Maximum length of an ide cable?

markuskj · 07-03-2005, 05:28 PM

Hello guys,

Any thoughts on the max length I could have the CD drive from the PC?

Cheers

Mark

regal · 07-03-2005, 05:35 PM

Hi

The maximum length for an IDE cable allowed by the ATA/IDE Standard is 18 inches; and that is the length of the cable that is supplied with the OnStream drive. In some cases, this 18-inch length may not be long enough to span the distance from the motherboard or IDE controller to the drive bay in which the OnStream drive is being installed. Although it’s possible to obtain or make a custom IDE cable with a length exceeding 18 inches, be aware that the devices attached to such a cable might not operate properly due to noise and/or signal attenuation. Possible problems can include anything from intermittent data errors to the drive not being recognized by the system. OnStream cannot guarantee proper operation for drives that are connected to cables that exceed the 18-inch maximum length.

regal

got2liv4him · 07-03-2005, 05:43 PM

whats an onstream? I thought he was just talking about ide in general...

Telos · 07-03-2005, 05:44 PM

I've had mine up to almost 6 feet working fine. That said, try searching the forums first because there have been several threads on this already.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...ight=ide+cable
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...ight=ide+cable
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...ight=ide+cable
http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/show...ight=ide+cable

regal · 07-03-2005, 06:21 PM

Sorry on-stream drives are like Backup storage or tape drives just stick to the 18” rule for IDE unless you go for USB then I think its 5 meters.

numbers · 07-03-2005, 06:35 PM

I have also seen ones work that were several feet long. The only way to know for sure is to try it and see what happens. A computer repair/parts store should be able to make any length you need.

DarquePervert · 07-03-2005, 07:46 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by got2liv4him

whats an onstream? I thought he was just talking about ide in general...

Onstream was a backup device.
They sucked ***. We sold them as backup devices. Whenever I had to troubleshoot one, every tech would cringe in horror.

Maximum length of the cable according to the official IDE spec is 18 inches. 24 inches is pretty common. Some have made longer cables, even. You can attempt making a longer cable, but I wouldn't recommend it.

markuskj · 07-04-2005, 03:33 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by Telos

I've had mine up to almost 6 feet working fine. That said, try searching the forums first because there have been several threads on this already.

D'oh - you are right - apollogies all round. Thanks to all for the advice, I assumed there was a standard length that shuld not be exceeded. Why do you think that longer IDE cables are available if there is the SNR issue?

Cheers

Mark

numbers · 07-04-2005, 02:27 PM

It's just like any other standard. The idea is to have a .1% problem rate. Go beyond spec and you get a higher chance of error. The chance of error may be only .9% at the longer length, so they make them anyway.

Mad Ad · 07-04-2005, 07:38 PM

Its all about speed- the longer the cable the lower mode youll be able to use, eg instead of say, udma5, you might only be able to run at udma2 at 5 feet (just for example)

markuskj · 07-05-2005, 04:05 AM

Thanks for the advice there guys, very much aprpeciated.

M

Inverse · 07-06-2005, 02:25 AM

SATA or Serial ATA was designed to overcome this problem, simply because as the name suggests, it uses a serial method for data transfer rather than a parallel method that IDE uses. This also explains why USB cables can go further than parallel, because they are wired as serial.

xBrady · 07-06-2005, 02:38 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by regal

Hi

The maximum length for an IDE cable allowed by the ATA/IDE Standard is 18 inches; and that is the length of the cable that is supplied with the OnStream drive. In some cases, this 18-inch length may not be long enough to span the distance from the motherboard or IDE controller to the drive bay in which the OnStream drive is being installed. Although it’s possible to obtain or make a custom IDE cable with a length exceeding 18 inches, be aware that the devices attached to such a cable might not operate properly due to noise and/or signal attenuation. Possible problems can include anything from intermittent data errors to the drive not being recognized by the system. OnStream cannot guarantee proper operation for drives that are connected to cables that exceed the 18-inch maximum length.

regal

I'll go ahead and site that for you: http://www.hastec.nl/support/onstrea...-art-1042.html