USB extension cable performance?

[kerfuffler]

I'm not quite sure that this is in the right section, but here goes anyway:

SO, quite simply is: Does the quality of the USB extension cable affect the performance of the device you're using it with?

For example, if I am using a Wi-Fi dongle, and using a USB extension cable to position it in a higher gain area, would using a 50p cable from eBay yield the same performance as say a more expensive/ higher grade Gold plated one?

 

[PooMan UK]

You should be fine pal ... allot of the adapters come with a USB extension lead

 

[severedsolo]

To be perfectly honest, I have never had any issues with the cable that comes with my dongle. The thing that would effect it more is whether it is USB 1/2/3 as long as you get a cable which is at least as fast as the device/motherboard can handle then you should have no issues with speed.

To put it into persepective, a standard b/g dongle can handle up to 54Mbps (megabits per second) that works out to about 5MB/s (megabytes per second) even a USB1 cable can handle that. So no, a 50p cable from Ebay should make no difference at all, as its not like the cable will be under great amounts of strain anyway.

 

[Phone Man]

How long is the cable. I believe the USB 2.0 cables are limited to 16ft. Any longer and you need a repeater or hub. I have purchased my cables from http://www.mycablemart.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=26http://www.mycablemart.com/ and they seem to be good quality.

Jim

 

[kerfuffler]

Thanks for the response, very helpful! I'l stick with my current cabe