Ethernet cable length

I have a 10' and an 8' cable connected to each other between my mac and my ioline plotter. It wasn't recommended either, but I have no problems with it.

 

I have a fiddy footer connected to my SP540 with no problems at all.

Tom

 

50' is my longest CAT5. It goes to a 60" wide ink jet with no problems. Maybe I'm just lucky not to have much interference.

 

Are you sure that they're not talking about a Centronics cable? That would be the standard printer parallel interface cable. There most definitely is a length limitation on that. Or perhaps a serial 9 or 25 pin cable? The length of these is usualy not critical but there might be some sort of special case. Ethernet cables can easily go 100+ feet with no problem. USB can do around 50' at least.

 

Ethernet will go as far as 1000 ft with out a repeater.

 

how about fire wire? My 60" printer is connected via fire wire & my supplier said to get used to the 12 footer. I'd like to be able to move things around a little at some point if possible.

 

the longest firewire I've seen (without a repeater or booster) is about 15' - 16'. But you can get data errors if it's a low quality cable.

 

thanks Trevor. I guess I'll get used to the proximity between 'puter & printer

 

just double checked, and I did find a 25' cable here

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812149012

and then I found this...

http://www.unibrain.com/1394_products/cables/cables.htm

so I guess you can go longer, but my guess is it's a gamble if it's going to work as well

and this...

 

thanks for looking into that. This is the first time I've ever used a firewire cable for anything & I know nothing about them.

I do know that I don't like any limitations I don't need to be bound by & I like to know all my options up front so if I start brainstorming some renovations or equipment relocations, that I can plan around real limitations, but not around false limitations.