Question about USB and using long USB cables

[yungman]

Hi

I have not been keeping up with the latest USB standard, is the latest one USBIII? What is the speed of this?

Also, I want to run a USB cable at least 4m long, do they have USB cable that long and still work for the fastest USB standard?

I know in the past, even for USBII, there is a limit for how long the cable can be. Say if I cannot find a 4m long USB cable, can I use a Hub to serve as a repeater so I can use two short cables with a Hub in the middle to extend the length. Matter of fact, use more than one Hub to further extending the distance.

Sorry about all these questions, someone asked me about this, I never have to use a long cable before and I don't want to give out wrong info.

Thanks

 

[Svein]

I have not been keeping up with the latest USB standard, is the latest one USBIII? What is the speed of this?

Yes, the last one is USB 3.1 (10Gbit/s). You also have USB 3.0 (5Gbit/s). Some marketing people name them USB 3.1 gen. 2 and gen.1.

Also, I want to run a USB cable at least 4m long, do they have USB cable that long and still work for the fastest USB standard?

Yes, there are USB cables that long for USB 2. I have found USB 3 cables that are 3m.

can I use a Hub to serve as a repeater so I can use two short cables with a Hub in the middle to extend the length. Matter of fact, use more than one Hub to further extending the distance.

Yes, if you get a hub with a separate power supply.

 

[Rive]

For very long USB connections it might be better with a so called 'USB extender'. These are turning the original USB to something else (CAT5 or better) and back at the other end. Usually they can't deliver power.
Random product page from the internet (up to 10km!)

 

[russ_watters]

My understanding is that 5m is the limit for a standard USB cable and you can go 5m more with an active extension cable. That's how I control my telescope from my couch.

 

[anorlunda]

That's how I control my telescope from my couch.

YOUR COUCH!

Russ, you just destroyed my image of dedicated amateur astronomers braving the elements and mosquitoes all night to capture that elusive image.

 

[davenn]

That's how I control my telescope from my couch.

YOUR COUCH!

Russ, you just destroyed my image of dedicated amateur astronomers braving the elements and mosquitoes all night to capture that elusive image.

But of course Russ is now behind the times and us truly dedicated amateur astronomers use WiFi for remoter scope operation ...

https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/product/zwo-asiair
These things are so cool

Dave

 

[russ_watters]

YOUR COUCH!

Russ, you just destroyed my image of dedicated amateur astronomers braving the elements and mosquitoes all night to capture that elusive image.

I do like to think of myself as pretty hardcore still...

It can be a rough 15 minutes setting up if it is cold outside at least.

Note: in this room/furniture configuration I'm close enough for just the one USB extension cable, which you can see hanging off the side of the white box under the scope (the shiny black thing is some sort of active female socket). I said above you're limited to 10m and 2 cables, but that may not be strictly true: the white box houses a standard USB hub with a 1m cable - the grey cable sticking out the back. So when I use two 5m cables I'm really at a total of 11m and I've never had an issue. I can't remember though if I've done that since I switched to USB 3.0.

But of course Russ is now behind the times and us truly dedicated amateur astronomers use WiFi for remoter scope operation ...

https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/product/zwo-asiair
These things are so cool

Dave

Yes, very cool. I hadn't actually seen that one before, but I'll definitely consider it. My main concern though is if I'll still get the same bandwidth and stability as with my current USB3 setup. I do some processing on the fly so I really want the raw images on my laptop immediately. But there's a clear benefit; I'd like to be able to say I've never kicked/pulled out the long USB cable while imaging...