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I'm planning to use USB port for an application(from a device to a PC) but the distance between the device and the PC will be around 15m. The recommended maximum USB cable length is 5m.

How can I buffer the data without loosing any information, safely? Would a USB hub work?

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  • Why not put a powered repeater midway?
    – Vorac
    Jul 12, 2020 at 16:58

3 Answers 3

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You can use a USB over CAT5 Extender. The link is one example. There are many available. You can then just add whatever length of CAT5 cable needed. I have used one with a USB webcam and it worked perfectly.

Alternate link or search CAT5 USB extender and you will find something. As noted, there are many models available

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  • Please check also the USB capabilities. I have one which only does USB 1.0.
    – RvdK
    Apr 28, 2015 at 7:53
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    I got "Access Denied" error for your link. Maybe it's country-specific though...
    – Ruslan
    Apr 28, 2015 at 7:59
  • @Ruslan it works for me but you might be able to see it here. It's just a cat5(or cat6) usb extender web.archive.org/web/20151027031308/http://www.startech.com/ca/…
    – barlop
    Mar 3, 2017 at 12:54
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Yes, a hub would work. If the hub is bus-powered, it will consume some power from the USB +5V, so the downstream circuit shouldn't draw more than 100mA (conservatively).

There are also USB repeater cables.

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  • He's trying to go three USB lengths--you can't chain unpowered hubs. At least one of them has to be a powered hub, or else use the repeater like you linked. Apr 27, 2015 at 18:33
  • can you please explain what the difference is between upstream circuit and downstream circuit?
    – barlop
    Mar 3, 2017 at 12:51
  • @barlop It's only terminology. Let's say that you've got a USB device (say, a keyboard, or a mouse), which is plugged into a USB hub. The USB device is downstream of the hub. The hub is upstream of the USB device. Mar 3, 2017 at 19:07
  • @NickAlexeev what if the device were an output device, like a screen? Is the metaphorical river considered to be the computer, so the hub is upstream from the device, the computer is upstream of the hub and device, and the hub is upstream of the device? and the device isn't upstream of anything? the output device is downstream from everything.
    – barlop
    Mar 3, 2017 at 20:14
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    A USB repeater "cable" (aka active extension) is actually a cable with a dedicated, bus-powered hub with just one downstream port.
    – sawdust
    Jan 20, 2023 at 7:16
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Here are 6 ways to extend a USB cable:

  1. Using a USB passive extension cable or passive hub
  2. Using a USB active extension cable or active hub
  3. Using a USB extender (over Cat5 Ethernet)
  4. USB server
  5. Using a USB over IP Converter
  6. Using wireless USB

Details/Reference:

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    It's probably better to say "Here are 6" rather than "There are 6". 'cos a 7th might come along.
    – barlop
    Mar 3, 2017 at 12:52
  • @barlop updated :)
    – thilina R
    Mar 3, 2017 at 14:58

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