USB hub not working with USB extensions?

Question

I connected a USB Hub (4 ports, usb powered) to my laptop (Toshiba portege - windows 7) with 4 USB extensions resulting to a 16-meter cable.
The device is not recognized by the system. When I connect it directly to my laptop with no extensions, it's fully recognized.

If I get a usb hub with a power adapter, would it be working with the extensions ?

Answer 1

No. You need a USB extension cable specifically made for a long distance (called an active extension or repeated cable). You cannot connect a passive extension cable to another passive extension cable. Links go to examples.

Answer 2

16 metres? you are asking quite a lot.



see here

http://www.usb.org/developers/usbfaq#cab1



USB has two power wires and two signal wires. Poor quality cables will result in interference on the wires. Screened twisted pairs cables are a must for long distances so interference is cancelled out.

even so short distances are ok for non stp cables, but the longer they are the more likely interference can cause communication to be unrelliable resulting in pc not being able to tell what is connected.



each usb socket is only able to supply 0.5amps. sucking more than this from a socket can blow it up. Thats why a hard drive which needs about 1amp to start it, has to have a pair of usb cables connected to two different usb ports. if you connected an external hard disk to a HUB you would fry the usb socket.



just thought i would warn you.

Answer 3

Check the hub supports USB 2.0. If it supports the USB 1.0, simply by a new hub. Then, throw old hub.