DIY Active USB-repeater cable

Tumor

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Apr 7, 2015
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I want to make my own 15-20m (~50-65ft) active USB repeater cable, because those cost about 60€ while shorter ones cost significantly less (about 10-15€). The only problem is the repeater itself, because apparently it's not sold without a cable. Can I just buy a short one, cut it off and use it for my longer cable, or does it not work that way? Would I need multiple repeaters? Is the longer cable so expensive because it uses multiple repeaters?

Well, that's my question. If you want or need to know why I need such a long cable, you can read on or skip it otherwise.

I need it (two of them, of course) to connect a keyboard and a mouse from another room to my PC. The link brings you to another post of mine on this forum (that hasn't really been answered). If I really need multiple repeaters, that could be a problem because it would have to fit into a cable conduit.
 
Solution
Be sure to get a decent quality HDMI cable or you may get some video quality problems.
I used an active USB cable as I thought the signal level going into the hub may be too low,but I have not tried it with a non active cable so it may work.
No,there is no real difference between the different plugs but if possible try to get an HDMI to micro HDMI cable and use only one adaptor and try to get a good one as I used an adaptor on my set up and it badly degraded the video quality.

makkem

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Hi
I have done this with 15m USB and HDMI cables from one room to another.
You only need one USB cable which you connect to a USB hub which you then plug your keyboard and mouse into which may reduce the cost somewhat.
I have no experience of attaching a USB repeater to a different cable but suspect it may well cause problems with data speed as it will cause an increase in resistance at the joint.I would also think that the repeater in the longer cable is different (more powerful) than the one in the shorter cable.
 

Tumor

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Apr 7, 2015
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Speed wouldn't be an issue if it's correctly done, I think. So I wouldn't even need those repeaters? I just need a long cable and a powered hub at the end? Well, that's easy.

And 15m HDMI isn't an issue as well? If that's the case that just solved all of my problems.

Just one more thing: Is there any difference between HDMI and Mini- or Micro-HDMI? Can I use a 15m Micro-HDMI cable and put adapters on both ends? I'm asking because HDMI plugs are pretty big and difficult to get through a cable conduit.
 

makkem

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Be sure to get a decent quality HDMI cable or you may get some video quality problems.
I used an active USB cable as I thought the signal level going into the hub may be too low,but I have not tried it with a non active cable so it may work.
No,there is no real difference between the different plugs but if possible try to get an HDMI to micro HDMI cable and use only one adaptor and try to get a good one as I used an adaptor on my set up and it badly degraded the video quality.
 
Solution