[Big Red Machine]

Squeezebox issue:

I want to move my hard drive away from the action because it is noisy.  I can put my laptop right next to my sweetspot on a table and I can surf, etc when I listen to tunes.  So if the hard drive is plugged into the laptop, how far away can I put it before the signal degrades via the USB cable?

[GHM]

You can use an optical USB cable from what I've read and run lengths longer than 20 feet without issue. I wouldn't go much further than 15 feet using the basic USB cable.

Their not cheap, but some guys swear by them..http://industrialcomponent.com/opticis/optusbext.html

[ooheadsoo]

Just use an active repeater (usb hub that requires power.)  Each cable run should be no more than 15ft or so, like GHM stated.  There's a spec out there for USB but I forget exactly what it is.

[WGH]

I run 30' with no problem, but you need a active extension/repeater USB cable.

Monoprice is the best place to get these, their quality is very good too.
http://www.monoprice.com/home/index.asp