StarTech C15012-USB-EXTENDER – 15m Active USB 2.0 Cable with Booster

Overview :

The C15012-USB-EXTENDER is a professional-grade active extension cable designed to overcome the 5-meter (16-foot) distance limitation inherent to standard USB 2.0 passive cables. By utilizing integrated active circuitry to regenerate the USB signal, this cable allows for reliable data transmission up to 15 meters (50 feet) without signal degradation or timing errors. It is an essential component for data centers, classrooms, and industrial environments where peripherals must be located far from the host computer.

Technically, the cable functions as a self-powered 1-port bus, drawing its power directly from the host USB port. It supports the full USB 2.0 specification with data transfer rates up to 480Mbps and is fully backwards compatible with USB 1.1 devices. The active booster chip is located at the female end of the cable, ensuring that the signal is amplified at the point of the device connection to maintain link integrity.

This extension is optimized for “plug-and-play” deployment and requires no additional drivers or software. It is ideal for connecting remote printers, scanners, webcams, or human interface devices (HIDs). For longer distances, up to two of these cables can be daisy-chained to achieve a total reach of 30 meters. It is not recommended for high-power devices that exceed standard USB bus power limits unless the peripheral has its own external power source.

Key Features :

Active signal boosting enables 15m reach without data transmission loss.

Full USB 2.0 480Mbps throughput support for high-speed peripherals.

Bus-powered design requires no external power supply for operation.

Daisy-chain capability allows for extending reach up to 30 meters.

Plug-and-play compatibility ensures seamless setup on all operating systems.