Are 'USB' cables truly reversible?

[Marjorie Proops]

Numpty question;

I have 4 peripherals going into a PC via a '4 into 1' USB connector.

Can I reverse that at the other end?

i.e. Put a '1 to 4' coming out of each peripheral printer or whatever as well as the PC's so that several PC's (and Macs) can share several peripherals all via USB hubs.

I know that there are other ways but this is what I would like if possible.

Will I blow up the house?

Steve

 

[Aidan1150]

In theory you can have up to 127 items daisy chained via USB.

HTH

 

[AberdeenAngus]

You can't connect multiple PC's using USB.
You need a router/hub and network cables. Or use wireless networking.

 

[Marjorie Proops]

You can't connect multiple PC's using USB.
You need a router/hub and network cables. Or use wireless networking.

I get that bit - I don't want to connect the pc's (x2) to the printers (x2) but the printers only have one USB connection - therefore can I simply 'reverse' the standard '1 into 4' USB expander that comes into the pc (to take 4 peripherals) and simply fit a '4 into 1' USB connector so that (in effect) 4 pc's are connected permanently to the printer to share it?

If so, presumably I can connect 2 x pc's to 2 x printers (One printer is A4, One is A3) and just choose which printer to use on either pc by selecting 'choose printer' in the print menu

I do not want to connect the PC's themselves - in fact, for security purposes, that's why I want to do it this way rather than via a hub or wireless etc.

 

[shugie]

I get that bit - I don't want to connect the pc's (x2) to the printers (x2) but the printers only have one USB connection - therefore can I simply 'reverse' the standard '1 into 4' USB expander that comes into the pc (to take 4 peripherals) and simply fit a '4 into 1' USB connector so that (in effect) 4 pc's are connected permanently to the printer to share it?

If so, presumably I can connect 2 x pc's to 2 x printers (One printer is A4, One is A3) and just choose which printer to use on either pc by selecting 'choose printer' in the print menu

I do not want to connect the PC's themselves - in fact, for security purposes, that's why I want to do it this way rather than via a hub or wireless etc.

You can only connect one PC to a printer, although you can connect more than one printer, or whatever to one PC. The PC supplies power via USB, so if you connect two PCs to one hub you get power from 2 PCs arriving in the one place, and if one has a slightly different voltage to another, I would think a current might flow an undesirable direction.

You can get plenty of security sharing PCs over ethernet, but it does take some fiddling.

 

[Fanum]

Yes you can, but not with the kit you've got.

Here ya go...I'm not going to embed it 'cos it's got a really irritating twat talking with a stupid accent and the video autostarts, but it explains it and whats available.

A trip to Maplins may be in order


http://www.usbswitch.com/

 

[Marjorie Proops]

You can only connect one PC to a printer, although you can connect more than one printer, or whatever to one PC. The PC supplies power via USB, so if you connect two PCs to one hub you get power from 2 PCs arriving in the one place, and if one has a slightly different voltage to another, I would think a current might flow an undesirable direction.

You can get plenty of security sharing PCs over ethernet, but it does take some fiddling.

My USB 4 into 1 splitter says 'self powered', has a power supply of its own, and a little red light that indicates (red actually ) when said power is on.

 

[shugie]

My USB 4 into 1 splitter says 'self powered', has a power supply of its own, and a little red light that indicates (red actually ) when said power is on.

If you don't connect the power supply, it will probably still work running on the 5V power carried by the USB lead from the PC, although if you connect two PCs to it while it has power connected I doubt anything untoward will happen. As long as you remember to disconnect the power from that last.

But if you have .1V difference between the 5V power supplies in 2 PCs connected to that splitter when its power supply is disconnected, then you might have 10W+ looking for a home. Not a lot of power in the scheme of things but enough to fry a quarter watt resistor.

Although the device Fanum recommends is probably a tidy enough solution, or one of these, when they get them http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabID=1&criteria=usb&ModuleNo=25600&C=SO&U=Strat15