Is Cat5 and USB "compatible"? Sensible, even?!

[chim_knee]

Hi All,

My Freeview set top box has a PVR and a USB output port (its the Humax 9200T). I'm wondering whether this would be possible:

(Lounge) PVR USB output -> USB cable with USB-to-RJ45 converter -> RJ45 Wallsocket -> Cat5 UTP (underfloor) -> (dining room) RJ45 Wallsocket -> USB cable with RJ45-to-USB converter -> PC USB connector.

I hope that makes sense, but basically I want to join my STB with my PC, using the available USB ports, but use Cat5 and RJ45 wallsockets to bridge the distance.

It doesn't have to be RJ45 & Cat5 at all - that's just what I've assumed. Unless anyone has more knowledge/information?

Thanks kindly.
Phil.

[robbieduncan]

That will, basically, not work. The USB<->RJ54 "cables" you see are USB ethernet adators. Unless your setop box has drivers for this and is willing to talk TCP/IP and they have provided drivers to turn this back into the expected signal on your PC this will not stand any chance of working at all.

Can you not get repeaters for USB?

Edit: Yes you can: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0000A03JW/202-5650640-0191855?v=glance&n=560798

Edited by robbieduncan on Monday 31st July 17:33

[chim_knee]

Cool - thanks for that. I also wanted a way to make the cables off, all nice an'at. I think I've found some USB wallplates.

If anyone's used them, are they fairly simple to set-up/connect?

Cheers,
Phil

[aldi]

Unless you're talking about USB extenders - like the VGA extenders you can get that allow you to transmit VGA over cat5, but for USB? I havent personally seen such devices but I suppose that doesnt mean they don't exist.

If that's the case, go for it, the world's your oyster, if you stay within the spec of the extenders.

Edit: Like this, woohoo: www.nti1.co.uk/usbc5.html

Edited by aldi on Monday 31st July 18:24

[BliarOut]

Distance is going to be the killer, you need something active to boost the signal. A quick Google reveals something like this

www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=48549&doy=31m7&C=SEO&U=strat15

Useful?

[Plotloss]

That will work, over a certain distance as loss does play a part.

The USB>Cat5 converters just use the Cat5 cable as conductors so its just another wire.

I've heard reports of them being patchy though to be honest.

As for the USB wallplates whats on the back of them? IDC punchdowns or RJ45 sockets or female USB?

Either way its going to be piss for a man of your calibre, just a little more fiddly if they are IDC's

If they are female USB then you'll have to hide the USB>Cat5 balun behind the faceplate which means deep backboxes if its brick and plaster or just hiding them in the void if its plasterboard.

Edited by Plotloss on Monday 31st July 19:29

[chim_knee]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Plotloss said:

The USB>Cat5 converters just use the Cat5 cable as conductors so its just another wire.

That was my thinking/what I was trying to say re:USB to Cat5

Plotloss said:

As for the USB wallplates whats on the back of them? IDC punchdowns or RJ45 sockets or female USB?

They're F USB Type A. I can buy them with 2, 3 or 5m cables hanging out of the back. I think it's just a matter of joining two of these up. The site is Search on "50-5008"

Plotloss said:

If they are female USB then you'll have to hide the USB>Cat5 balun behind the faceplate which means deep backboxes if its brick and plaster or just hiding them in the void if its plasterboard.

brick and plaster unfortunately but it will be behind stuff so a backbox doesn't matter greatly.

[Plotloss]

If the plates have long tails get them as long as you need to get to a floorboard level, depending on whether you are chasing up from the floor or down from the ceiling and stick the CAT5>USB Balun in the floorboard void.

Obviates the need for massive back boxes that way.

[chim_knee]

Plotloss said:

If the plates have long tails get them as long as you need to get to a floorboard level, depending on whether you are chasing up from the floor or down from the ceiling

Will do.

Plotloss said:

CAT5>USB Balun

Whassat then?

Cheers for the help/info.

[BliarOut]

Wouldn't Aldi's suggestion be better?

aldi said:

Unless you're talking about USB extenders - like the VGA extenders you can get that allow you to transmit VGA over cat5, but for USB? I havent personally seen such devices but I suppose that doesnt mean they don't exist.

If that's the case, go for it, the world's your oyster, if you stay within the spec of the extenders.

Edit: Like this, woohoo: www.nti1.co.uk/usbc5.html

Edited by aldi on Monday 31st July 18:24

If you go hard wired USB it's gonna be a lot less flexible in the future, plus with those devices you are getting the signal boosted. The only variable is price, I couldn't see one for those.

[Plotloss]

chim_knee said:

Plotloss said:

CAT5>USB Balun

Whassat then?

Cheers for the help/info.

The thing that converts the USB wire schema to the Cat5e wire schema.

Its what aldi posted, you need them at either end of the Cat5e to convert the USB to Cat5e whatever face plates you use.

[BliarOut]

Ah, I can see the confusion. Chimmers, you need to do the building wiring as Cat5 and then just plug in those USB extenders as per Aldi's suggestion. You don't want USB wiring in the walls/floors.