USB3: Why it's a bit harder than USB2
I recently learned that USB3 is not only badly designed, flaky and unreliable, it is also an EMI/RFI nightmare. This is woefully understated in the article when it says:<p>"It's hard not to generate harmful interference."<p>We built a prototype sensor payload that included a USB3 external hard drive. Started suffering broad spectrum interference that stomped all over L-band (Iridium and GPS) reception. Made the entire system unusable!<p>Some references on USB3 noise:<p>USB 3.0 Radio Frequency Interference Impact on 2.4 GHz Wireless Devices (by Intel)
<a href="https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/327216.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://www.usb.org/sites/default/files/327216.pdf</a><p>see especially Figure 2-2: "the data spectrum is very broadband, ranging from DC to 5 GHz"<p>USB 3.0 Interference - Cradlepoint Knowledgebase
<a href="https://customer.cradlepoint.com/s/article/NCOS-USB-3-0-Interference" rel="nofollow">https://customer.cradlepoint.com/s/article/NCOS-USB-3-0-Inte...</a><p>"USB 3.0, or SuperSpeed USB, uses broadband signaling that can interfere with cellular and 2.4GHz WIFI signaling. This interference can significantly degrade cellular and 2.4GHz WIFI performance. Customers using cellular networks or 2.4GHz WIFI networks near USB 3.0 devices should take measures to reduce the impact of these devices on their network connectivity. Please note that interference is generated by both the actual USB 3.0 device as well as its cable."