Can I use the ZED camera with a USB 3 extension cable?
Last updated: October 23, 2026
Yes. For short-range extensions, official StereoLabs cables are available in the StereoLabs store:
USB 3.0 Type-C Dual Screw Locking Cable, recommended for the ZED 2i: the dual screw-locking connectors prevent disconnections caused by vibrations or movements. A right-angle version is also available.
USB 3.0 Type-C Cable, compatible with the ZED Mini and ZED 2i.
For longer ranges, you can use the ZED cameras with third-party USB 3 active extension cables or optical fiber extenders, up to 200 m. The extender must sustain the full USB 3 (5 Gbit/s) bandwidth required by the camera video stream.
We recommend the following solutions for long ranges:
USB extender | Max range | ZED | ZED Mini | ZED 2 | ZED 2i | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
100 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Recommended, in production | |
200 m | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Recommended, in production | |
15 m | Yes | Images only (1) | Images only (1) | Images only (1) | End of life (2) | |
100 m | Yes | Images only (1) | Images only (1) | Images only (1) | End of life (2) |
Note (1): the ZED Mini, ZED 2, and ZED 2i use both USB 3 and USB 2.0 to transmit video and sensor data. Extenders that only provide USB 3 wiring, such as the Spectra series, only support image transmission: the data of the IMU, barometer, and magnetometer is not accessible. The Raven 3124 is backward compatible with USB 2.0/1.1, so all the sensor data remains available.
Note (2): the Icron Spectra 3001-15 and Spectra 3022 have been discontinued by the manufacturer and are listed only for existing installations. The Spectra 3001-15 has been superseded by the Icron Starling 3251C series, and the Spectra 3022 by the Raven 3124. We have not validated the Starling series yet, so for new installations we recommend the Raven 3124.
Other USB 3 extenders may also be compatible, but the recommendations above are the models that reliably passed all our tests.
Please note:
The solutions above extend the connection of a single camera and must not be considered full USB extensions. Do not use extenders with USB 3 hubs.
For very long distances, an alternative to USB extension is local network streaming, which transmits the video over an IP network from a small host placed near the camera, such as an NVIDIA® Jetson™ device or a ZED Box.
If your application requires long, robust cabling by design, consider the GMSL2 cameras of the ZED X family, which natively support cables up to 15 m with rugged automotive-grade connectors; see What type of GMSL2 cable should I use with my ZED X camera?