How to extend a USB Signal transmission distance USB - the standard cable interface between PCs and laptops - and a whole multitude of peripherals and portable devices are fantastic for fast, easy transfer of both data and power. But great as it is, USB is significantly limited is its transmission distance. Join us as we see how USB measures up and how to stretch signal transmission distances a whole lot further.
USB or Universal Serial Bus - The cable and connectivity standard which we rely on so frequently for both data and power transmission just keeps getting better and better as we step into the realms of the latest version 3.1 with its massive new bandwidth and the new USB Type C connector - universal, super small and reversible. However, what isn't improving and is the main limitation of USB is the transmission distance. Did you know that USB version 2 is limited to just 5 meters of cable transmission distance and USB versions 3 and 3.1 to an, even more, disappointing 3 to 4 meters?... So when you're looking to connect USB devices over longer distances - usually when either one or both of the devices are fixed position rather than mobile (such as printers or interactive devices) - then we need to consider the options available to extend the transmission distance of a USB cable.
USB Cables: The first and most simple recommendation is to ensure you're using high-grade USB cables as this is going to ensure you're getting the greatest distance and performance from your connection. One of the most common mistakes made when attempting to extend USB transmission distances is to connect two-or-more passive USB cables together to go beyond the recommended 3 or 5-metre limits - that's simply not going to work!