Long-distance USB hub

chrismox · 15 Apr 2019 at 23:41

I’m setting up my lounge HTPC/gaming PC in a cupboard in the utility room next to my lounge. The motivation is to have less clutter in the lounge and no noise.

The plan is to have a USB hub behind the TV in the lounge into which I can plug various receivers for my remote, keyboard, gaming controllers etc. None of the devices need anything more sophisticated than USB 2.0.

The cable distance might be stretching the limit of USB 2.0 (15 feet, I believe) and having a number of devices plugged in means I’m expecting to have a powered USB hub.

So, if I use a powered USB hub, can the cable between the PC and the hub be longer than 15 feet?

And does a hub with a long cable exist or will I have to be creative?

Many thanks.

Quartz · 16 Apr 2019 at 00:19

chrismox said:
So, if I use a powered USB hub, can the cable between the PC and the hub be longer than 15 feet?

You want an Active Cable. USB 2 active cables are cheap - a bit over a tenner - and you can get a 10 metre cable with a 4 port hub on the end. An alternative is a pair of adapters that convert USB to ethernet and back.

chrismox · 16 Apr 2019 at 00:31

The active cable hub seems like the answer. I’ll go looking, thanks.

WantoN · 16 Apr 2019 at 07:15

chrismox said:
The active cable hub seems like the answer. I’ll go looking, thanks.

Monoprice make one that works great with one of my sensors. I bought it from the Oculus Store.

chrismox · 16 Apr 2019 at 08:29

WantoN said:
Monoprice make one that works great with one of my sensors. I bought it from the Oculus Store.

Do they do one with a hub at the end or just a single USB port? I’m only seeing the latter.

WantoN · 16 Apr 2019 at 10:52

chrismox said:
Do they do one with a hub at the end or just a single USB port? I’m only seeing the latter.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a hub with an active repeater attached, it’s too niche. You need to connect one to the other.

Double07 · 16 Apr 2019 at 23:09

WantoN said:
You’ll be hard pressed to find a hub with an active repeater attached, it’s too niche.

Or spot a gap in the market and go on Dragons Den!

chrismox · 16 Apr 2019 at 23:48

WantoN said:
You’ll be hard pressed to find a hub with an active repeater attached, it’s too niche. You need to connect one to the other.

So, based upon what Quartz suggested, I’ve found a UGreen 10m USB Extension Cable with 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub which claims to be active, therefore potentially ticking every box.

If not, from what you say, it sounds like I can use a single active USB extension cable and then just attach any old USB hub on the end.

Is that about right?

WantoN · 17 Apr 2019 at 12:56

chrismox said:
So, based upon what Quartz suggested, I’ve found a UGreen 10m USB Extension Cable with 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub which claims to be active, therefore potentially ticking every box.

If not, from what you say, it sounds like I can use a single active USB extension cable and then just attach any old USB hub on the end.

Is that about right?

Yup

chrismox · 17 Apr 2019 at 14:05

Muchas graciias

WantoN · 17 Apr 2019 at 14:11

chrismox said:
Muchas graciias

De nada