Epson USB cable. How long is too long?

StanNJ1 · Dec 19, 2007

Hello. I just purchased a beautiful Epson 2400 printer but because of it's size will have to be located far away from my computer. The cable would have to be around 30 feet long. Is this too long? If so any other recommendations? Your help will be appreciated.

Sw1tchFX · Dec 19, 2007

There's no such thing as too long when it comes to computer cables!

Are you worried about how the electricity is going to conduct through 30 feet of cable? Don't worry about it, if it wouldn't do it, the cable wouldn't be made. The cable could be a mile long and it would still work fine.

leaving0hio · Dec 19, 2007

It looks like you may be able to stretch it if you use a USB hub...but take it with a grain of salt.....

Quoting from USB.org:

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).

Q2: Why can't I use a cable longer than 3 or 5m?
A2: USB's electrical design doesn't allow it. When USB was designed, a decision was made to handle the propagation of electromagnetic fields on USB data lines in a way that limited the maximum length of a USB cable to something in the range of 4m. This method has a number of advantages and, since USB is intended for a desktop environment, the range limitations were deemed acceptable. If you're familiar with transmission line theory and want more detail on this topic, take a look at the USB signals section of the developers FAQ.

Q3: How far away from a PC can I put a USB device?
A3: With the maximum of 5 hubs connected with 5m cables and a 5m cable going to your full speed device, this will give you 30m of cable (see section 7.1.19 for details). With a low speed device, you will be able to get a range up to 27m, depending on how long the device's cable is. With a straightforward cable route, you will probably be able to reach out 25m or so from the PC.

Big Mike · Dec 19, 2007

What about Ethernet cables? I believe that these don't have the same restriction for length that USB cables do. You could then use an adaptor like THIS.

salexander867 · Dec 19, 2007

Sw1tchFX said:
There's no such thing as too long when it comes to computer cables!

Not true

luis_relampago · Dec 19, 2007

you can always go wireless, all do it's a bit expensive.
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=4105

forceofnature · Dec 19, 2007

salexander867 said:
Not true

agreed, there are specs to every standard.

TLI · Dec 19, 2007

Big Mike said:
What about Ethernet cables? I believe that these don't have the same restriction for length that USB cables do. You could then use an adaptor like THIS.

Ethernet would be fine if it supported it, which it doesnt. a good fix is a usb printer hub. its cheaper than wireless and can work at more than twice the speed (up to almost 5 times since USB 2.0 is @ 480Mbps)

Sw1tchFX said:
There's no such thing as too long when it comes to computer cables!

Are you worried about how the electricity is going to conduct through 30 feet of cable? Don't worry about it, if it wouldn't do it, the cable wouldn't be made. The cable could be a mile long and it would still work fine.

not true, unless boosted USB is only 1.5V. if you ever look at a long stretch of home electrical wiring on poles there are transformers every so often, this is to bump up the voltage since it drops due to an imperfect world. if they didnt do this the 220V (amperage is a factor too though not as much with the USB) that enters your home at the the electrical panel would be less than half that, and then things wouldnt work.

Sideburns · Dec 19, 2007

Sw1tchFX said:
There's no such thing as too long when it comes to computer cables!

Are you worried about how the electricity is going to conduct through 30 feet of cable? Don't worry about it, if it wouldn't do it, the cable wouldn't be made. The cable could be a mile long and it would still work fine.

Very untrue. A mile long USB cable would not work.

Big Mike said:
What about Ethernet cables? I believe that these don't have the same restriction for length that USB cables do. You could then use an adaptor like THIS.

The spec for 100BaseT is 100 meters.

Both of these standards can be extended through the use of hubs, repeaters, switches, bridges, routers or another host acting as one of those other devices.

Sw1tchFX · Dec 20, 2007

oops.

JerryPH · Dec 20, 2007

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).

USB's electrical design doesn't allow it to extend past this length. When USB was designed, a decision was made to handle the propagation of electromagnetic fields on USB data lines in a way that limited the maximum length of a USB cable to something in the range of 4m. This method has a number of advantages and, since USB is intended for a desktop environment, the range limitations were deemed acceptable.

Ls3D · Dec 20, 2007

I thought the 3rd post put this to bed quite nicely.

-S

Garbz · Dec 21, 2007

TLI said:
not true, unless boosted USB is only 1.5V. if you ever look at a long stretch of home electrical wiring on poles there are transformers every so often, this is to bump up the voltage since it drops due to an imperfect world. if they didnt do this the 220V (amperage is a factor too though not as much with the USB) that enters your home at the the electrical panel would be less than half that, and then things wouldnt work.

Also not true. They are usually to either step down the voltage from 3000V down to house mains wiring potential since 3000V is far easier to transmit (less loss along lines), or used for power factor correction to bring the current and voltages changes in phase with each other (this is waaaay beyond the scope of an internet thread and a boring topic to boot).

The problem with USB is quite different through. Power travels at 50Hz for most sensible countries, and 60Hz for those countries who like to battle more with having to transmit the thing. USB frequencies are MUCH higher, and at those higher frequencies the inductance and capacitance of the cable start affecting it more than the resistance would for power lines. (again incredibly boring but ultimately more interesting that bloody power systems engineering)

I have no idea if a 30' USB cable would work. But you're pushing it and you most definitely do not want to assemble it from 0.8m extensions!

/EDIT: I think 16' may be the practical limit for a reliable usb signal but you can get active repeaters. http://www.qvs.com/usb-ext.asp

RyanLilly · Dec 24, 2007

Garbz said:
Power travels at 50Hz for most sensible countries, and 60Hz for those countries who like to battle more with having to transmit the thing.

Hey If Edison had his way, us Americans would be struggling even more to transmit DC, instead of 60Hz AC. :lmao:

Garbz · Dec 24, 2007

IIRC the last Edison DC circuit was cut in Manhattan was it? only a few months ago. I was impressed that a dated standard survived this long in a world of consolidating different technologies into one to cut prices.
You're right though less is not better. 60hz is far better than DC for transmission of power.