Why wont my camera connect to my computer or laptop?

How do I make a working usb extension cord to extend 16 feet to a usb camera to connect to my computer?

• How do I make a working usb extension cord to extend 16 feet to a usb camera to connect to my computer? I have ran a wire with a male usb end on it and a female connecting end at the other end, through my floor to a room below me. everything is wired correctly with the four stranded wire it needs to work.. all i did was cut a small one foot usb extension in half and put a 16 foot four stranded wire to bind the gap in the two ends of the usb wire.. If this is wired correctly, would my camera work to run it on my macbook? i have a built in i sight on this macbook and the software for this laptop is 10.5.8... if i connect my usb camera into my laptop, and turn on photobooth, it will pick up the video live from the camera instead of the built in i sight, and if i unplug the camera, it goes to the i sight... now all i have done is basically put a 16 wire in between the usb port on my laptop to my camera and it wont work... I know it is wired corectly.. but when i plug the camera in 16 feet away, it wont work, though it will light up for a second (the light on it). also i have put a flash drive on the other end of the wire and it has worked.. i think i might have power on the other end but maybe the data is not being transferred.... i know they make 15 foot usb extenders and they work but why cant i run the camera that i know works but wont seem to work on the other end of this wire?? please help..

• Answer:

  If you wired it correctly, and you're lucky, it will work. If not, you'll have to buy a 16 foot USB extension (probably a 25 foot one - they come in discrete lengths). You can't use just any wire, but some 4-wire cables would work.