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#1
A USB cable issue. Advice wanted.
In my home office I have 2 printers connected to my main PC with 15 foot cables since forever. Works great.
Keep in mind the USB 2.0 spec for cable length is 5 meters (15+ feet) max. Longer cables than that could result in poor signal timing.
Now I want to reorganize my office and will want to move the PC even further away from the printers. I bought some cheap 6 foot extension USB cables (dumb cables - not extenders) just to test to see if the printers will work. They do! Print, scan, fax - all good.
Just one small problem: every time I start the PC, Windows now 'discovers' the "new hardware". There is the familiar bloop-boop sound (twice) when I reach the desktop. If I am fast with the mouse I can get into Devices & Printers and see that the printers are being discovered. Obviously the signal timing issue on the extended USB cable is to blame.
I can live with this small problem. But I have 2 questions:
- Is there some long term problem I could be headed for if I set up this way?
- Is there some way to increase the amount of time that Windows reacts to the USB printer connections (registry edit)?
I could also buy some 20 foot, 20 gauge USB cables to increase the signal response, but those are 20 bucks a piece. I'll live with a minor annoyance for $40.