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kutulu · 07-07-2009, 10:03 AM

My last step for my computer was to get a wireless mouse and keyboard so that I can load movies and control the media player. For a while I was considering getting a remote control but I couldn't find one that worked well with VLC media player and even then the functionality is very limited. Why spend $100 on a remote when I could just get a wireless keyboard/mouse for half the price? I bought a combo that was supposed to work up to 30 feet but it didn't work very well near the TV. It is pretty close to that 30 ft threshold and is also blocked by a wall.

I did some research and came to the conclusion that the easiest thing to do would be to just extend a USB cable from the computer to an area near the TV and I can plug the wireless reciever into that.

I went to Fry's electronics to get what I needed. The guy that works that department tells me I either need to get powered USB hubs and connect them with 3 meter cables or to get a kit that converts the USB to CAT5 and run a CAT5 cable over the distance (about 40 feet if I go through the attic). The powered hubs are like $20 each and the cables are $6 each ($84 total). The USB to CAT5 converter is $40, and a 50-ft CAT5 cable is $20 (this option probably isn't USB 2.0 compliant either). Another option would be to buy a wireless USB hub and a router. This would have been well over $100. I decided to do more research because that all sounded ridiculous.

So I do some more checking and on monoprice I found 5 meter USB repeaters that act like hubs and regenerate the signal after each connection. They can be chained together for a max length of about 150 ft. Even better, they are only $8 each and if you live in AZ, overnight shipping is only $8.50 (vs. about $6 for USPS priority mail). I got them this morning before I left for work and they work perfectly.

Thanks for nothing, Fry's. Again, monoprice kicks ass.

/I also got a 0.5-m SATA cable for $0.82 vs about $3 at Fry's and there was no additional cost for shipping.

07-07-2009, 10:03 AM	#29 (permalink)
kutulu Junkie	My last step for my computer was to get a wireless mouse and keyboard so that I can load movies and control the media player. For a while I was considering getting a remote control but I couldn't find one that worked well with VLC media player and even then the functionality is very limited. Why spend $100 on a remote when I could just get a wireless keyboard/mouse for half the price? I bought a combo that was supposed to work up to 30 feet but it didn't work very well near the TV. It is pretty close to that 30 ft threshold and is also blocked by a wall. I did some research and came to the conclusion that the easiest thing to do would be to just extend a USB cable from the computer to an area near the TV and I can plug the wireless reciever into that. I went to Fry's electronics to get what I needed. The guy that works that department tells me I either need to get powered USB hubs and connect them with 3 meter cables or to get a kit that converts the USB to CAT5 and run a CAT5 cable over the distance (about 40 feet if I go through the attic). The powered hubs are like $20 each and the cables are $6 each ($84 total). The USB to CAT5 converter is $40, and a 50-ft CAT5 cable is $20 (this option probably isn't USB 2.0 compliant either). Another option would be to buy a wireless USB hub and a router. This would have been well over $100. I decided to do more research because that all sounded ridiculous. So I do some more checking and on monoprice I found 5 meter USB repeaters that act like hubs and regenerate the signal after each connection. They can be chained together for a max length of about 150 ft. Even better, they are only $8 each and if you live in AZ, overnight shipping is only $8.50 (vs. about $6 for USPS priority mail). I got them this morning before I left for work and they work perfectly. Thanks for nothing, Fry's. Again, monoprice kicks ass. /I also got a 0.5-m SATA cable for $0.82 vs about $3 at Fry's and there was no additional cost for shipping.