Will a USB 3.0 cable future-proof possible 4G mobile b/b dongles?

Kernel_Sanders

I currently have an occasionally slow 3G connection, but if I buy a 5m USB extention lead I could achieve direct line of sight to a 3 transmitter a couple of km away.
I hope to evenually get a 4G dongle, and a USB 3.0 computer, (but not necessarily at the same time) so will there be any advantage in going for an expensive 3.0 cable?

System

usb 2.0 transfers data @ 480Mbps
I doubt you will be getting a higher speed than that with a 4g dongle so it shouldn't really slow it down...

Kernel_Sanders

OK so a 2.0 cable it is. If I get a much better signal, I'll want to add another 5m cable so I can get a fast signal downstairs too. I realize this will have to be an active one, but is it much cheaper to just buy a 10m cable?

System

you could just get yourself a mi-fi router, which would let you leave it stationary where it gets the best signal, and then connect your computers wirelessly

ubergeek

Usb limit for cable length is 5 metres. I agree with the comment about Mifi, further details http://store.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiFi

Kernel_Sanders

ubergeek wrote: »

Usb limit for cable length is 5 metres. I agree with the comment about Mifi, further details http://store.three.co.uk/Mobile_Broadband/MiFi

I've just bought a 10m USB 2.0 cable this afternoon, so I don't know why they would manufacture such a length if 5m is the maximum.
I already hava a 5GB/month sim-only retention deal and you don't seem to be able to buy the mi-fi without purchasing more data, so £49.99 is obviously not the cheapest way.

System

The USB specification states 5M due to round trip delay problems

USB 2.0 provides for a maximum cable length of 5 meters for devices running at Hi Speed (480 Mbit/s). The primary reason for this limit is the maximum allowed round-trip delay of about 1.5 μs. If USB host commands are unanswered by the USB device within the allowed time, the host considers the command lost. When adding USB device response time, delays from the maximum number of hubs added to the delays from connecting cables, the maximum acceptable delay per cable amounts to 26 ns.The USB 2.0 specification requires cable delay to be less than 5.2 ns per meter (192,000 km/s, which is close to the maximum achievable transmission speed for standard copper wire).

USB 3 doesn't specify a maximum length but due to the data rates 3M is considered to be the maximum usable length