Deploying space probes-which way?

please excuse my ignorance!

When we send probes into space to send back information,we obviously send them off in different directions,so that they report information back on different areas of space.

does anyone know

1.how many have officially been sent?
2.how far away can they send information back from before there out of range?
3.how fast does the average probe travel at?
4.How far away at present is the furthest probe we have sent?

Thanks ATS people.

1:
By date: www.solarviews.com...
By planet: www.solarviews.com...

2: As far as their power supplies provide sufficient power. (of course receivers sensity also affects to it)


3: Escape velocity from Earth is 11km/s so that's minimum speed they need before they can even start to travel towards other solar system bodies.
Fastest probe: 252,800 km/h (158,000 mph) or about 70 km/s

www.guinnessworldrecords.com...

4: Pioneers are farthest probes currently but Voyagers are going faster so they eventually catch up Pioneers.
spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov...

voyager.jpl.nasa.gov...
voyager.jpl.nasa.gov...

hypertextbook.com...

Thanks mate,more than enough info,cheers