USB over twisted pair (CAT5)

[FourDee]

To not further clutter SBK's for sale thread (http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...n-19-quot-rack), let's continue the discussion here.

[andy_con]

how would you get say 6-8 fb3's working over a single cat5 cable

[FourDee]

The Startech extender is the only one that has been tested succesfully with the FB3. It has 4 USB ports, but if you connect a powered USB hub to it, I was told it can support up to 8 FB3s.

I have since learned that the Startech extender is actually made by a company called Icron. Icron also sells under their own brand name.

Coincidence has it that I'm actually in the process of building 2 Peli cases with inbuilt Icron receiver and 4 FB3s per case (see attached pics). I just need to make a couple of flat cables to extend the DB25 connectors.

[andy_con]

looks good but not cheap

[FourDee]

The time and trouble this saves is more than worth the money IMO
(and good that it doesn't look cheap, that's what I was going for )

[andy_con]

agree, just saying for a usb extender its not cheap

[FourDee]

I paid less than €300 for the extender so not all that expensive too.
No point in buying a cheap one if it doesn't work anyway

[andy_con]

indeed why would you buy something that doesn't work

[sbk]

I had really great success with a software-based solution, which converts USB over a standard TCP/IP network : USB Redirector. Well it's not exactly cheap (109 USD for 3 devices), but it works flawlessly, you really doesn't notice the signal goes through a network.

Of course you need two computers, but it was my idea : an small and inexpensive embedded computer in the control rack (with some FB3, router, power distribution etc), and a laptop to the other end, for live shows.

Beyond is installed on both, workspaces are cloud replicated, so both computers are the same => if you don't need much length (just to play a timeline show, etc), you can use the embedded computer with a touchscreen and a keyboard, using the FB3's of the rack with a direct USB connection.

[FourDee]

Sebastien, in your case you could even use the TCP communications in Beyond. Every action you perform on either of the PCs with beyond is replicated on the other PC.