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Good day, everybody. I know, that this theme (about long USB cables) was discussed many times on different resources, but my question still keeps uncovered.

The task is typical: my PC is in one room, my TV is in another. I want to play on my TV (by using joystick) or control my PC by using TV as monitor. The distance between PC and TV about 8 meters. As you probably knows, USB cables has a distance limitation of 5 meters. I seen (and already ordered a pair) adapter USB - RJ45 - USB. But, unfortunately, I couldn't find this kind of an adapter that will support USB 2.0, only USB 1.1. Well, I found a few, but they costs too much - from 50$.

Then I found long USB cables which are called active (with IC on one of the ends), it looks as following: 1

But there a lot of suggestion to not to use it with power consumable devices, only for something simple, like mouse. So, this doesn't fit my requirments, so here is what I would like to do: PC - active USB cable (10m)- active USB hub (that has it's own power adapter) - USB devices.

This way, I think, the energy loss because of long USB cable will be restored by active USB hub. So, everyone tried this kind of a connection scheme? Will this work?

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  • So, Where to ask such questions on stackexcange? I couldn't find anything more related than Hardware Recommendations. If it's not "Hardware Recommendations", so what it is?
    – Billy Z.
    Feb 20, 2016 at 16:46
  • It's not a hardware recommendation because you're not asking us to recommend a piece of hardware.
    – ArtOfCode
    Feb 20, 2016 at 22:21
  • I changed the title. It sounds better now. And where to ask such questions on stackexcange if not here?
    – Billy Z.
    Feb 21, 2016 at 8:14
  • You haven't changed the question though, you're still asking the same thing.
    – ArtOfCode
    Feb 21, 2016 at 10:49
  • Okay, asking third time: Where to ask such questions on stackexcange if not here?
    – Billy Z.
    Feb 22, 2016 at 11:06

1 Answer 1

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You're right: it'll work as long as the last hub will be a powered one. Remember that you have only 5 hops 5 meter cables which gives 20m tops (because last hop is from hub to USB keyboard/gamepad.

IMHO buying "active" cables is pointless, you'll be better of buying few regular, 4-port hubs and 5-meter cables.

But this all is unnecessary hassle: have you tried using wireless keyboard, mouse and joypad? They usually work very good over several meters and walls at home. If they don't, use one usb cable to position receiver better, this does the trick in most cases.

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    Please don't answer off-topic questions.
    – ArtOfCode
    Feb 19, 2016 at 12:27

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