Gefen Introduces Fiber Optics-Based USB Extender
This isn’t your regular USB hub! Gefen has introduced a fiber optics-based extender that can be used up to 500m away from the network base. I know what your first thought is, “Why would i want that?” I thought the same thing but it is good for use with printers, scanners, items that may need to be used away from a computer. This may not be great for the normal consumer but its an interesting item and useful or even needed in some situations. Check out the press release and pictures after the break
CHATSWORTH, CA – Connectivity solutions provider Gefen is pleased to announce the release of a newly redesigned fiber optics-based extender, the USB-400 Fiber Optic (FO). This long-range 4-port USB 2.0 hub powers multiple hi-speed peripherals at distances up to 1640-feet (500m) from the computer, enabling a reliable remote workstation.
The Gefen USB-400 FO extender provides a high-bandwidth method of extending up to four USB 2.0 devices, including printers, keyboard/mouse, cameras, hard drives and DVD burners, enabling complete connectivity when operating in the field. The solution is ideal for professional applications as it offers invulnerability to electromagnetic and radio signal interference.
The USB-400 FO is simple to install and use. It operates through compact sender/receiver units, with the sender connecting to the computer, and the receiver connecting to four remote USB devices. Two multi-mode fiber optics cables terminated in LC connectors connect local and remote locations; both sender and receiver are individually powered. Local connection cables are included.
Hit the comments and let us know what you think!
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OOG
now my question would be… is this good for sending an internet connection… and I wonder how fast it would send…. since some things now use usb for internet…TEH FUTURE!
John Agan
probably is, i don’t see why it wouldn’t. i guess it would depend on the switch you have it connected to.
Da_Dios
My guess is you’d be locked to the maximum speed of 480 Mbit/s (USB 2.0 standard). Yes the communication between sender and receiver would be through Fiber BUT that would again be bottle-necked to normal USB 2.0 speed. I would love to see this work with USB 3.0 and more impressively Firewire. Firewire is much faster and there’s a definite benefit from using it over USB.
John Agan
Da_Dios,
usually your spot on with your assesments but you have confused me here. the bottleneck wouldn’t really matter since most items you connect via usb don’t need the speed you are thinking about, unless you are moving masive amounts of data it doesn’t really matter and i don’t see that happening w/ a printer or scanner or something of that nature. as for firewire being faster than usb 3.0 that is an incorrect statement, infact the oposite is true, USB 3.0 is supposed to be faster than the competing firewire update coming out. maybe you were tired ore dislexic on your post but thought i would clear that up.
Da_Dios
Sorry should have been more clearer but that part was to answer OOGs question:
“now my question would be… is this good for sending an internet connection… and I wonder how fast it would send”
Using it for internet would limit him to the speed of the standard USB 2.0 transfer speed.
Yeah for printers and the such would be business as usual.
I wasn’t saying that Firewire was faster than USB 3.0 just that fireWire has been faster than USB in general. USB 1.0 – 2.0 have slower transfer speed than FireWire 400/800. USB 3.0 is a completely different beast. The “Firewire is much faster and there’s a definite benefit from using it over USB.” statement wasn’t directed towards 3.0, at least not intended.
Torrence Davis
And John thought no one would care about this news.