How long can a usb cable be?

neocon · 20 Jan 2007 at 16:53

PC to printer

how long can the cable be?

10m?
20m?

Indy500 · 20 Jan 2007 at 16:55

I've used a 10m cable before. Not sure about 20m.

Trigger · 20 Jan 2007 at 17:01

Anything more than 15m and it won't work

Shaye87 · 20 Jan 2007 at 17:02

Trigger said:
Anything more than 15m and it won't work

And explain why please?

Trigger · 20 Jan 2007 at 17:05

Shaye87 said:
And explain why please?

To be honest, I don't know but I've tested it and it doesn't work. At a guess, I would say it is caused by voltage drop but I can't be certain.

Shaye87 · 20 Jan 2007 at 17:08

Trigger said:
To be honest, I don't know but I've tested it and it doesn't work. At a guess, I would say it is caused by voltage drop but I can't be certain.

I personally think it would work, but that is just my guess

Tomsk · 20 Jan 2007 at 17:41

As long as a piece of string......

Too many different variables to give a concise answer.
- quality of USB chipset
- condition of sockets and plugs
- quality of cable
- number of cables

I currently have a 5m + 3m + 3m + 2m cable from my PC to a media player on the other side of the room.

You can also get extenders which are basically cables with an integrated signal amplifier.

Indy500 · 20 Jan 2007 at 17:46

I used an extension cable + a 5m standard cable, maybe that boosts the signal range..

Trigger · 20 Jan 2007 at 18:04

I've tried repeaters before and found that they very rarely work very well. We also tried lots of different makes of both cable and repeater and couldn't get it above 15m. We even tried just putting it on the floor out of the trunking so environment has nothing to do with it either.

Things change I've changed · 20 Jan 2007 at 18:08

you need a USB Repeater cable, normal rule of thumb is 5m for standerd usb cable and 10m for high grade, your be pushing your luck at trying to get it to work @ 15m without a repeater cable.