Reddit reviews Cable Matters 2-Pack DisplayPort to DisplayPort Coupler (DisplayPort Female to Female Coupler)

33 ft (10m) extension cables. The USB cable has to be powered for that length. The HDMI needs to be fiber to not have signal loss. You also need a female-to-female display port adapter. I used the following:

• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MRBMNSF/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076C6PDNH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
  
• https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFPM2CU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I use this USB extender and this DisplayPort cable along with one of these DP couplers with no issues. The DisplayPort cable is like double the length I need, but the price difference between the 10m and 20m one was only like $10, so I couldn't justify buying the shorter one, haha. Perhaps the length may be useful in the future!

To extend my play space, I use:
this DisplayPort cable (30 feet): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07QQQFWGT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
this USB cable (32 feet): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076C6PDNH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
and this female-to-female DP adapter: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFPM2CU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

So I have bad news to report. I have NOT been able to successfully run the Valve Index with extension cables.

I had the Vive Pro headset running FINE with the following setup

1. On the PC side, Amazon Basic display port 15 feet cable (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01J8S7EXU)
   
   
2. Then a Cable Matters mini display port to display port adapter (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HNF0KF0) to connect to Vive Pro breakout box
   
   Like I said this setup was working fine withe the Vive Pro.
   
   With the Valve Index (which uses DP on BOTH sides), I tried the following configurations:
   
   Configuration 1:
   
   
3. Same Amazon Basic display port 15 feet cable
   
   
4. Then a Cable Matters 2-Pack DisplayPort to DisplayPort Coupler (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFPM2CU) to the Valve Index DP
   
   This results in NO image at all. It even crashes Steam VR! (some error message about enabling direct mode...). I have tried multiple refresh rate including 90Hz with the same result
   
   Configuration 2:
   
   
5. Cable Matters DisplayPort to DisplayPort Extension Cable (DP to DP Extension Cable) 6 Feet (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L1K1G74) from the PC to the valve index
   
   This time there is an image, BUT if you look at black areas you clearly see "sparkles" (like glitter) which clearly shows there is some degradation and/or noise. And it is only a 6Ft cable (which is too short for my setup but wanted to try it anyway).
   
   So I am really bummed that the latest and greatest and expensive VR device REQUIRES you to be plugged into your PC directly and given the fact that the cable is just big enough for a 3mx3m area, that is quite frustrating... Supposedly the new base stations supports bigger play areas but I am not sure how this is possible since the cable wouldn't be long enough, unless your PC is inside the play area...

I posted this in another thread, but here you go:

For extension cabling:

I use a 30-foot fiber DisplayPort cable ($100) with a connector ($10) and a 30-foot powered USB extender cable ($40).

It's a pricy solution but it works perfectly.

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00V7NOV3Q

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B076C6PDNH

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFPM2CU

Apparently it's a "common question" despite me never seeing this issue on this sub.

This is my setup:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFPM2CU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NH12O5I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079736Z53/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Cable
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071D8XSGM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Connector
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFPM2CU/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This video gave me the stuff I needed:


https://youtu.be/l3HXpJVPoCU

Here’s the DisplayPort cable I’m using:


CableCreation DP Fiber Optic... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K1ZPSZN?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

And the usb extender:

UGREEN USB Extension Cable USB... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FQ88CHS?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

You’ll also need a DP coupler, this is the one I got:

Cable Matters 2-Pack DisplayPort... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YFPM2CU?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I do want to point out that I was having issues with this setup until I plugged the USB extender into my USB 3.1 card I installed in my motherboard.

This is the card I installed:


Rosewill RC-509 PCI-E (PCI Express) to USB 3.1 (Type A +Type C) Expansion Card USB 3.1 Gen II SuperSpeed 10Gbps Internal 15-Pin Power Connector USB-C Port 3A Charging Power With Asmedia Chipset https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MRSTZXX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_nCeWDbYQR65M3

The index only supports USB 3.0 but I suspect that USB 3.1 might supply a more stable power source. Also do make sure that with the fiber optic DP cable, you plug the side that says “source” into your graphics card and “display” into your trident connector. Seems obvious but I ran the cable twice the wrong way both times thinking I had the correct ends at each end.

