Length of USB cable?

[LMO]

Hello all, a bit OT, but my server shows no USB support NGs.
I recently relocated to Germany. Here, there is only one telephone jack in
the house. I have DSL, connected to my system via a USB modem. I want to run
a USB line from the jack to another room (rather than have the computer in
the front hall, which is where Telekom decided to put the jack). This would
need 60 to 75 feet of cable. Can I do this, or will there be a loss of
signal over that length of cable?
TIA!

 

[Manda Luyong]

I blelieve the max cable lenght is 5 meters.

 

[Bill James]

Refer to this web page for more complete information, http://www.usb.org/faq/ans5. You "might" be able to do it by stringing together enough USB hubs, but a longer phone cable out from the modem is more practical (and less expensive). Don't scrimp on quality of the phone wire.

If it were me I would change to a conventional DSL modem with a NIC in the computer and CAT5 cable running from the NIC to the modem located near the existing phone jack. You will probably get a much better connection speed and throughput with that configuration.

--

Bill James
Microsoft MVP·DTS

Win9x VBScript Utilities » www.billsway.com/vbspage/
Windows Tweaks & Tips » www.billsway.com/notes_public/

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

Hello all, a bit OT, but my server shows no USB support NGs.
I recently relocated to Germany. Here, there is only one telephone jack in
the house. I have DSL, connected to my system via a USB modem. I want to run
a USB line from the jack to another room (rather than have the computer in
the front hall, which is where Telekom decided to put the jack). This would
need 60 to 75 feet of cable. Can I do this, or will there be a loss of
signal over that length of cable?

I wouldn't try to drive USB that far - you are better off running a
phone extension from the socket to nearer where the modem is going to
be, IMO.

Of course I wouldn't use a USB DSL modem in the first place (spit! The
drivers are usually the pits), you'll probably have better luck with a
router/switch/firewall, and then run CAT5 LAN cable back to a NIC in
your PC (and all the other PCs you'll one day want to connect).