USB 2 Maximum Cable Length

niber · #1 (**permalink**) 12-04-2007, 01:23 AM

My backup device is a USB 2.0 250 MB Iomega Hard Drive.I'd like to put
it in my garage, requiring about 20 to 25 feet of wire. The official
USB specs say 5 meters max; if further use a hub/repeater.

I'm wondering how realistic the 5 meter spec is. I recall that parallel
printer cables were supposed to be limited to 10 feet or so; 75 foot
cables worked just fine. Same thing with the specs for RS-232 cables.

Does anyone have any real world experience with long USB 2.0 cables?
I'm thinking of building mine using unshielded CAT5 cable, one twisted
pair for power, another for data. Wise? foolish?

Explizite · #2 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 01:19 PM

I think the 5 meter limit is a recommendation. The cable length should differ for every device you're using. It depends on the amount of the data transmitted by the cable, it's speed etc.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Cross & Straight cable to connect Two PCs	srikumar_l	Networking & Internet Connectivity	1	12-23-2007 03:25 AM
length of the edit box	simplesabita	Testing Tools	1	08-22-2007 04:29 AM
What is the maximum amount of databases that can be hosted on Exchange 2003 ?	karunagaran	Server Management	1	07-17-2007 05:50 AM
What are the maximum distances for CAT5 cabling?	vadivelanvaidyanathan	Server Management	0	07-15-2007 06:42 PM
what’s maximum URL length ?	vadivelanvaidyanathan	General Web hosting Discussions	2	04-23-2007 02:17 AM