Are you looking for a printer cable? We tested different types of printer cables in various lengths. You can also opt for a USB extension cable to extend your standard printer cable. Please note that a standard USB cable is suitable for a distance of up to five meters. If you want to bridge a longer distance, choose a printer cable with an amplifier. Do you have an old printer with a parallel, serial or Centronics connection? With have listed cables with which you can connect these printers to the USB connection of your laptop or PC.
Printers come in different shapes and sizes and also for different purposes. This is also the reason that there are different ways with which you connect the printer. Some models only connect wirelessly, so no further cables are needed, and other types require multiple cables. Many printers require a printer cable that you connect to USB. This cable is almost never standard in the box with the printer. Read carefully which cables are and which are not needed, so that you are not faced with surprises.
Best Printer Cables
USB Printer cable
Every modern printer is equipped with a USB connection. Via this connection, the printer can easily be connected to your PC or laptop with a cable. Many printers come standard with a USB cable. Unfortunately, this is usually a cheap and short cable, so you can only set up your printer close to your computer. To be able to set up your printer in the desired location, you often need a longer printer cable.
There are two solutions to connect your printer with a longer cable. Which solution is the most convenient depends on your situation and, above all, on the total length of cable required. You can buy a whole new cable. This is in almost all cases the best and most elegant solution. It is important to pay attention to the connection of your printer. In almost all cases this is the square USB-B connection. If your printer has a different connection or a fixed cable, choose the second method: a USB extension cable. The advantage of an extension cable is that it always fits because you simply extend the existing cable.
Maximum Printer Cable length
With a long printer cable and especially when using a USB extension cable, it is important to pay attention to the total length of the cable. With USB 2.0, the defined maximum length at which everything still works properly is 5 meters. A cable that is too long can cause connection problems between your computer and the printer. These are the problems that can be caused by a printer cable that is too long:
- Your PC or laptop reports that the printer is not connected, even though it is properly connected and turned on
- Your PC or laptop can see your printer, but as soon as you want to print you will receive unclear error messages
- Your printer prints well one time, but not the next. If you want to connect your printer with a printer cable and you need a cable of more than five meters, there is a simple solution. With the USB printer cable with built-in amplifier you can bridge a much greater distance without any problems. You can choose a variant with amplifier with the standard USB-A and -B connections or for a USB extension cable with amplifier
Special printer cable
In addition to the standard variant with USB-A and -B connector, you can also check out a number of special types available at Amazon UK store. These cables are especially useful when you want to connect older, still functioning printers. The USB to serial cable is a cable that is suitable for connecting older printers with a serial RS 232 port to a modern USB port of a laptop or PC. This cable has a built-in chip that ensures correct conversion of the serial signal. The cable has a DB9 connection and comes with a DB9 to DB25 converter.
Note: the signal remains serial. The USB to Parallel 25 pin plug is a cable suitable for connecting a printer with a parallel DB25 connector. The USB to Centronics cable has a 36-pin printer plug, also known as a blue ribbon. If you look inside the plug, you will see a “blue band” of contacts. In the past, this was the most commonly used standard for connecting printers. With a USB to Centronics cable you can easily connect your old printer to a USB connector of your laptop or PC.
