control panels, touch devices, or older peripherals that don’t play nicely with “standard” USB layouts. The built-in boosting is also a real plus if you’re running longer leads and want fewer mystery disconnects.

That said, I wouldn’t buy this if you’re expecting it to behave like a full active USB extender over any distance under any conditions. It uses 5V to boost and, from experience, the quality of the cabling and whether the device is power-hungry matters a lot—if you’re going beyond typical patch/cabinet distances, you may end up needing that external generic 5V/2A supply anyway (and then it’s less “simple and clean” in the backbox). Also, it’s plastic—fine for panel faceplates and office installs, but not something I’d recommend if it’s going to be physically manhandled frequently.

**Who should buy:** integrators and IT resellers standardising modular faceplate builds where you need a USB-B front port for a specific device, and where cable length is borderline. **Who shouldn’t:** anyone trying to solve long-run USB problems as a universal fix, or anyone who needs something rugged for heavy physical use.