---
title: "USB C and Cable types"
slug: "usb-c-and-cable-types"
updated: 2024-05-30T14:06:07Z
published: 2024-05-30T14:06:07Z
canonical: "docs.retrospect.com/usb-c-and-cable-types"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.retrospect.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# USB C and Cable types

When doing a backup to a tape drive or hard disk, you could experience an error -102 (Trouble Communicating) or an error -206 (Media Failure), among other errors. A common cause is device communication errors. If you have selected the wrong type of cable, you may see backup errors.

When selecting a USB-C cable, it is important to make sure you are using the right type of cable. Some USB-C cables are designed for only charging devices while some are designed for data transfer. Some cables are faster compared with other USB-C cables and you can't easily identify which cable you are using. You may find the following information helpful:

![USB Cables.jpeg](https://cdn.us.document360.io/6d1fe0c6-ccdb-4ee9-a621-0504cb91b4be/Images/Documentation/USB%20Cables%281%29.jpeg) (Image from: [https://www.akitio.com/faq/356-are-all-usb-c-cables-the-same](https://www.akitio.com/faq/356-are-all-usb-c-cables-the-same)

You may also find this Wikipedia article helpful: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB-C). This article may also be helpful to understanding cable types: [https://acroname.com/blog/types-usb-cables-not-all-usb-c-cables-are-created-equal](https://acroname.com/blog/types-usb-cables-not-all-usb-c-cables-are-created-equal)