? About usb extension cable
 

Here I sit like an idiot because of what happened at Radio Shack.

I have a webcam sitting on top of my monitor. All I can do is take pictures in front of my computer. I don't own any other camera.

I wanted to make a video of my sprouts in my kitchen. I said to myself "why can't they make an extension for my webcam".

I walked to Radio Shack and said the following:

"You know how they have extension cords?" and the guy said "yeah"

I then said "well, I have a webcam that doesn't reach into the kitchen, do they make extension cords for the usb stuff"?

He burst out laughing and took me over to the wall and there it was:

"USB EXTENSION CABLE".

It was also over thirty dollars.

I tried going to the ninety nine cents store and they have 6 foot ones.

I want a 15 foot one.

Can I link them up like I would do an extension cord?

Also, I know there is USB 1 AND USB 2 (at least I think there is).

I have a 4 year old HP Media Center with 3700 AMD ATHLON 64 processor if that gives you any information on the type of extension cable I would need to buy.

Man, if I could bring the webcam into the other room, that would be so cool.

Thanks

Melody

how to tell if USB 1 or USB 2

http://www.usbman.com/Guides/checking_for_usb_2.htm


I think you could join then up, I joined up 2 cables to get the right length for my laptop to TV connection.

buy them at a store that has an easy return policy just in case and give it a try.
only possible thing is the very cheep cables and connectors are usually lower quality products.
but for light or occasional use they should work fine.

As Jo said they do have such cables. I went looking for an adapter to plug my old mouse into my new laptop because both had different shaped plugs.

I found one in the USA on a website for $2:99 so I thought I could afford that! :D

I went looking here in OZ for the same thing (to avoid postage costs) and I could not believe that my computer shop wants $29:95 for the same thing! I was dumb founded!

Needless to say, I'll be going without that adapter as I'd rather fork out $40 for a new mouse than pay almost that for a $3 adapter.

I had the same problem witha printer/all in one. I wanted to put it on a certain place which was 12' away. I found a USB cable at Walmart (online with free ship to store option) for the cheapest price - of all place Walmart!. Last year I think I paid 9.99 for a 15' USB extension cable from Belkin. Works great.

Another (perhaps simpler and easier option) may be to buy a disposable digital or regular camera (Walmart, Walgreens, CVS etc) and have a disc made of pictures. This way you can load the shots to your computer and send them/download to friends, us etc. The digital/CD option (when you order development of the photos) is cheap and sometimes even free with a special sale/coupon. I do it all the time as I hate the fancy digital camera we own as it is too cpomplicated - plus I don't care if I lose the camera, drop it on the sidewalk, etc :-)

I think I recall my son telling me that you cannot plug USB's into each other to extend...something happens to the signal. They are not like electrical cords. There is a thing called a hub, which you can try:
http://www.answers.com/topic/usb-hub
But they cost $$ and a long cord would probably be similar in cost.

You can get long ones, and extend that way. That is what we have for my husband's computer, in the other room connected to our router.

Thanks to you ALL.

Mrs. D.

Exactly what kind of extension cable thingee do you have? How long, what brand? Thanks

Melody

ours is just a 50 ft long cord. Hubby bought it, and I don't know what brand it is...it is 2 yrs old or so.

Try Tiger Direct...online. They have good prices.

Okay!!!! I am learning!!!

Is this the one I should get?

I did the control panel, device manager, and discovered I have ENHANCED and that means USB 2.0

Is this the correct extension cable thing I should purchase so I can bring the webcam into the kitchen?

Thanks to you all.

Melody

here's a sample of prices on ebay - US only & free shipping-
16 ft cables -
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=USB...6+ft&_osacat=0

I'm hysterical, I found the one on Tiger Direct BUT I FORGOT TO POST THE LINK.

this is the link I forgot to post yesterday. Is this the kind I am supposed to get. I don't care where I get it, I just want to make sure THIS is the exact type I should be getting.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...16703&CatId=77

Oh, I'm getting OLD!!!

lol

Melody

Jo:

I went on ebay and saw the cheap prices, the buy it now for under $5.00

male to female, etc.

It doesn't look like the one on tiger direct that is $19.99

I just don't want to spend money again (like I did for my darn Portable DVD Player.

We ALL KNOW HOW THAT TURNED OUT.

The end of the one on Tiger direct doesn't look anything like the end of the one on Ebay.

Is there a difference.

or can I use ANY usb extension male to female for 2.0?

Thanks my dear.

I WANT TO MAKE VIDEOS OF MY SPROUTS IN MY KITCHEN.

lol

Melody

Ah, I see some have an " active" extension -like a booster added onto the ends. that's why it has a larger area on one end of the connector.
So the ones with that extra will cost a bit more , but from the info below it's looks like 16' is the max without the booster.


some info on it
[One of the biggest obstacles encountered in planning a wire run is the signal limitation of USB devices. With a maximum guaranteed length of 16 feet, very few USB runs are successful without the use of ACTIVE extension cables. These are M/F extension cables which feature a booster-box on the end, and when strung together, can achieve a new maximum of 80 feet. Easily extend your USB 2.0 cable past 5 Meters by daisy chaining up to five of our premium USB 2.0 active extensions. These USB 2.0 compliant cables support data transfer rates up to 480Mbps and are fully backward compatible with both low and high-speed USB v1.1 devices. ]
more here
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...9301&CatId=444

here's as similar one on ebay-
http://cgi.ebay.com/16-FT-USB-2-0-Ex...d=p3286.c0.m14

Jo:

If you think I understand what is written, well, I had to laugh.

I just want to be clear on which one I should be buying. The one with the BIG thing on the end (for $19.99), or the one on ebay for under five bucks.

They seem to both do the same thing. They are both 16 feet. My webcam is about 3 feet. So I'll have almost 19 feet to bring into the kitchen.

So what do you think?

lol
Melody

P.S. So I gather with either one I buy, I just unplug the end of my webcam from the back of my computer tower, plug this webcam end into one of the ends of the extension, and plug the other end of the extension into the back of the computer tower

Right??

Melody

I think since you are going a total of over 16' then one with the booster part would be best especially for video recording.

the sabrent one I linked to on tiger is only 12.99 and has the booster.
so either one of those are known brand names so you should be fine.

and the ebay one has the booster too. 8.99

so where ever you feel like buying from - online or a local store you have a better idea of what to look for.



yes you just fit them together and plug it in to the computer.

CAN I SAY I LOVE YOU!!!!

lol lol lol

Melody

LOL everybody likes to feel some love right LOL
:o:grouphug:

Jo:

Besides learning about usb extension cables, I AM NOW LEARNING ABOUT DEHYDRATING FOODS.

never thought I could that. I sprout everything but I love sun dried tomatoes and Alan likes dried fruits.

I am now (before I buy one), learning all I can on what foods to hydrate and HOW to hydrate.

I'll either do it right or blow up my house.

lol

Melody

Last year we had a great crop of apples so i bought a food dehydrator-
but this year was not very good for home fruit crops:(
so it is sitting in the box waiting for next year.

These cables must be new. I don't think they existed when we needed our 50 footer.

The explosion of USB peripherals, must be driving these new type cables. Makes sense.