HDMI and USB over CAT6

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D.W

725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#204565 7-Oct-2016 09:04

I'm wanting to connect my 1440p monitor and usb keyboard/mouse to a PC across the living room, will be around 18-20m cable length.

Has anyone had success with any particular HDBaseT converter units? Or found one reasonably priced that handles both ethernet and USB? Needs to be spec'ed to handle 4K to ensure 1440p is easily achievable and futureproof for 4K.

reven

3743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1647099 7-Oct-2016 10:01

usb is harder than hdmi. not many companies doing usb over ethernet. I bought some device from ebay that work well sometimes (when theyre working theyre great, but if you turn the computer off or disconnect them, they can be a PITA to reconnect).

hdmi over cat6 ive had great success with 1080p and 3D 1080p but havent tried any resolution above that (didnt have anything that supported greater resolution). the hdmi base t single units are pretty cheap (also bought from ebay), and work over cat6. if you want to future proof yourself and cable is going in the wall, get a cat6a or cat7 cable. you can easily replace the hdmi base t unit later if needed.

for USB I recommend running a long active USB cable if possible. if not there are other things like virtualhere which is a client/server setup which makes a USB device plugged into the server appear as a local device plugged into the client.

richms

28168 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1647120 7-Oct-2016 10:28

I have run USB 1.1 over cat5 for about 15m. Had to put a crappy 1.1 hub on the far end or it would try to negoitate usb 2.0 and fail. Basic keyboard and mouse are fine thru it..

I just chopped up a USB cable and used one pair for the data (green since it matched) and paralleld the other 3 up for power so more area so less voltage drop.

When I tried a logitech wheel on it then things got really dodgey, I am guessing because it was powered so made a ground loop.

Richard rich.ms

D.W

725 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1647123 7-Oct-2016 10:36

Thanks for replies.

I see Computer Dynamics do a USB 2.0 extender for around $97+GST (and a USB 1.1 extender for around $16+GST). If it means I have to get a 1.1 hub I might just try the 2.0 extender. I really want to avoid running pre-made cables so I don't have to drill larger holes to fit the plugs through along with the cable when I'm routing it through the ceiling.

The HDMI receiver and transmitter appear to be around $200+GST, looking at this one currently which is rated to handle 4K: http://cdlnz.com/hdmi100/hdmi150/HDMI513KIT

wellygary

8312 posts

Uber Geek

#1647127 7-Oct-2016 10:39

You could always go down the long range wireless keyboard and mouse option,

It might be slightly more expensive, but you would end up with much more freedom of movement around the room...

http://www.wireless-computing.com/