Can I use a 10m-long cable for my printer ? (USB A-B)

[tempt6]

Hi,

I have a large printer for A0 printings (HP DesignJet), located in another room than my main PC. Currently there is a second worthless PC used to share the printer, but I might just get rid of it and plug the printer directly to my main PC.
I would need a 10m cable A-B, but I've just read that USB cables were designed for shorter lengths, I could plug several cables serially, etc... yet they sell 10m cables on various websites, so maybe it's okay for a printer ? I don't know.

Am I doing things wrong with purchasing a 10m cable ?

Thanks for your opinion

 

[Gingerbread]

Generally max length, even for an active usb cable is 5m, so if you want longer than that you should connect 5m cables using usb booster, however pretty sure that is a high quality printer and it has an ethernet cable (the one you use for your internet connection). It would be way better and more reliable to connect to it via ethernet. Most designjets even have wifi so you can connect wirelessly. What is your printer model?

 

[Nick_64]

http://www.yourcablestore.com/USB-Cable-Length-Limitations-And-How-To-Break-Them_ep_42-1.html

will answer your question - The gist is you will probably need an active or repeater cable.

 

[basroil]

Can you? Probably. Should you? Not when you can just use ethernet or WiFi. Most DesignJet printers from even a decade ago had ethernet, and newer ones have wireless. It'll be faster, more stable, and will let you print from any network connected machine in the future without modification.

 

[tempt6]

Well umh, it's a DesignJet 500. I thought it had only USB since it seemed old last time I saw it, but it seems as it has Ethernet as well according to the online manual. I'll check it next time. Thanks for the tip

 

[basroil]

Well umh, it's a DesignJet 500. I thought it had only USB since it seemed old last time I saw it, but it seems as it has Ethernet as well according to the online manual. I'll check it next time. Thanks for the tip

If your model has ethernet that should be your preferred method. You can put it 50m away and still not need additional hardware!

 

[smorizio]

on older printer with just usb ports they do sell wifi usb print hubs for working people.