What is the approx max distance away that you can operate your PC?

Big.Wayne

Big.Wayne

Big.Wayne

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Hi,

I just wondering how far away from where you sit can you place your PC? I'm not talking using it remotely via a thin-client but actually using it for stuff like gaming etc?

I'm thinking that the main factors involved would be . .

  • USB Cable length for Keyboard/Mouse (maybe external optical drive)
  • Monitor Cable length (DVI/HDMI?)
  • eSata Cable length (maybe for faster storage connection that USB)
Anyone have any experience of this?
 
Monitor size could be one of the primary ones if you are talking about distance, my wireless mouse could pretty easily cope with 20' away (if perhaps with a bit of lag) but my eyesight wouldn't be anywhere near good enough.

Why would you need eSATA if the hard drive will be in the PC? If I'm understanding you right you want to have monitor, keyboard and mouse (perhaps also optical drive) in a different place to the PC itself - the hard drive would stay where it is in that scenario normally.

You'd have to be aware of possible signal degredation on very long monitor cable runs (not sure about USB mice/keyboards but I suppose signal loss might come into it) although you can get repeaters to somewhat negate the issue - not cheap from what I know of them but you do want something unusual.
 
erm, CD drive ability will be gone if you manage to get really long mouse/kb and monitor cable..

USB cd drive+ 10m usb cable extension = solved..

you thinking to have your pc somewhere random and rout the cables so you basically just have a monitor that somehow works? but no noise whatsoever
 
platinum87 said:
erm, CD drive ability will be gone if you manage to get really long mouse/kb and monitor cable..
Click to expand...

I've got a fishing rod which I've adapted at the end to hold things so I can press the cd button and load a cd while 30 foot across the other side of the room.
I've only got a 14" monitor so I can't see what I'm doing on screen.
 
DVI is 5m minimum by spec but usually good up to 10m, eSATA is 2m, USB2 is 5m.
With DVI you can get powered repeaters and for USB2 chaining powered hubs will allow you to extend things.
 
usb to cat5 will easily do upto 90m run it into a hub which you run your external optical drive, kb, mouse, any other eternal usb device from. monitor is more tricky. hdmi 15m max, dvi is tied into your resolution... 1600x1200 is optimum at around 1m but you can run dvi over cat5 also. prolli thinking a few gigga ports would be helpfull.
 
My PC base unit is around 2 metres away, with long usb leads for the mouse keyboard and optical drives. My monitor cables also reach which is nice...

The further away it is, the less I can hear it whirring away... ;)
 
semi-pro waster said:
Why would you need eSATA if the hard drive will be in the PC? If I'm understanding you right you want to have monitor, keyboard and mouse (perhaps also optical drive) in a different place to the PC itself - the hard drive would stay where it is in that scenario normally.
Click to expand...
It's not a real *need* but more *would like* :)

The reason being I am toying with idea to keep a lot of data offline (I am an eco-friendly power conscious user). This data is actually DVD Rips that I am considering storing on external hard-disks fitted in removable caddies and use them as *pseudo* VHS cassettes! I don't see the need to have all my DATA online and powered at all times when I could easily just *plug-in* a cassette.

I think USB will do but for HD content I think the extra speed of eSata may prove desirable not to mention transfer speed if copying data etc
 
platinum87 said:
you thinking to have your pc somewhere random and rout the cables so you basically just have a monitor that somehow works? but no noise whatsoever
Click to expand...
Hi, no not random I have a spare room in my flat that appears to be about 7-10°C cooler than other areas of my home.

