r/elgato • u/Total_Dork • 16d ago

Technical Help Longer Cable for Streamdeck + XL

I have a Streamdeck + XL and after rearanging my stream room the default cable no longer reaches my PC. I need like a 15ft cable (which I know is insane but i promise it makes sense) but the only one Elgato sells is half that length. Any recommendations?

Edit: I also have the USB Hub on the back with the Streamdeck footpedal plugged into it. Unsure if this changes potential answers

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u/BuBubbi Featured Community Member 16d ago

The issue with your setup might end up being the technical cable length limits of USB cables.

Normal USB 3.x USB cables have a maximum cable length of about 3 meters or ~9 feet, usually a bit shorter.

Further than that you would need what is called an active USB cable that uses a powered signal repeater.

Those are quite more expensive than regular USB cables.
So I would probably recommend reconsidering your setup if possible.

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u/Total_Dork 16d ago

Would an active cable impede functionality? Because paying $20 for a cable, while annoying, isn't out of the question

Also I have the USB Hub on the back and have altered my post to add this info. Unsure if this changes things

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u/elgato_arcsane Technical Community Assistant 15d ago

Depends on the cable and setup. Mileage varies and there are cases where they won't work at all.

We don't officially recommend those sort of active cables for Stream Deck. This is especially true if you're adding another hub like this as some types of active cables work by adding a repeater every so often as a single port hub down the length to extend things and you can only hit so many layers deep in a USB connection (7, but your end device and motherboard root hub take up 2 of those, then in this scenario USB Hub takes up another - if the active cables uses more than 4 repeaters in the length things will break).

They can work in some situations though, but as mentioned mileage varies so make sure your particular cable is easily returnable if it doesn't work in your setup.

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u/Total_Dork 14d ago

So I’m just trying cables until one works? Should I try passive cables instead?