OT question

[Tanner Stauss]

On some firewire cables and other types of cables, there is sometimes a large magnet that the cable wraps around at the end or both ends. What are these magnets for?

 

[David Rasberry]

It is an RF choke to reduce or eliminate noise emissions from the cable.

 

[Andrew Walker]

Its called Ferrite and I believe its to better focus the signal.

 

[Andrew Walker]

It is an RF choke to reduce or eliminate noise emissions from the cable.

Just looked it up and David is right as to what it does.

 

[Cail Young]

It is an RF choke to reduce or eliminate noise emissions from the cable.

Or, more importantly, noise interference to the signal in the cable.