Extended usb printer cable/ where buy ?

[James]

I need a usb printer cable, 18 ft. long. I have searched for a 20 ft
cable, thinking that would be a likely length to fit this specific need. I
don't find such a 20 ft cable. I find 6 ft 10 ft , and 15 ft, but
nothing longer than 15 ft.

I would not mind buying two 10 ft cables and joining them with a usb
adapter, but to my surprise, I can't find that either !!

Anyone have any recommendations for me? The ideal for me is to find a 20 ft
usb printer cable. Alternatively, I could solve my problem if I
could find a connector that would join two 10 ft cables together.

Thanks for any help , including online sources.

James

 

[Ben Myers]

Careful here. I strung together two USB cables to go up from a computer,
across a ceiling beam and down to a simple Lexmark printer. The printer NEVER
worked reliably, so we changed the office arrangement around. USB cables
cannot be really long and joing two of them together introduces impedences which
can change the signals going back and forth on the cable... Ben Myers

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

16' is the maximum available single cable. The limit is 80'. You can chain
a pair of 10' cables but you need to use active cables, not ordinary usb
cables. Those are usually 16'. Something like
http://www.amazon.com/Belkin-F3U130...?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1204428303&sr=8-24
will work. Notice the module on one end. It is the repeater.
An active cable is needed for lengths over about 10'.

 

[James]

Colin, thanks a lot. Now I know better what to look for.

I did look at the Belkin, and from user reviews, it appears that this
specific cable is usb 1.0 , not 2.0. But, I am sure other companies
make a similar active cable that is 2.0 standard.

Again, you helped put me on the right track. Thanks again !!

James

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

I did look at the Belkin, and from user reviews, it appears that this
specific cable is usb 1.0 , not 2.0.

That may not be much of a problem. I have never seen any printer that could
negotiate a USB 2.0 connection, only a USB 1.x connection. If you go to the
trouble of finding a USB 2.0 active cable (should one exist) you may only
find that the printer never needed it.

William

But, I am sure other companies

 

[RnR]

I need a usb printer cable, 18 ft. long. I have searched for a 20 ft
cable, thinking that would be a likely length to fit this specific need. I
don't find such a 20 ft cable. I find 6 ft 10 ft , and 15 ft, but
nothing longer than 15 ft.

I would not mind buying two 10 ft cables and joining them with a usb
adapter, but to my surprise, I can't find that either !!

Anyone have any recommendations for me? The ideal for me is to find a 20 ft
usb printer cable. Alternatively, I could solve my problem if I
could find a connector that would join two 10 ft cables together.

Thanks for any help , including online sources.

James

Be careful of distances. I think this may help you understand better:
http://kb.datx.com/question.php?ID=221

 

[Bill in Co.]

Why would he *necessarily* need active cables? Are you implying the
signal would otherwise be too weak or degraded for such a distance?
Wouldn't that also depend on the data transfer rate?

 

[V Green]

Why would he *necessarily* need active cables? Are you implying the
signal would otherwise be too weak or degraded for such a distance?
Wouldn't that also depend on the data transfer rate?

It's part of the USB spec. Look it up. Why take the chance?

That's why he has trouble finding LONG regular (not active) USB
cables. They would be out of spec, and while they *MIGHT*
work, it's just as likely they would NOT, and the cable mgfr
does not need that headache.

For a 20' run, you would only need one active cable (the first one).
The second one could be "regular".

 

[apistomaster]

It's part of the USB spec. Look it up. Why take the chance?

That's why he has trouble finding LONG regular (not active) USB
cables. They would be out of spec, and while they *MIGHT*
work, it's just as likely they would NOT, and the cable mgfr
does not need that headache.

For a 20' run, you would only need one active cable (the first one).
The second one could be "regular".

Why not just get a wireless adapter. I have a completely wireless
system; Dell Inspiron E1505 Lap top, Linksys wireless router and a
Brother MFC 665 CW mulitifunction printer with built in wireless
capability and this system works very well.

 

[V Green]

Why not just get a wireless adapter. I have a completely wireless
system; Dell Inspiron E1505 Lap top, Linksys wireless router and a
Brother MFC 665 CW mulitifunction printer with built in wireless
capability and this system works very well.