And I am in the process of remoddling where I live, from my recent time travel excursions it appears the computer is transparent in the future i.e You can interact with it, benefit from all its functions but you can't actually see it :eek:

I'm just trying to copy a set-up I saw in the year 2018 but using present day means! ;)
 
dmpoole said:
I've got a fishing rod which I've adapted at the end to hold things so I can press the cd button and load a cd while 30 foot across the other side of the room
Click to expand...
Awesome! :)

Imagine if you lived on a boat or close to a lake/sea, you could catch your supper after loading the CD! :eek: All from the comfort of your armchair! :D
 
I have PCs up in the attic

VGA cable = 10m
DVI cable = 10m
USB cables - 5m x 2 (some with powered hubs providing extension, some are self powered special extension cables)
PS2 = 20m
Sound = 10m

Never had a single problem with any of it
 
AbsenceJam said:
DVI is 5m minimum by spec but usually good up to 10m

eSATA is 2m

USB2 is 5m.

With DVI you can get powered repeaters and for USB2 chaining powered hubs will allow you to extend things.
Click to expand...
TheMorningStar said:
usb to cat5 will easily do upto 90m run it into a hub which you run your external optical drive, kb, mouse, any other eternal usb device from. monitor is more tricky. hdmi 15m max, dvi is tied into your resolution... 1600x1200 is optimum at around 1m but you can run dvi over cat5 also. prolli thinking a few gigga ports would be helpfull.
Click to expand...

Great replies thanks, that gives me something to work with!

Hmm is seems eSata is the shortest interface, may have to look into a NAS or something similar then as the distance is approx 14 metres.
 
Big.Wayne said:
It's not a real *need* but more *would like* :)

The reason being I am toying with idea to keep a lot of data offline (I am an eco-friendly power conscious user). This data is actually DVD Rips that I am considering storing on external hard-disks fitted in removable caddies and use them as *pseudo* VHS cassettes! I don't see the need to have all my DATA online and powered at all times when I could easily just *plug-in* a cassette.

I think USB will do but for HD content I think the extra speed of eSata may prove desirable not to mention transfer speed if copying data etc
Click to expand...

I see, but what I mean is why not just connect the eSATA drive(s) to the computer as and when necessary by moving the 14m or whatever to the PC instead of trying to jerry-rig a 14m connection cable or buying expensive NAS rather than just walking to the PC?
 
Um the room in question is down a set of stairs and it would be better in every way to be able to plug the disks straight into the wall next to the screen.

I am on a limited budget but I reckon having an Optical drive and a caddy mounted flush into a wall is very doable, I had no idea on cable lengths and such so am glad for the advice from all.
 
Big.Wayne said:
I think USB will do but for HD content I think the extra speed of eSata may prove desirable not to mention transfer speed if copying data etc
Click to expand...

The highest bitrate stuff has spikes up to 50Mb/s, USB2 can sustain 240Mb/s. :)
But yes for copying it takes more than twice as long, there's Firewire 800 though, that's a bit faster and you can daisy chain it as well.
 
Thanks all, so this is where we are at:

  • DVI= 5m to 10m but can be extended using powered repeaters
  • HDMI= ??
  • eSATA is 2m
  • USB2= 5 metres each length but can be extended with hubs?
  • Firewire800= ?? and can be extended
 
I have one screen at work thats has a 50m VGA cable between it and the computer.

Got another screen thats at the far South end of my work building but the computer is at the far North side. Well might have north and south wrong but you get the idea. Distance isnt a problem. Just use covert box's to send VGA or what ever down cat5.
 
Big.Wayne said:
Thanks all, so this is where we are at:

  • DVI= 5m to 10m but can be extended using powered repeaters
  • USB2= 5 metres each length but can be extended with hubs?
Click to expand...

DVI = 10m for sure

USB - you can get USB cables (5m i think) that have powered repeaters built into the cable, that takes power from itself.. very good, i use a lot of them
 
thanks again all.

It seems getting a *High Quality* signal to the display is the problem now?

I'm kinda thinking of getting myself a HD TV jobbie and I think that will need an HDMI cable to make the best of it although it may be able to connect via DVI?

I think HDMI is a better interface right (for HD content?)

Oops I forgot about audio! :o

I guess if using the TVs built in speakers HDMI will do but if wanting a descreet solution is there any limit on normal speaker wire?
 
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