What is this thingy for?
 

Almost every cable on my PC has one of these thingies on it, near one end.
Sometimes square and sometimes round (cross section), but all about the same length.
Some are easily removable, which is nice because they make threading cables a pain in the butt. Of course I alway put them back on, just because.
Most seem to have a metal core but some are all plastic, I've even seen at least one that was plastic trusses inside.

So inquiring minds want to know...what are they and what are they for?

I suspect they stop static electricity or maybe even voltage surges, but I don't know. :confused:

That is whats called a ferrite( spelln' ) bead , it helps block out RF .

OK, ferrite is Iron, so that explains the metal ones. Thanks. ;)

You're worrying about the spelling, Zip?!?!?!?!??! Has somebody been getting at you?

The ferrite block is an RF filter. But it does not work (well) for frequencies in the AM (longwave) bands. It is mostly for eliminating shortwave, FM, and TV interference. For example a monitor operates in the tens of megahertz range. This is shortwave. Ferrite bead is part of a large system that blocks radiation of those frequencies. Other protection (not the ferrite bead) inside electronics should also make interference not occur to an adjacent AM (longwave) radio.

And the funny thing is, he was spelling it right.
(not to mention he knew what it was for)

I think you should wear a tin foil hat instead of using those.;)

mmmmm...... tin foil hats are tradionally used to block RF *into* the brain.

Fo you to use them to stop RF out of the brain seems like a tad overkill...

Tin foil underwear?

Is this because the cable acts as an unintentional antennae?
What about the ones with no metal in them? Fraud? :question:

What about the ones with no metal in them? Fraud?

There IS metal in them ,
just in a powder form suspended in some other medium ,
the one you have the pic of is fragile ,
take it out of the plastic case and drop it ,
you'll see what I am talking about

If there's metal in the ones I'm talking about, it's mixed into the plastic before it's molded.
They look about the same on the outside but when you open them the inside is hollow, except for a couple of truss like ribs for strength.
No part of the plastic is thicker than, I would guess, 0.050", so there's nothing encapsulated.
The stiffening ribs would prevent having a lump of metal inside, that might have fallen out.
I've only seen a couple of them but I'll keep an eye out for one that I can open and photograph. Good shot for the closeups thread. :D

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Yes, but your sympathy and compassion is the lubricant, that makes my rape bearable. :p

:a new bigger louder laughing smilie: