Short Answer: Passive cables rely on a SwitchBox for switching electronics, but Active cables have switching electronics inside.
Long Answer: Advanced Geosciences manufactures two types of electrode cables. Active and Passive. The Active electrode cables have switching electronics embedded in them whereas the Passive electrode cables connect to a Switchbox that contains all switching electronics.
Other Key Differences:
| Passive Electrode Cables | Active Electrode Cables |
| No separate IP take outs on each electrode | Separate IP takeout on each electrode with dedicated conductors optimized for each signal that is traveling on them |
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One mode of operation in which the stainless steel electrode both transmits and receives a signal (Non-polarised electrodes can also be used in limited instances) |
Can operate in two modes of operation: 1. A mode that uses the stainless steel electrode to both transmit and receive signal 2. A mode that transmits on the stainless steel electrode but makes all measurements on a non-polarizable electrode |
| Less cost for the same array if you are only measuring using resistivity | Costs more than Passive Cables due to additional features used beyond resistivity measurements (such as IP measurements) |