USB Translator

[Luc The Perverse]

Hi, I'd like to put some USB cameras in various rooms around my house.

I'm hoping someone has designed some sort of USB amp circuit I could build.

I'm envisioning an RJ45 cable, with a shared ground, and then one line dedicated to each USB device.

Is such an idea plausible? (I'm not an electrical guy, I'm a programmer, so forgive my ignorance.) I imagine it is, I'm just concerned about latency killing the thing.

The whole idea is to SAVE money by not having to buy Ethernet cables, so if it is possible, but it is too expensive that won't work either

Suggestions?

--
"When you have to choose between a first-rate company with a second-rate product and a second-rate company with a first-rate product, it's never an ideal choice. " -Ed (www.overclockers.com)

 

[Jasen Betts]

In article <43073bf0$0$16343$3a2ecee9@news.csolutions.net>, Luc The Perverse wrote:

Hi, I'd like to put some USB cameras in various rooms around my house.

cool.

I'm hoping someone has designed some sort of USB amp circuit I could
build.

I know you can buy them

I'm envisioning an RJ45 cable, with a shared ground, and then one line =
dedicated to each USB device.

bad idea.

1: RJ45 isn't a cable it's a connector
2: CAT5e cable (which typically ends with RJ45 So I'm guessing it's what you
mean) plugs is multiple twisted pairs. so a shared ground isn't going to
work too well.

Is such an idea plausible? (I'm not an electrical guy, I'm a
programmer, so forgive my ignorance.)

you can buy USB extension cables and amplifiers I think the limit is 15m
total length.

I imagine it is, I'm just concerned about latency killing the thing.

use a real network then put PCs at strategic points and network them together.

The whole idea is to SAVE money by not having to buy Ethernet cables

??? DYM USB extender cables, CAT5e (AKA ethernet) is less than a buck per
meter if you go to a wholesaler (and some will sell cut lengths)...

so if it is possible, but it is too expensive that won't work either

It may be possible to use some sort of balun to push USB signals through
CAT5e cable, I'm not sure if there would be timing problems or not

Suggestions?

buy some cheap used PCs, if you can live with the noise and bulk and pick
good locations they should be abler to run 3 or 4 cameras each...


Bye.
Jasen

 

[Luc The Perverse]

"Jasen Betts" <jasen-b@free.net.nospam.nz> wrote in message
news:bnoot2-sh5.ln1@news.compass.net.nz...

In article <43073bf0$0$16343$3a2ecee9@news.csolutions.net>, Luc The
Perverse wrote:

Hi, I'd like to put some USB cameras in various rooms around my house.

cool.

I'm hoping someone has designed some sort of USB amp circuit I could
build.

I know you can buy them

I'm envisioning an RJ45 cable, with a shared ground, and then one line =
dedicated to each USB device.

bad idea.

1: RJ45 isn't a cable it's a connector
2: CAT5e cable (which typically ends with RJ45 So I'm guessing it's what
you
mean) plugs is multiple twisted pairs. so a shared ground isn't going to
work too well.

Is such an idea plausible? (I'm not an electrical guy, I'm a
programmer, so forgive my ignorance.)

you can buy USB extension cables and amplifiers I think the limit is 15m
total length.

I imagine it is, I'm just concerned about latency killing the thing.

use a real network then put PCs at strategic points and network them
together.

The whole idea is to SAVE money by not having to buy Ethernet cables

??? DYM USB extender cables, CAT5e (AKA ethernet) is less than a buck per
meter if you go to a wholesaler (and some will sell cut lengths)...

so if it is possible, but it is too expensive that won't work either

It may be possible to use some sort of balun to push USB signals through
CAT5e cable, I'm not sure if there would be timing problems or not

Suggestions?

buy some cheap used PCs, if you can live with the noise and bulk and pick
good locations they should be abler to run 3 or 4 cameras each...

Yeah you are right.

-LTP