PCA Forums

Hi guys,
I finally replaced my old 3 button ps/2 mouse with a Microsoft Explorer 3 mouse USB. The first thing I did was to go out and buy an USB extension cable, 6 feet in length in order for it to reach the back of the pc USB port. After opening the extension cable box, it had a warning:

USB devices are limited to a total of 10 feet on low-speed devices such as keyboards, mice, and joysticks, and 16 feet on high-speed devices such as printers and scanners.

My question is:
Will I screw up my system in anyway if I use this extension cable with my new MS Explorer mouse? I think the length of the mouse cord is 6 feet + the extension cable 6 feet = 12 feet or more.

I have never used an extension cable, I would try it and if it works then you should be kewl, but if you see problems get a USB hub and sit that on the desk, and that will act as an extension

It might work, it might even work perfectly but it also might not work reliably. Just try it out.
Same goes for longer IDE cables (over 45cm/18") which might work for most but some run into problems.

You cant screw up anything... just the signal may or may not make it.

I used 2 - 12' USB extension cables along with the 8' that came with my webcam.
Thats a total of 32' without a repeater or hub.....and it worked without a hickup.

Give it a try ... see if it works.
Maybe you will get lucky ... (get your mind out of the gutter...a USB extension cable could never get you sex....or could it?)

ive used usb ext. cables on my dig camera and nothing happend

i mean it worked fine

me

Thanks for all the info. I decided that a hub might be the way to go, since I don't have any USB ports that are easily accessible from the front. So now I have a USB hub sitting right there on the desk and it's easy to plug components in if I ever need to. The hub also comes with a 5volt line to make sure power goes all the way down the line to avoid intermittent connection problems. Works great.

16 feet on high-speed devices such as printers and scanners.

Uhhh.....since when is a printer high speed?


But anyways you shouldnt damage anything. If it works cool if not then buy a hub.