I would need perhaps 4-5m long USB cable to connect the laptop docking station to the printer at home. The USB cable is too short. Using Ethernet is not an option simply put. I can't move the laptop docking station closer to the printer or the printer closer to the docking station.
So my question is, how can I fix this problem? Isn't there a maximum length on USB cables (as per its standard) which means we can't have a 4-5m long cable working reliably?
The USB 2 specification allows 16 feet (5 meters)
You are at the outer limit, but it may be worth trying.
The other option is a USB wireless Print Server. Use that to connect the printer to your network.
The USB 2.0 specification limits the length of a cable between USB 2.0 devices (full-speed or hi-speed) to 5 meters (or about 16 feet and 5 inches)
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USB 3.0 and USB 3.1 connection types have the same rating, and it’s a bit of an oddball. In theory, there’s no actual “maximum.” However, if you go beyond 3 meters (about 10 feet), your signal will start to degrade. The longer you extend the cable, the lower the speed and the less power it will provide. This gives you a little bit of wiggle room if all you’re doing is sending a signal. For example, if you need to send a security camera feed, a 20-foot run is probably doable, assuming minimal interference. On the other hand, if that feed is a 4K camera with two-way audio, you might have an issue. And if that camera requires the USB cable for power, you’re definitely going to have trouble.
