[gentoo-user] {OT} reliable USB extender?

[gentoo-user] {OT} reliable USB extender?

[Grant]

I need to connect a Zebra LP2844 USB label printer at about 35 feet
from a Gentoo machine.  I got this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L14ZTC

but it is proving to be unreliable.  The printer stops responding many
times per day and needs to be power cycled.  Is there a reliable way
to make this connection?

- Grant

[gentoo-user] Re: {OT} reliable USB extender?

[Grant Edwards]

On 2015-03-04, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:

> I need to connect a Zebra LP2844 USB label printer at about 35 feet
> from a Gentoo machine.  I got this:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L14ZTC
>
> but it is proving to be unreliable.  The printer stops responding many
> times per day and needs to be power cycled.  Is there a reliable way
> to make this connection?

Are you _required_ to use USB?

If I were you, I'd stick an an Ethernet connected RS232 port widget on
the printer and talk to it via Ethernet.

OTOH, if it's only 35 feet, you could just run a serial cable to it
(you might need to add a serial port to your host).

The LP2844 has a serial port, right?

<rant>
Using USB for anything other than keyboard and mouse is asking for
trouble.  Due to MS/Intel's backing, and a few other historical
accidents, USB beat out _far_ better options like Firewire and gets
used/abused for all sorts of things for which it's not really
appropriate.  But, it's still a horrible protocol and oughtn't be used
for anything where the Microsoft motto of "it sort of works most of
the time" isn't good enough.
</rant>

-- 
Grant Edwards               grant.b.edwards        Yow! Am I elected yet?
                                  at               
                              gmail.com            

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} reliable USB extender?

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

Am 04.03.2015 um 21:28 schrieb Grant Edwards:
> On 2015-03-04, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I need to connect a Zebra LP2844 USB label printer at about 35 feet
>> from a Gentoo machine.  I got this:
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L14ZTC
>>
>> but it is proving to be unreliable.  The printer stops responding many
>> times per day and needs to be power cycled.  Is there a reliable way
>> to make this connection?
> Are you _required_ to use USB?
>
> If I were you, I'd stick an an Ethernet connected RS232 port widget on
> the printer and talk to it via Ethernet.
>
> OTOH, if it's only 35 feet, you could just run a serial cable to it
> (you might need to add a serial port to your host).
>
> The LP2844 has a serial port, right?
>
> <rant>
> Using USB for anything other than keyboard and mouse is asking for
> trouble.  Due to MS/Intel's backing, and a few other historical
> accidents, USB beat out _far_ better options like Firewire and gets
> used/abused for all sorts of things for which it's not really
> appropriate.  But, it's still a horrible protocol and oughtn't be used
> for anything where the Microsoft motto of "it sort of works most of
> the time" isn't good enough.
> </rant>
>

oh not again of that myth. Firewire was not better. And it is not
better. USB is just fine.


The solution is of course a cheap print server. There are even very
cheap ones who can do ethernet&wireless.

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} reliable USB extender?

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 4 Mar 2015 12:13:24 -0800, Grant wrote:

> I need to connect a Zebra LP2844 USB label printer at about 35 feet
> from a Gentoo machine.  I got this:
> 
> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L14ZTC
> 
> but it is proving to be unreliable.  The printer stops responding many
> times per day and needs to be power cycled.  Is there a reliable way
> to make this connection?

These devices only do USB 1.1. Have you considered a USB repeater cable
or two. Some of those are very good, I know someone who has run webcams
over greater distances using them.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

When companies ship Styrofoam, what do they pack it in?

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Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} reliable USB extender?

[Grant]

>> I need to connect a Zebra LP2844 USB label printer at about 35 feet
>> from a Gentoo machine.  I got this:
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003L14ZTC
>>
>> but it is proving to be unreliable.  The printer stops responding many
>> times per day and needs to be power cycled.  Is there a reliable way
>> to make this connection?
>
> These devices only do USB 1.1. Have you considered a USB repeater cable
> or two. Some of those are very good, I know someone who has run webcams
> over greater distances using them.


Very cool, thank you.  I will try that for the printer and possibly
for some webcams as well.

- Grant