Umm, cuz he already has a bunch of stuff that works just fine
except for the cable length problem?

 

[Bill in Co.]

For just being a few feet over the spec, I'd take the chance, rather than
use an active cable, especially for something like a printer. I just
prefer its simplicity. (JMHO).

 

[smlunatick]

For just being a few feet over the spec, I'd take the chance, rather than
use an active cable, especially for something like a printer.   I just
prefer its simplicity. (JMHO).








- Show quoted text -

Here a better soluiton than just stringing USB cable together. It is
a USB extender cable which converts the USB signals over RJ-45
Ethernet cable. It says that it can work upto 150 ft.

http://sewelldirect.com/SuperUSBExtender.asp

 

[V Green]

For just being a few feet over the spec, I'd take the chance, rather than
use an active cable, especially for something like a printer. I just
prefer its simplicity. (JMHO).








- Show quoted text -

Here a better soluiton than just stringing USB cable together. It is
a USB extender cable which converts the USB signals over RJ-45
Ethernet cable. It says that it can work upto 150 ft.

http://sewelldirect.com/SuperUSBExtender.asp

--------------------------

Yeh, that'd do it, but-

$68.00 AND it's only USB 1.1.

If you want the 2.0 ver, get ready to part with $640:

http://sewelldirect.com/GefenUSBExtender.asp

Just get one of these:
http://sewelldirect.com/USB2ExtensionCable.asp
or
http://www.cyberguys.com/templates/SearchDetail.asp?productID=16073

plug your existing USB cable into it, done.

 

[James]

Thanks to all for the very nice and helpful comments on this. I think I
know how to work this out now.

James

 

[PaulMaudib]

I need a usb printer cable, 18 ft. long. I have searched for a 20 ft
cable, thinking that would be a likely length to fit this specific need. I
don't find such a 20 ft cable. I find 6 ft 10 ft , and 15 ft, but
nothing longer than 15 ft.

I would not mind buying two 10 ft cables and joining them with a usb
adapter, but to my surprise, I can't find that either !!

Anyone have any recommendations for me? The ideal for me is to find a 20 ft
usb printer cable. Alternatively, I could solve my problem if I
could find a connector that would join two 10 ft cables together.

Thanks for any help , including online sources.

James

What does this have to do with XP? Oh, right...NOTHING.

Ask elsewhere

 

[M.I.5¾]

Why would he *necessarily* need active cables? Are you implying the
signal would otherwise be too weak or degraded for such a distance?
Wouldn't that also depend on the data transfer rate?

It's not to do with signal degradation as such, but reflections of the
signals from the 2 end of the cables. If the cables are short, the
reflections don't appear at a time when they get confused with proper
signals. The official max length for any cable segment is 5 metres but this
assumes a continuous cable with no joins or connectors along the length.
IIRC, just a few more centimetres is enough to cause the reflected signals
to clash.

 

[Ben Myers]

Reflection of a signal is just one cause of signal degradation. See wikipedia
definition, which is about as good as any in the field of technology:
"Degradation (telecommunications), the loss of quality of an electronic signal".

.... Ben Myers

 

[Bill in Co.]

True.

Reflection of a signal is just one cause of signal degradation. See
wikipedia definition, which is about as good as any in the field of
technology: "Degradation (telecommunications), the loss of quality of an
electronic signal".

... Ben Myers

 

[Bill in Co.]

Well, as I mentioned in the other post, that falls under the category of
signal degradation.

 

[Frank-FL]

I need a usb printer cable, 18 ft. long. I have searched for a 20 ft
cable, thinking that would be a likely length to fit this specific need. I
don't find such a 20 ft cable. I find 6 ft 10 ft , and 15 ft, but
nothing longer than 15 ft.

I would not mind buying two 10 ft cables and joining them with a usb
adapter, but to my surprise, I can't find that either !!

Anyone have any recommendations for me? The ideal for me is to find a 20 ft
usb printer cable. Alternatively, I could solve my problem if I
could find a connector that would join two 10 ft cables together.

Thanks for any help , including online sources.

James

Q1: How long of a cable can I use to connect my device?
A1: In practice, the USB specification limits the length of a cable between full speed devices to 5 meters (a little under 16 feet 5 inches). For a low speed device the limit is 3 meters (9 feet 10 inches).