USB cable extender or amplifier

[jacquesl]

Do anyone here know how to build a USB cable extender or amplifier because 5 meter Max from PC isn’t long enough if you want to use it for Surveillance with High Resolution webcams

And the long 5 meter cables easy get interfered “then the door open or close sometimes, the one running by the garage door motor, and then you must unplug the cam or restart the pc to fix the error.

[chrispenycate]

How long a cable do you require? Here in the studio, with an amplified cable, and powered hub,(both bought in) I've managed an 11 meter run from keyboard to computer. (the computer has to be in a separate, soundproofed room, along with everything else that contains a fan, or makes a noise by any other means)
This is right on the edge of this technology; when the computer crashes, USB problems are frequently involved. Furthermore, the powered hub is essential if you want to power your external devices through the cable: the in-line amplifiers eat a fair amount of the available energy.
Any further than this, and I'd suggest a translator, putting the information into a tougher (generally balanced) format , for example the Gefen range, which use standard cat-5 cable to give 100 meters for USB, screen, or both of these (I'm sure there are other manufacturers.
Logically, fibre-optics (again, powered remote module) are the answer for long distances, but a rapid search didn't come up with anything.

None of this is technology that I, personally, would like to diy.

[jacquesl]

I want it to be usable @ 30meter max maybe less

I personally hate USB because then a device drops out, you must restart the program or unplug the device and plug it back, I use it all for webcams and wow system.exe runs high in CPU if you have a couple of webcams all recording.
I want to use a capture card but then I must get wireless cams and I have one wireless cam and it’s giving me a lot of crap the signal, it’s bad I had to put a monster antenna on my receiver and a 20cm spiral wire wound antenna on the cam it self, it’s one of whose small spy cams @ 50mA

[ssmith]

No idea on how to build one, but there are a variety of specialised off the shelf products that may be useful for you.

Have you checked out these optical USB cables?

They basically transmit the data over a fibre optic cable (and not the grunge from the PC PSU), and have a separate power supply on the device end of the optical cable. They come in VERY long lengths. Prices here.

I first read about these while working on my DDDac - PBurke's site has a description of how he made a cleaner PSU (SLA battery with 5v regulator) fot the device end of the optical cable. I'm thinking of replicating his build, but haven't got round to ordering the cable yet.
One of the advantages with this cable is that when you power down the device end PSU of the optical cable before powering down the device itself, you don't have to restart the PC.

This may be another option, or this one. Though they are quite pricey.
Here is another (pricey) optical option.

Here is another option. The site has some interesting info on the new wireless technology. Prices for their wired stuff here.

Finally, Belkin is also coming out with a wireless USB hub soon. Not sure about range though. Info

here.

Hope some of that helps.

[jacquesl]

Thank nice stuff, but only if the Battery Supply for Optical USB Cable Receiver/Hub had a circuit diagram attached to the website

[jaycee]

Why not just save your time and effort, and buy some ethernet connected cameras ?

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=295 (first thing I got when I googled)

[jacquesl]

Originally posted by jaycee
Why not just save your time and effort, and buy some ethernet connected cameras ?

http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=295 (first thing I got when I googled)

http://www.dlink.com/products/viewOn...?pid=295&sec=0

I don’t have $315.95 to spend on a camera

My cams cost roughly $30 and it’s good enough for my stuff
And the other part is it I want to order, how to I get it. I don’t get responses from the retailers if I ask about a product and how to get it to my home. Because all of the sweat shops are all located in America and I live in South Africa where you almost pay $140 dollar if you want to have ADSL