Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Sayre, PA
Posts: 39

long extension cord for cradle

Currently I keep my computer in the basement. I starting the process of putting together one of those smart homes where the computer eventually becomes like the hot water heater in the basement. I would love to have my visor cradle in the kitchen. Is there a way to hook a wire to extend the lenght of my cradle. Would this slow down the hotsync too much. I need to go about 25 ft from my computer. Or is there a better way to do hotsyncing wireless. No treo in my future yet have to get my use out of my Neo and wif'es deluxe. I would consider buying a wireless springboard attachement. Any ideas ?

Thanks

__________________
Facts all come with points of view
Facts don't do what I want them to
Facts just twist the truth around
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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 415

so you're looking for a usb extension cord? ... i dunno... the USB spec specifies a max cable length of 15ft. it's extremely high data rate may cause errors with cables longer than that.

the only wireless hotsync options are with bluetooth or 802.11( http://www.visorcentral.com/content...-142-28-all.htm ). probably bluetooth ( http://www.visorcentral.com/content...-372-28-all.htm ) wouldn't have the range though. maybe if you got a usb bluetooth adapter, you could run it up 15 ft through the floor, and youu could probably cover an entire living room or something. unfortunately, the xircom wireless ethernet card, is very big and expensive.

another solution is to buy the ethernet cradle. 10baset ethernet cables are good up to like 100ft, and are quite fast. unfortunately, it's bloody expensive as well. http://www.visorcentral.com/content...heet-32-17-.htm


still another solution : build a small computer for your livingroom or kitchen. basically just a client for your basement server. then run the cradle off of that. you could also make it your dvd player or something(i assum you dont want to have to run downstairs to your server everytime you want ot put in a dvd.)

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-thorin

I have a webcomic. You should read it, or I may do something rash. <b><a href=http://driveby.keenspace.com/>Drive-by Loitering</a></b> is updated every monday, wednesday and friday.

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Last edited by thorin on 04-05-2002 at 08:18 PM

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 124

Get a small USB hub that has power to it from it's own source. I have a four port hub on my desk that has it's own power, so signal loss will not be a problem. Given the theoretical limit of 15 feet for a USB cable... this would give you 30 feet. And if you put the hub in the floor or in a wall, you could branch off usb cords 15 feet in any direction. You can sync your Visors and still have room for 3 more components within 15 feet of the hub. And if you were going to incorporate bluetooth into your house (I recommend it... imagine you walk in the door with your cell phone, the computer picks you up, and turns your TV to face you with your favorite news channel on: not yet, but I can see it soon) My point is, with the hub, you would have 30 feet of bluetooth range from where you place the hub (again, in a wall or under the floor) instead of 30 feet from where the computer is in the basement.

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"Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire." - John Parr

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by thorin
[...] another solution is to buy the ethernet cradle. 10baset ethernet cables are good up to like 100ft, and are quite fast. [...]

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 415

quote:

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Originally posted by Tonewiz2k
I recommend it... imagine you walk in the door with your cell phone, the computer picks you up, and turns your TV to face you with your favorite news channel on: not yet, but I can see it soon.

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yeah.. and your cellphone battery dies whilste you're watching the news, your computer thinks you've left the house, turns off all the lights and sets the alarm! lol. but i would love to hook my house up for wireless. too poor though. i've personally been thinking gheto wireless: 50 bucks buys me a serial to IRDA adapter, run it on a long extension cord(i don't know if theres a spec for length of rs232 cable, but my dad said something like 20 feet) from my linucks server to the couch.. one by the bed maybe...

quote:

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Originally posted by Toby
If it's really a 10BaseT cradle, the specs would allow for up to 100 _meters_ (~328 feet).

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oops. my bad.

__________________
-thorin

I have a webcomic. You should read it, or I may do something rash. <b><a href=http://driveby.keenspace.com/>Drive-by Loitering</a></b> is updated every monday, wednesday and friday.

<!img src=http://www.frontfly.com/myrouter/vcsig2.gif alt="Soundsgood is too elite for the punks."><img src=http://www.frontfly.com/vcsig.gif ><!img src=http://www.frontfly.com/myrouter/vcsig2.gif alt="Soundsgood is too elite for the punks.">

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 124

quote:

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yeah.. and your cellphone battery dies whilste you're watching the news, your computer thinks you've left the house, turns off all the lights and sets the alarm!

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__________________
"Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire." - John Parr

Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 415

quote:

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Originally posted by Tonewiz2k


A monotone voice echos through the house... "Where did you go Dave, I'm lonely Dave."

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__________________
-thorin

I have a webcomic. You should read it, or I may do something rash. <b><a href=http://driveby.keenspace.com/>Drive-by Loitering</a></b> is updated every monday, wednesday and friday.

<!img src=http://www.frontfly.com/myrouter/vcsig2.gif alt="Soundsgood is too elite for the punks."><img src=http://www.frontfly.com/vcsig.gif ><!img src=http://www.frontfly.com/myrouter/vcsig2.gif alt="Soundsgood is too elite for the punks.">

Registered: Dec 2001
Location: Holly Springs, NC
Posts: 124

quote:

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50 bucks buys me a serial to IRDA adapter

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__________________
"Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire." - John Parr

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

quote:

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Originally posted by Tonewiz2k
Get a small USB hub that has power to it from it's own source. ... And if you put the hub in the floor or in a wall...

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__________________
Jeff

Registered: Jul 2000
Location:
Posts: 3034

quote:

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Originally posted by PDAENVY
[...] According to this:
The cable length is not specified in the standard; acceptable operation is experienced with cables that are less than 25 feet in length.

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Registered: Jul 2000
Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Posts: 415

quote:

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Originally posted by Tonewiz2k


Have you seen this one? I have e-mailed the company to ask for a price, I could not find it on the website.... Looks really cool. You can hook it directly to a cable modem or external dailup modem. Works with all sorts of IR devices.

http://www.compex.com.sg/cgi-bin/e-...7131@1006327054

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__________________
-thorin

I have a webcomic. You should read it, or I may do something rash. <b><a href=http://driveby.keenspace.com/>Drive-by Loitering</a></b> is updated every monday, wednesday and friday.

<!img src=http://www.frontfly.com/myrouter/vcsig2.gif alt="Soundsgood is too elite for the punks."><img src=http://www.frontfly.com/vcsig.gif ><!img src=http://www.frontfly.com/myrouter/vcsig2.gif alt="Soundsgood is too elite for the punks.">

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Sayre, PA
Posts: 39

You guys are great answers and bad jokes at the same time. OK so the USB idea is a bust and wireless (bluetooth or ethernet) is expensive. Someone mention serial cable length. I still have an old serial cradle. Can I add a long extension cord to that? I also wanted to hook the computer to my big screen tv via an s card. Is there also a distance limit on this. I may have to stick the computer in a closet up stair.

__________________
Facts all come with points of view
Facts don't do what I want them to
Facts just twist the truth around
Facts are living turned inside out
- David Byrne

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: St Petersburg Fla
Posts: 224

Phone Line

Phone line network is also a solution if you don't want to lay out cable.

I used Netgear's USB adapter on my son's laptop ($45) and a PCI card ($28) in my box that is connected to cable modem.

Speed at 10 mbps. Internet access at the laptop is no different than on my box.

Good place for networking info is: http://www.practicallynetworked.com

Last edited by BudPritchard on 04-07-2002 at 01:25 AM