Extension Cables?

[Smiley]

Anyone know if I can use usb extension cables to hook up an additional eb8 about 25ft away? if so, i notice there are usb, usb 2.0, and usb 3.0. whats the difference in cables and which will work with the apex?

 

[jahmic]

Usually for USB cables over 15ft you need some sort of a repeater inline with the cable in order to boost the signal. I say usually because you can get away with a passive extension cable if you do not have a need for high speed data transfer...so something like hooking up a memory card reader hooked up at a distance would be OK, but you couldn't just plug in an external HD and run a 25ft extension to it for whatever reason.

That being said, I looked it up and the Apex uses a 12 volt USB port, so it's not the same as a standard 5 volt port...which means you need a special cable.

Found this, pricey but it's probably your best bet:

http://www.usbfirewire.com/Parts/rr-apex-xxg.html

 

[Smiley]

excellent source! ill definitely be ordering a 100ft in the near future... this time i only need 15ft... can i use a standard usb as long as its 15' or less?

 

[jahmic]

I don't wanna give a definitive answer to claim that it'd be OK with your equipment...but in the past I haven't had issues hooking up a standard 5-Volt cable to a 12-volt port. I'm not sure what the risk would even be, but I do know that it's at least possible.

 

[cdrewferd]

I've read that they said to not use a standard USB cable with the Apex system. Something about the resistance being different or something.