StarTech MXT1001MBK DB9 Serial Extension Cable — Male to Female, 1 Meter

Overview

The StarTech MXT1001MBK is a 1-meter (3.3 ft) DB9 male-to-female serial extension cable built for installers who need to bridge a short gap between RS-232 serial devices without re-terminating existing cables or repositioning hardware. Whether you're extending the reach of a legacy access control serial reader, a PTZ camera controller, or an industrial serial device in a rack or equipment closet, this cable adds exactly 1 meter of slack with no signal degradation at typical RS-232 distances.

Serial connectivity remains common across IP camera PTZ controllers, point-of-sale hardware, building automation equipment, and older access control panels — and this cable fills the gap when a factory cable falls just short. At 81 grams and with a flat 1.5 cm profile, the MXT1001MBK tucks cleanly behind panels or routes through conduit without bulk.

Key Features

• 1-Meter Reach (100 cm / 3.3 ft): Adds exactly one meter to your existing DB9 serial run — useful when a controller or converter sits slightly out of reach of the device port, eliminating the need to reroute or replace a longer cable entirely.
• Aluminum-Mylar Foil Shielding: The foil shield wraps the conductor bundle to suppress electromagnetic interference from nearby power lines, motor controllers, or dense cable trays — critical in industrial enclosures where RS-232 signal integrity degrades under EMI without shielding.
• 28 AWG Conductors: Appropriate gauge for RS-232 serial data at these distances. Heavier gauges aren't necessary at 1 meter, and 28 AWG keeps the cable flexible and easy to route in tight spaces behind panels or inside enclosures.
• Nickel-Plated DB9 Connectors: Nickel plating resists oxidation better than bare metal — meaningful for connections in equipment closets with variable humidity (rated 0–70% RH) where unplated contacts can corrode and cause intermittent serial faults over time.
• PVC Jacket: The polyvinyl chloride outer jacket handles operating temperatures from -5°C to 70°C (23°F to 158°F), covering normal indoor equipment room and light industrial environments. Not rated for outdoor or extreme-temperature use — plan accordingly.
• Black Color: Blends into standard equipment rack and enclosure cable management, reducing visual clutter in high-density installations.
• Compact Physical Profile: At 1.3 in wide and 0.6 in tall (3.3 cm × 1.5 cm cross-section), the cable connector housing fits in tight DB9 port clusters without blocking adjacent ports.
• Lifetime Warranty: StarTech backs this cable with a lifetime manufacturer warranty, which eliminates the cost-of-replacement consideration for a passive cable in a long-term installation.

Integration and Compatibility

The MXT1001MBK passes all 9 pins straight through (male DB9 to female DB9), making it compatible with any standard RS-232 serial device using the DE-9 connector form factor. This includes PTZ camera controllers, serial-to-IP converters, legacy DVR or NVR serial ports, access control panels with RS-232 interfaces, and barcode or card reader terminals. Because it's a passive extension — no active components — it introduces no latency and requires no drivers or configuration.

Pair this cable with a serial-to-Ethernet converter or a managed network switch with serial console ports when integrating legacy serial devices into modern IP-based security or automation infrastructure. For longer serial runs beyond what a passive extension can support, consider an active RS-232 signal booster or a serial-over-IP solution instead — passive extensions are reliable at short distances but RS-232 has practical limits at longer runs that this cable does not address.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What connector types does the MXT1001MBK use on each end?

A: The MXT1001MBK uses a DB-9 (9-pin D-Sub) male connector on one end and a DB-9 (9-pin D-Sub) female connector on the other, functioning as a straight-through extension cable.

Q: How long is the MXT1001MBK cable?

A: The cable is exactly 1 meter (100 cm / 3.3 ft) in length.

Q: Is the MXT1001MBK shielded against interference?

A: Yes — the cable uses aluminum-mylar foil shielding around the conductor bundle to suppress electromagnetic interference, which is important when routing near power cables or motor-driven equipment.

Q: What is the operating temperature range for the MXT1001MBK?

A: The cable is rated for operating temperatures from -5°C to 70°C (23°F to 158°F) and a storage range of -10°C to 80°C (14°F to 176°F). It is designed for indoor and light industrial use — not for outdoor or extreme-temperature environments.

Q: What warranty does the MXT1001MBK carry?

A: StarTech backs the MXT1001MBK with a lifetime manufacturer warranty.

Q: Will the MXT1001MBK work with PTZ camera serial controllers?

A: Yes — as a passive straight-through DB9 male-to-female extension, it is compatible with any RS-232 serial device using a DE-9 connector, including PTZ camera controllers and serial port converters, provided the total serial run remains within RS-232 distance limits.

Eden Phillips

When I spec a DB9 extension for a security integration project, the first thing I check isn't the length — it's the shielding. The MXT1001MBK uses aluminum-mylar foil shielding over 28 AWG conductors, which matters in control closets where RS-232 serial lines share conduit or cable trays with 24V power feeds. At 1 meter, this cable won't rescue a poorly routed serial run, but it will cleanly extend an existing one without introducing noise artifacts that show up as dropped PTZ commands or intermittent reader responses.

Technical Highlights:

• Aluminum-Mylar Foil Shield: Provides EMI suppression in dense cable environments — 28 AWG conductors without shielding at this gauge can pick up enough noise to cause RS-232 framing errors in electrically noisy equipment rooms.
• Nickel-Plated Connectors: Oxidation on unplated DB9 contacts is a real failure mode in equipment closets with humidity swings up to 70% RH — nickel plating reduces that risk over the life of the installation.
• Operating Range -5°C to 70°C: Covers virtually every indoor equipment room scenario; the PVC jacket stays flexible through normal HVAC cycling without cracking or stiffening at the bend points.

Deployment Considerations:

• This is a passive 1-meter extension — it does not regenerate the RS-232 signal. If your total serial cable run is already near the practical RS-232 limit (typically 15 meters at standard baud rates), adding this cable may push you into unreliable territory. Measure the full run before specifying.
• The 0.6 in (1.5 cm) connector height is slim enough for most port clusters, but verify clearance if your device has DB9 ports positioned within 1 inch of a chassis edge or adjacent port row.

The MXT1001MBK is the right pick for an equipment room or control panel installation where a PTZ serial controller, access control panel, or legacy serial converter sits just out of reach — specifically where you need a shielded, low-profile extension that won't introduce noise into an otherwise clean serial link.