gecko drive location

hello everyone,

this is a great group and i am happy to have found it. I am currently
interested in retrofitting a 5'x10' 3 axis router table using the
gecko servo drives. we have been using another setup where the
controller and drivers where located in one box. the motor cables and
encoder cables could be as long as 15 to 25 feet. using differential
line drivers on the encoders worked very well. however, using the
gecko servo would anyone suggest either mounting the drives close to
the motors keeping the encoder lines short and the step and direction
cables long OR mounting the drives in one box with short step and
direction cables and long encoder and motor power cables.

also, is there any further development news on the gecko 2002 usb
unit? it sounds like the way of the future.

thanks again for your time and expertise.