VGA and USB Extenders - Looking for input

[steve50]

I have 2 ELO 1545L USB touch screens working perfectly on my HTPC with mainlobby software, but need to run the usb cables 25-50' away, and soon to add a 3rd 1545L in my garage that's about 100' away. I already have vga cables ran for this, but if I can get the VGA and the USB signal over cat5's that would work out best.

User 'wireless' pointed out a KVM VGA extender on ebay, but not sure if that's the way to go now being it was posted over 1.5 years ago...

VGA to Cat5 extenders
Mon Jan 26, 2009 7:51 pm
Just installed one of these to replace a defective unit, about a 75 ft. cat5 run. The nice thing is VGA and USB on one cat5 cable. Video quality looks pretty good and the touch screen works well. Fresh install so no data on reliablility yet. Wall wart for the receiver. USB supplies power to the sender
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Remote-KVM-Exte ... m153.l1262

...They look like a good solution to me, so just want to see if anyone can comment on them, or other VGA/USB extenders over cat5 before I shell out the cash to buy 3 of them.

Thanks

[mcascio]

steve50,

The price is right, but I can't comment on how good/bad they work.

I've personally used the Muxlab vga balun combined with a USB over cat5 extender. So two cat5's. Those work great except for when storms are in the area. The screen will go black for a split second every so often...could be minutes or hours. Also, if the power goes out, I'm forced to unplug/plug the usb extender back or reboot the machine to get the touchscreen working again.

[Texsun]

I've had good luck with this item which basically allows you to attach your usb devices to your network and pick them up anywhere you can access ethernet/wifi.

Belkin F5L009 5-Port Network USB Hub

[DaveB]

Steve50:

I also have the exact setup that Mario describes for tow screens in two of my bedrooms. Works great 95% of the time, but is a bit of a PIA to get things moving once more when you have power outages. Just keep all the devices easily accessible. Mine are tucked into the closet for each bedroom. I can reset the MUX's easily. I also installed an electrical outlet in each closet and above the top shelf for easy power up.

Post more questions as you come across something.

[mnkynifefite]

I have been using this USB Extender with my ELO screens for over a year with zero problems.

http://www.amazon.com/IOGear-Ethernet-E ... B000O2X2OA

I have approx. one 35' run and one 25' run. Not sure how they perform with longer distances, but for mine they work great. I had another extender (can't remember the brand) that seemed to lose connectivity all the time...this one doesn't.

[steve50]

I think for my case i may just leave the vga cables setup for now and just add the USB extenders to support the ELO's... The Iogear Ethernet Extender GUCE51 like mnkynifefite is using sounds good. I read somewhere, maybe in the user manual that the 1545L ELO's are usb 1.1, so they should work fine.

Connects with a Cat5, Cat6 / RJ45 Cable
Extends ethernet connections up to 198 feet.
Transparent data extension
Fully compliant with USB 1.0, 1.1 standards.

Will try them first.

Thanks for all the input.

Just an UPDATE...

Couldn't find the IOGEAR USB Extenders locally, so I ended up getting one of the QVS USB extenders from the local Micro Center store... $60 bucks, but it seems to work fine with a 50' cat6 cable. Still need to connect 2 more ELO's so off I go!