[Ham-Computers] USB Cable Length

[WA5CAB at cs.com]

Dale,

The two types of cables that mostly come up on for example MicroCenter web 
site when you search for Centronics to USB cable have either the 36 pin 
Amphenol Blue Ribbon male or the DM25 female.  The former would plug directly 
into a USB port and a printer.  The latter apparently would attach to the 
computer end of an existing parallel printer cable.  But nowhere in the 
write-ups do they say that that is what the cable is for.  

As I already have two of the USB to Centronics cables (one is long enough 
but the other isn't), a USB extension cable would also solve the problem.  
But that comes back to my original question.  What's the maximum length 
allowed for the two cables together?

In a message dated 4/25/2009 3:30:39 AM Central Daylight Time, 
stpatrick3 at twlakes.net writes: 
> WA5CAB at cs.com wrote:
> >I have an issue here that I've mentioned previously but won't go into 
> now.  
> >I need to hook up a laptop with only USB ports to two printers with 
> >parallel ports.  The longest available cables to do it directly (USB to 
> Centronics 
> >or what I call Amphenol Blue Ribbon connector) appear to be 6'.  I need 
> >about 10' or 12'.  Are the USB to female DB25 cables that are offered 
> intended 
> >to connect to the end of a standard DB25 male to Centronics male cable?  
> >After some time of web crawling I haven't found a single ad that says so 
> one way 
> >or the other.  Both of my parallel port printers (an 8-year old HP 
> >Officejet and a 4-year old Okidata) have the Amphenol Centronics female 
> connectors, 
> >not a male DB25 so I can't think of any other reason for so many of the 
> USB 
> >to female DB25 to be offered.
> >
> >Robert &Susan Downs - Houston
> >wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
> >MVPA 9480
> >   
> 
> 
> Robert, as far as I know it comes with the proper connector to plug into 
> your printer.
> You could always get a usb extension cord.
> I do think Wally world sells the usb to centronics cable and usb 
> extension cables.
> 

Robert & Susan Downs - Houston
wa5cab dot com (Web Store)
MVPA 9480