wireless USB "cable"
Gandalf Greybeard wrote 01/11/2016 at 21:16 • 0 pointsI want to build a wireless USB "cable" for a printer. It would have a dongle at each end, communicate by RF, and would totally mimic a wired cable. It would have to have 2 way communication, as I know USB has. Bluetooth? or Wi-Fi? or another? What modules would you start with to do this easily and inexpensively? ESP8266? Uno? Other?
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For the hacker way to do it, I know two boards adruino compatible with RF capabilities:
the Moteino-USB (http://lowpowerlab.com/moteino/) and the Jeenode with the jeelink http://www.digitalsmarties.net/products/jeelink
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You might be able to find a product like this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimited-Wireless-Transmitter-Receiver/dp/B0036VNZHA
Though I'd recommend you use something like this instead as it'll be more compatible:
http://www.tp-link.com.au/products/details/cat-4759_TL-WPS510U.html
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Bluetooth was designed as a wireless replacement for usb, so that may be your best bet.
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You'll need a usb host on the printer end and a usb "device" on the computer end and some wireless protocol in between. I suspect you'll have serious issues with the latency and packet loss over whatever wireless medium you choose.
The full USB spec can be found here:
http://www.usb.org/developers/docs/
If you're looking for a solution rather than a challenge I suggest you get a cheap linux box with wifi and set it up as a print server.
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