Epson 3880 and Lightroom problems, probably USB cable issue

[tsinsf]

I print with an Epson 3880 using LR. In the past, it acted very erratically (not printing the size photo I entered in LR) and discovered the problem was that I was using a 3 foot USB extension connected to my 10 foot USB A to B cord (necessary because of distance from computer to printer). When I got rid of the extension, the problem went away (Epson states that 10 feet is the maximum cord length to use). After two years of trouble free printing, the problem has started again, although with less frequency. I am wondering if I used an active USB cord if that would help, but unfortunately can't find a 10 foot active USB A to B cord. Anybody know where to find one, or even if they make them? I would prefer not to print using ethernet...

[BobShaw]

5m active USB cables are readily available on ebay and at electronics shops.

[tsinsf]

Thank you for the reply. I really only need 10 feet and don't know anything about how effective active cords are in negating the effects of increasing length. Would that extra five feet (15 verses 15 feet) be irrelevant with an active cord?

[BobShaw]

Only that 3m or 10' cords are generally not active and you get problems with them. If you could buy a 3m active cord then that would probably be fine too.
I had the 3880 and it was USB2 I think so it should not be a problem. If you get USB3 at some stage then even the general active cables don't work. You need something like Tether Tools cables.

The problems of wrong size are not the cable I expect. Mirage Print fixes that. Usually cable problems are that it just stops mid print.