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Active USB extension cable recommendations? - Printable Version

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Active USB extension cable recommendations? - M A V I C - 10-26-2009

I need to run a USB cable about 15'. My understanding is I need an active cable to do this. When searching for active cables, it seems like some are OS dependent and I don't really understand why. I'm plugging this into a MDD running 10.5 that is acting as a print server (thus the cable connects to a printer.)

Will this cable work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119252

Thanks


Re: Active USB extension cable recommendations? - silvarios - 10-26-2009

Any reason you don't want a network printer, or a router with USB printing compatibility?


Nathan


Re: Active USB extension cable recommendations? - Filliam H. Muffman - 10-26-2009

That should work. I have not tried one in OS X.


Re: Active USB extension cable recommendations? - OWC Jamie - 10-26-2009

You've tried a regular 15 foot printer cable or a 15 foot extension even, and neither of thiose worked ?

I've found the current capacity of chipsets varies between motherboards.
(specifications be damned)


Re: Active USB extension cable recommendations? - Winston - 10-26-2009

Would a powered USB hub in the middle of the extension do it?


Good luck.

- Winston


Re: Active USB extension cable recommendations? - anonymouse1 - 10-26-2009

For most USB applications, a 15 foot ordinary cable will work. Try monoprice.com


Re: Active USB extension cable recommendations? - M A V I C - 10-26-2009

This ended up coming back in stock so I went with it http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=103&cp_id=10303&cs_id=1030304&p_id=6042&seq=1&format=2

Great price comparatively, and now I can put the printer even farther away if I want. Plus it has to go through a wall and there's already RJ45 ports in the wall.

silvarios wrote:
Any reason you don't want a network printer, or a router with USB printing compatibility?


Nathan

I don't want to buy a new printer, and my router is in the same location that I'm trying to run this to. I already have a file/media/fax server, just want to plug in a USB cable to make it a print server too.

billb wrote:
You've tried a regular 15 foot printer cable or a 15 foot extension even, and neither of thiose worked ?

I've found the current capacity of chipsets varies between motherboards.
(specifications be damned)

I read other reports of people 15' is probably not quite enough. Plus I've read reports of problems with this using regular cables. I need to buy a new cable anyway, figured I'd just get a better one from the start.

Winston wrote:
Would a powered USB hub in the middle of the extension do it?
Good luck.

- Winston

That's what I'm currently doing, but now I need the cable to go somewhere else and not be on that hub. It'd be much more simple just to run a cable than plugin yet another device.


Re: Active USB extension cable recommendations? - jdc - 10-26-2009

those look handy mavic -- i will have to remember those

fwiwm i have a canon MP and a epson 1400 both on 15' USB cables from monoprice and they work fine?

running through the hub on my Dell monitor...


Re: Active USB extension cable recommendations? - Racer X - 10-26-2009

A good well insulated USB cable should be fine. I have numerous 25' FW cables that don't need repeaters or hubs FWIW.


Re: Active USB extension cable recommendations? - Winston - 10-26-2009

M A V I C wrote:
It'd be much more simple just to run a cable than plugin yet another device.


Amen to that.

- W