LINDY Extends USB Connection to 150m Using CAT5 Cable

We announced today our new USB 2.0 4 Port Extender Hub that enables users to connect USB devices up to 150m away from a computer using inexpensive CAT5 cable. At thirty times longer than the maximum standard USB cable length of 5m, the extender opens up a wide range of USB applications for professional users.

Whether it is a photographer's studio wanting to shoot straight to a computer or a musician connecting to an electronic instrument in another room, the 5m restriction makes many uses of USB technology fairly limited. This is particularly true for applications that can require high levels of disk space and therefore require direct access to a computer to be effective.

USB's ubiquity as a connection standard is undisputed with the majority of devices today offering a USB port, but for many professional users USB's limited cable length is a distinct disadvantage. It's not just the inconvenience of not being able to take advantage of USB's hot-pluggable capabilities, but also the work-arounds that users have to deploy in order to achieve the connections they need.

Completely OS independent, the extender comprises of a local unit, which must be connected directly to the computer's USB port and a remote unit with a built-in bus powered hub for connecting up to 4 peripherals. Connected by a CAT5 or higher cable (not supplied), the extender's plug and play capabilities enable users to connect USB devices quickly, even over long distances.