Connections between Macbook Pro M2 16" and Sharp/NEC EA272U Monitor - Best cable type
Also how best to use upstream/downstream (?) USB connections ? + Cables. Do's Dont's
Many Thanks,
Old Geezer !
Question marked as
This should be fairly straightforward...
The monitor has 1 'Upstream' USB-C port and 3 'downstream' USB ports.
Just think of 'upstream' as "towards the computer", and 'downstream' as "away from the computer"
Therefore, the one upstream port should be connected to a USB-C port on your computer - any one will do.
This cable will carry both the video signal for the display, as well as USB connectivity and (potentially) power.
The additional USB ports can be used for peripherals that you want to use, such as external keyboard, mouse, camera, etc. Devices plugged in here will 'piggy-back' on the main 'upstream' USB-C cable connected to the computer. Therefore, whenever your computer is connected to the monitor, it will also see the USB devices attached to the monitor.
As for cables, the cable that came with the monitor should suffice for the Mac<->Monitor cable. If it's not sufficient (i.e. you need more length), then don't cheap out on this cable - this is the key cable that will do a lot of heavy lifting, so it's worth investing in a higher quality cable.
The downstream cables are likely to be keyed to what you're plugging in. You may have devices that use USB-A, Mini-USB, or Lightning connectors (amongst others), so the choice will be dictated by what you're plugging in.