Help needed with extending USB for MCE Remote

TRHR · **6th July 2005, 05:49 PM**

Hi Everyone,

I've setup a MCE PC for a mate where the PC is in the study and the video and audio has been ported out about 15metres to the TV in the lounge. This earlier thread tells you a bit more about the configuration.

Advice needed for parts for new MCE PC.

Audio and Video are working fine, But I just can't seem to extend USB out 15metres to the lounge properly. At the moment it's extended via Cat5e through the walls to the lounge, but it's just not working. It's connected like so:
Homemade male USB to ethernet cable/plugged into ethernet wall socket/cat5e cable through walls and ceiling to lounge/ethernet wall socket in lounge/homemade ethernet to female USB plug/MCE Remote USB reciever plugged into that.

I've tried it with a powered hub as others have stated in the forums, but it's just not working. Is it the problem of so many cables daisy-chained together that it's not working? Would it work if i just had a long extension cable made out of cat5e and had the remote receiver plugged directly into that?

I've read that Matt from www.mediacentre.net.au
and Jewfish have extended USB via CAt5/5e/6 over this sorta distance fine in these threads: Any ideas on storing MCE box in another room?
Jewfish's MCE setup

So it can be done, but I'm missing something here. I wonder if these guys are using a usb to utp/stp extender like this one: https://www.lindy.com.au/online/arrs...rue&item=42801
their posts don't say anything about it, but maybe they are??

Anyone with any advice or anything to help solve this would be great.

P.S. As a last resort I know I could go for a IR wireless extender like this one: http://www1.jaycar.com.au/productVie...Max=&SUBCATID=

But I'd rather have USB working properly, can then hookup other things out in the lounge.

Thanks again, hopefully this thread will help out a bunch of people with the same problem.

TRHR · **9th July 2005, 02:24 PM**

No one has any sorta idea yet?

I'm going to make a long usb cable outta cat5e this weekend and see how that goes, but I don't think it'll work somehow.

Anyone who's extended USB via cat5/5e/6 please, pretty please, let me know how you did it.

I'm going to post my results as I go, but In the end, I think I'm going to have to buy a $120 utp/stp extender cable thingy like I said lindy sell in my post.

darkmenace · **11th July 2005, 02:00 PM**

I thought USB cables had a limit of about 2 metres before they crapped out???

Sambooka · **11th July 2005, 04:13 PM**

Hi TRHR,

Lindy sell a USB CAT5 extender here that will go to 50M. Normally the distance is pretty limited as DM mentioned.

Cheers

Sambooka

decklus · **11th July 2005, 04:55 PM**

USB 1.1 - 10feet
USB 2.0 - 15feet

specks90 · **12th July 2005, 09:32 AM**

I am using a five metre booster cable together with 3 x 5 metre USB cables and no problem.