3M USB cable restriction?

Monsignor Funkibut · 15-October-08, 04:41 PM

So the printer is erratic.
I reinstall drivers.
I replace the USB cable.
I buy a new printer.
Same problem.

Buried in the documentation is a note the two-way communication cannot occur if the USB cable is over 3m [9.8 ft] long.

This in undoubtably my problem as the cable is 20 ft. I need to go one side of the room to the other for various reasons.

Why the limit? HP buy the cheapest chipset they could find or is this some inherent limitation is USB?

What's the simplest work-around you know?

-MF

Rob · 15-October-08, 05:41 PM

Maybe something along these lines?

LINK

Don't know what kind of printer you got, but if it's Bluetooth compliant, this will work.

reflux · 15-October-08, 09:03 PM

I heard that you can buy a usb to ethernet to usb cable that removes the distance limitation. Don't anything much about em tho.

s1ugh34d · 16-October-08, 09:38 AM

I don't now of any USB restriction, but My printer and most of the ones I see today, have network or USB ports.

What about a USB network print server. Its like a mini router for printers only.

Monsignor Funkibut · 16-October-08, 10:09 AM

A quick read of the USB spec on Wikipedia says 15m [about 16 ft] is max length. Why Frys even sells a 20ft; why a manufacturer even sells a 20ft; is now beyond me.

Cables cheap and I've remeasured - I might try a 3m, might try a USB "network" cable, might try the mini print server.

-MF

Spatha · 16-October-08, 10:47 AM

I'm curious if its the cable length or quality. What I'm poking at here is ya there is a 16FT cable length limit but if you get an active cable you can crank them up to 80 feet or so. ACTIVE CABLES. It may solve your problem. Not sure but when ever I ended up with stubborn computers because of USB cables being to long my active cable solved to problem.

If you do give an active cable a shot don't use your 20FT cable.

MaTtsPc · 16-October-08, 05:44 PM

loss of voltage! They make a cheap booster for this! Its a box powered by 5vdc and plug in the wall 110! I forget were i have seen them!

Pharaoh · 16-October-08, 08:38 PM

NETGEAR WGPS606 54 Mbps Wireless Print Server with 4-Port Switch -…

I have one of these and I like it.

Monsignor Funkibut · 16-October-08, 09:24 PM

Had a 3m USB in the spares box - it just b a r e l y reaches and seems to solve the problem. But I thank you all and will keep this in mind if/when the printer starts acting the fool again.

But I do wonder - why the original printer with the 20 ft USB *ever* worked right? It just shouldn't have ...

-MF

15-October-08, 04:41 PM		#1 (permalink)
Monsignor Funkibut Master VB Pr'hoe'grammer	3M USB cable restriction? So the printer is erratic. I reinstall drivers. I replace the USB cable. I buy a new printer. Same problem. Buried in the documentation is a note the two-way communication cannot occur if the USB cable is over 3m [9.8 ft] long. This in undoubtably my problem as the cable is 20 ft. I need to go one side of the room to the other for various reasons. Why the limit? HP buy the cheapest chipset they could find or is this some inherent limitation is USB? What's the simplest work-around you know? -MF

15-October-08, 05:41 PM		#2 (permalink)
Rob Advocatus Diaboli	Re: 3M USB cable restriction? Maybe something along these lines? LINK Don't know what kind of printer you got, but if it's Bluetooth compliant, this will work.

15-October-08, 09:03 PM		#3 (permalink)
reflux Sempr0n?	Re: 3M USB cable restriction? I heard that you can buy a usb to ethernet to usb cable that removes the distance limitation. Don't anything much about em tho.

16-October-08, 09:38 AM		#4 (permalink)
s1ugh34d Apex Tech God	Re: 3M USB cable restriction? I don't now of any USB restriction, but My printer and most of the ones I see today, have network or USB ports. What about a USB network print server. Its like a mini router for printers only.

16-October-08, 10:09 AM		#5 (permalink)
Monsignor Funkibut Master VB Pr'hoe'grammer	Re: 3M USB cable restriction? A quick read of the USB spec on Wikipedia says 15m [about 16 ft] is max length. Why Frys even sells a 20ft; why a manufacturer even sells a 20ft; is now beyond me. Cables cheap and I've remeasured - I might try a 3m, might try a USB "network" cable, might try the mini print server. -MF

16-October-08, 10:47 AM		#6 (permalink)
Spatha Apex Tech Fanatic	Re: 3M USB cable restriction? I'm curious if its the cable length or quality. What I'm poking at here is ya there is a 16FT cable length limit but if you get an active cable you can crank them up to 80 feet or so. ACTIVE CABLES. It may solve your problem. Not sure but when ever I ended up with stubborn computers because of USB cables being to long my active cable solved to problem. If you do give an active cable a shot don't use your 20FT cable.

16-October-08, 05:44 PM		#7 (permalink)
MaTtsPc Apex Tech God	Re: 3M USB cable restriction? loss of voltage! They make a cheap booster for this! Its a box powered by 5vdc and plug in the wall 110! I forget were i have seen them!

16-October-08, 08:38 PM		#8 (permalink)
Pharaoh Apex Tech God	Re: 3M USB cable restriction? NETGEAR WGPS606 54 Mbps Wireless Print Server with 4-Port Switch -… I have one of these and I like it.

16-October-08, 09:24 PM		#9 (permalink)
Monsignor Funkibut Master VB Pr'hoe'grammer	Re: 3M USB cable restriction? Had a 3m USB in the spares box - it just b a r e l y reaches and seems to solve the problem. But I thank you all and will keep this in mind if/when the printer starts acting the fool again. But I do wonder - why the original printer with the 20 ft USB ever worked right? It just shouldn't have ... -MF

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