Max Cable lengths for USB

[AndrewGab]

This is probably better for another section of the forum but what the heck. I'm in the process of assisting in designing a space that will have our computers mounted on the back wall behind the user. The shortest run from those computers to the end user will be about 18ft (6 meters) I'm not worried about running power or ethernet, but I have gotten all sorts of conflicting information on the max length for USBs for peripherals. What realistically are my options?

 

[dkoudijs]

you will need active cables, that handle the timing issues that result from being long distance.

I would suggest you have one cable going to a powered usb hub, then from the hub to your mouse etc.

This way both the active cable, and the hub will attempt to keep the signals clean and working.

 

I do the above and run 15m and it works fine.

[BobVonBob]

5 meters (16.4 ft) is technically the maximum the USB spec recommends, but most low draw USB 2.0 devices will easily operate up to 15 meters (49.2 ft), and active cables can increase that to roughly 50 meters (164 ft). The thing I'd be worried about is displays, since all the solutions for connecting displays over that distance have problems like latency or cost. If you've got that figured out then no worries about the USB peripherals.