Magnetic Tethering Cable

So while I had my camera tethered today someone 'almost' took it out by trying to walk through the USB cable. Luckily I grabbed them before they did, but it got me thinking - how much damage would that have done to my camera or laptop?

The camera was on a large studio pedestal monopod, and wouldn't have been going anywhere. The laptop was sitting on a desk and 'may' have been pulled off. Or, it might have disconnected either end, or it may have damaged either USB port.

None of these were options I was happy with, so i went looking:

Tether Tools makes the 'Jerk Stopper' retention strap. I like the idea- but I don't think it would have helped me. It may have prevented it from damaging the USB port, but it could have done a lot of damage to another part of the camera, or pulled the laptop off. If I have a less sturdy tripod (basically, anything but this studio stand) it probably would knock the tripod over if someone walked straight into the cord.

Not really happy with that.

I though about my Macbook and the magsafe connector. Surely someone makes something like that?

Well, sort of: https://shop.rosenberg​er.de/Startseite/Detai​l_267355.html
I found these USB cables, but to my eyes the magnetic connector is on the wrong end! I want it on the end by the camera, not the laptop, or best yet, both. I'm thinking of getting their shortest cable and then using a USB extension cable to get it to the laptop.

Has anyone had experience with these? Anyone have another idea for this?

longer usb cable and gaffer tape it to the floor? Or cover it with a carpet or something? quick but ugly: yellow caution tape.

Or something like the CamRanger, go wireless.

Only a USB cable with an high voltage electrified external sheath will do to prevent folks from breaking camera or laptop or ruining one or other USB port.

You could buy short (e.g. 6-12") USB extensions to use both at the camera and at the laptop, securing the extension to the device it is plugged into so that the long USB cord simply pulls loose from the extension...if the connector on the extension gets damaged, simply replace the extension

phantelope wrote in post #16891387
longer usb cable and gaffer tape it to the floor? Or cover it with a carpet or something? quick but ugly: yellow caution tape.

Or something like the CamRanger, go wireless.

In our studio on the ship -

Can't use anything wireless. (I wish!)
No carpets!
And we move the tripod too much to gaffer tape. =(

I did grab some yellow masking tape and put little flags on it just so nothing happens in the meantime. I'm going to order up one of these cable and see if I can't shorten it with a soldering iron. We'll see?