I cannot say if it will work or not but below is a link to a 20ft active cable and a link to a DP to DP coupler.
StarTech.com DisplayPort Cable - 20 ft / 6m - with Latches - 4K DisplayPort to DisplayPort Cable - DP Cable - Active DisplayPort Cable
Cable Matters 2-Pack DisplayPort to DisplayPort Coupler (DisplayPort Female to Female Coupler)

Does not look like there is much selection for active displayport cables.

You'll need a standard coupler if you go the fiber route or a powered booster if regular cable. A coupler being something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YFPM2CU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_0vLFDbG2QDJWV

I did fine with a 20' unpowered USB 3.0 cable, but a powered one isn't a bad idea and would be necessary for anything beyond that length. I think that's at the edge of the specification. This is the one that ended up working for me:

USB 3.0 Extension Cable 20Ft, USB... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C2X984S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I've got a 1080 as well! It runs just fine for me.

It's actually surprisingly simple once you have the cables. Active USB 3.0 andFiber optic displayport were what I used.

edit: sorry, hit save too fast

Once everything's plugged in, it runs the same as if you didn't have the extenders. The Steam Link has an actual VR mode built in. So I start VR first, then start the Steam Link, connect to the VR PC, and it starts mirroring the headset right away!

Edit 2: oh also you will need a male to male coupler for the displayport cable: like this one

Had an idea to use this. I'm curious if it will work.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B015OW3M1W/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YFPM2CU/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1AMUYYA3CT6HJ&psc=1

On side note

Cable Matters 2-Pack DisplayPort to DisplayPort Coupler (DisplayPort Female to Female Coupler) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YFPM2CU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WGkNDbJHJT49V

Did not work for me.

Alternatively, these two products working together may do the trick:
AmazonBasics DisplayPort to HDMI Cable - 3 Feet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015OW3GJK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_49UYCb883GRAB
Cable Matters 2-Pack DisplayPort to DisplayPort Coupler (DisplayPort Female to Female Coupler) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YFPM2CU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_y.UYCbP6BVJSK

(Yes I know I basically just solved my own problem; I'm posting all this so if anyone else comes along with the same question as me they'll get an answer)

The one concern I have about this is it seems like the trident cable is male on the end that goes to the PC, then it is proprietary or USB-C or something going into the headset (see here). This means you'll still need a coupler or something right?

I'm trying a 10ft starlink DP 1.4 rated cable and a f/f coupler. The cable doesn't arrive until tomorrow, but the coupler comes in today, so I'll try it with a cheap 6ft cable for fun.

I'll update with results after work (in ~6.5 hours from this post).

UPDATE 1 The f-f coupler works, even paired with a cheap.. no name brand of 6ft dp cable. (Came with some monitor, I think.). Tested 120hz, and 144hz modes. No issues, and I finally feel free to roam my space. :)

I'll update in 24 hours once I get my listed starlink 10ft cable tested.


UPDATE 2
I have had no luck with the StarLink DP 1.4 rated cables (neither the 6ft, or 10ft).
Both had random RGB pixel noise, and audio cutouts on occasion.


However, my amphenol 6ft cable (idk the brand, just the connectors are amphenol) works.. so I'm just using it. I'm sure it's not 1.4 rated.. but it's apparently got a bigger wire gauge and less loss through the cable.


This is tested with a non-OC Strix 1080, and both DP outputs exhibit the same issue.
Cable was tested straight (not coiled), and the connectors were reseated multiple times to ensure connection issues were not a factor.


Good luck to anyone pursuing this passive extension method.. seems like a crapshoot over what cable will/will not work.