Whats the longest parallel cable you can get that would still work well?

[niwi7]

Do they make 100 feet long parallel cables? if they do do they work welll?

 

[Shooters]

Some websites specify that the mex length is something like 15ft, but other retailers have 100ft cables so go figure. I think it probably should work as long as the cable was specially made with the length taken into account.

 

[corkyg]

!00 feet is beyond the reach of a parallel cable. Why not put a network interface on the printer and use CAT 5 cable to a NIC in your computer? You could also explore a wireless connection LAN.

 

[zephyrprime]

There is such a thing as a parallel repeater for such a situation but it'd be better to just do what corky suggest. Or you could use a usb->parallel cable and use usb hubs as repeaters to attain the needed distance.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Microcenter had parallel-port line-extenders in their Bargain Bin section for around $15. I think that they claimed up to 100' reach on the parallel port, obviously due to the signal amplification/noise reduction of the device. Normal standard spec, I think goes to about 12'. At least I don't think that I've seen any IEEE 1284 shielded cables longer than that. If they aren't heavy-duty shielded, then I probably wouldn't go longer than 6-8. I've had cable-noise issues when daisy-chaining an inkjet printer through a scanner and into the computer, or when going from computer to a manual switchbox to a scanner or printer. Combined cable length was probably 12'.

 

[Gigaah]

100' Parallel cable has GOT to cost some good $$$. If its possible in your situation using network cable and a printserver card could be cheaper. Then you can run it over 100 and cat5 cable is cheap.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: Gigaah
100' Parallel cable has GOT to cost some good $$$. If its possible in your situation using network cable and a printserver card could be cheaper. Then you can run it over 100 and cat5 cable is cheap.

I think I actually saw some wireless 802.11 parallel-port units recently, it was in one of the major retail outlet's online sales flyer, either OM, Staples, or CompUSA's. Also had some sort of wireless video-cam setup.