It is just an "adapting" cable per se. In another word, for some reason, APC elected to use a USB cable that has USB-A at one end and 10p10c (RJ50) at the other (in stead of the conventional USB-B end),making all the trouble for the end users.It is not out of technical considerations, and this kind of gimick to get extra $$ from the custumers is very very hateful.My second UPS is from Cyperpower, which uses a conventional USB cable for data link. It costs a little more, but I am alot more comfortable with it than APC.