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I know that the maximum distance USB 2.0 cable can be is 5mtrs.

I'm not sure of the implementation using hubs and the length it can reach.

Are there alternate methods of increasing the signal to reach longer distances, to defy the 5mtrs limit of data transfer?

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USB 2.0 cables are not limited by signal degradation, but rather by a maximum response time of 1500ns before the host will consider the command lost. Using longer cables is possible with extremely low resistance cables, but I don't know how one could obtain such a cable; it would likely have to be custom-manufactured.

USB-over-Cat5 adapters can run cables for longer distances, up to 50m in some cases.

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could you point out any of such adapters availability at any stores? – rzlines Oct 7 '10 at 18:37
don't bother I think I could locate some thanks for the replies – rzlines Oct 7 '10 at 18:40
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You could use a USB Extender (with cat5 network cable) to extend the distance to 150 feet.

Another option might be to use a wireless USB hub.

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could you please quote the source of this information, there has been much debate about daisy chaining and data transmission drops. Sorry for the inconvinience – rzlines Oct 7 '10 at 18:36
@rzlines - No inconvenience. I reviewed my documentation and found an error. I confused daisy chain with straight line connection and have corrected my answer. – RSMoser Oct 8 '10 at 4:05
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up vote 1 down vote

I use an unpowered (ie powered by the USB), USB over cat5 extender at work. The only problem I have found is a drop in volts which meant I had to add a powered hub at the other end.

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thanks for the practical inputs, I really value these. – rzlines Oct 7 '10 at 20:01
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