Running USB Keyboard & Mice over 5M?

[slaughteredlamb]

At work we have a 19" rack into which we place 2 computers (along with other audio gear) which is then sealed making the studio nice and quiet. Previously we then had an 11M KVM lead which went from the PC to the desk where the keyboard, mouse and monitor was. This lead was PS2 and VGA and worked fine.

However now new PC's are frequently coming without a PS2 port and finding PS2 keyboard and mice is already getting hard and will become impossible in the next couple of years. We are therefore trying to find a way of using USB keyboard and mice but the cable run is 11M long and you can only run USB for 5M without using an active hub or repeater cable and due to the cable trays and their location there isn't the means of using a powered hub to extend the length of the run.

What we've tried so far:

12M Active Extension Leads - According to the manufacturer these work with Keyboards & Mice but we found that they were hugely intermittent. We found that we could get them working in the main office but when we then installed them in the recording studios we could usually only get either the keyboard or mouse to work and not the two together.

USB Extender over CAT5E - These work by plugging one of these into the USB socket on the PC and the keyboard into the other and then the two are linked via a CAT5 cable (the same set-up is used for the mouse as well). These we found instantly worked but every now and again when we boot up the PC it doesn't detect either the keyboard or mouse (usually the mouse) and we have to disconnect the mouse and reconnect it. In a recording studio set-up this isn't reliable enough.

What other options do we have?

Obviously there is the Wireless Keyboard & Mouse option but I'm a little concerned about using these in a recording studio where there is a hell of a lot of electrical equipment which may cause interference and we would require two sets of wireless keyboards & mice which would be sat next to each other of the same desk and is there a risk of cross talk interference?

At present we are still running video over the old PS2 KVM using VGA. As VGA is also being phased out we would like to be able to run DVI but whilst I can't remember the longest run you can have with DVI, I know we are over it as we did try a few years ago to run DVI and found we couldn't get a stable enough image on the monitors. If there is a device that would allow us to run USB and DVI for at least 11M then that would be great, alternatively we are happy to stick with VGA for the next few years and just worry about switching over to USB for now.

This must be a common problem with many companies not having a PC at each workstation like Banks for example, so how do they get around the problem?

[sickpuppy]

PS2 to USB adapters?

[slaughteredlamb]

PS2 to USB adapters?

Sorry, forgot to mention them. Yeah we tried that first. They don't work with most new keyboards and certainly not over that length of cable run 

[robwhizz]

I don't know much about sound studios, but have you tried using some wireless/bluetooth kit to see if you get any problems? Do people have their phones on in there hunting for wifi and bluetooth? I know mobile signals can cause problems, but does wireless actually cause any issues?

If cost isn't a real issue then you could look at using small low-power fanless PCs and RDP or VNC the main computers over ethernet.

[slaughteredlamb]

I don't know much about sound studios, but have you tried using some wireless/bluetooth kit to see if you get any problems? Do people have their phones on in there hunting for wifi and bluetooth? I know mobile signals can cause problems, but does wireless actually cause any issues?

If cost isn't a real issue then you could look at using small low-power fanless PCs and RDP or VNC the main computers over ethernet.

We have tried wireless keyboards and mice in one studio with mixed results. If we just connected the receiver to back of the PC then it didn't work as the distance was too great, there were too many things physically in the way and probably too much interference from other equipment. However if we used the 12M Active USB repeater cables and plugged the receiver into that so that it was by the keyboard and mouse than it did work but that means spending £35 on top of the cost of a wireless keyboard and mouse for something that feels a bit to much of a lash up.

[Tony]

You might be at the edge with bluetooth however you could run a blutooth dongle five metres using USB and connect to it with the mouse.

In terms of interference, I have 12 iMacs with blutooth mice, a local wireless router that manages my crestron / kramer switching, wireless microphone, induction loop system plus several other wireless networks knocking about and no interference.

Bluetooth is supposed to be good for 10 metres, but I think doing it like that might make it work for you, and once they are paired, they don't interfere with each other.

[Whatever]

We use USB extenders for schools when the interactive whiteboard is too far from the av faceplate. Never had any issues and will get you the make on Monday when back in.

[Granty]

Possibly a bit overkill for 5m but I use a few of these KVM CAT5 extenders (http://www.blackbox.co.uk/product/kv1400a/5/7/1/Server-Access-Modules/KVM-ServSwitch-Cables-Adapters/KVM/) at work. There are several/cheaper options if you have a search.

[ih8mondays]

I've used 2 x 5m active usb leads from maplins before to get a 10m run, they seemed fine. Perhaps try three of those?