Ethernet USB extenders

[SpaxmoidJAm]

I have this in another post but it may get more notice as it's own topic.

I am trying out this USB extender http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/cat5-booster-usb-11-a44hg i currently have it running on 15m (50 feet) of Ethernet cable with a GNS5890 working quite happily of the end it.

This to me could be a better option for a lot of people wishing to mount aerials outside but dont have the right coax cable to limit the dB's lost on a long run. Simply mount your USB dongle directly to the aerials base (with a suitable enclosure) and then run Ethernet to the PC or PI running your feeding software.

I suppose the only limitation is how power hungry the dongle is over the distance. I will try a rtl tv style dongle as soon as get the chance.

[peterhr]

I tried a 10m USB extender - I could run memory sticks, etc. over it - but the dongle would not initialise, not even when the powered USB cable was running from a powered USB hub to get more power up the wire.

What is presently working for me is a satellite preamp http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251538757829 at the antenna, and a power injecter to put the power onto coaxial core http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121321050146 (and a 15v power supply)

You would need a second power injector above the preamp if the antenna has a shorted top (test with a multimeter on the resistance setting)

My amplifier is wrapped in self amalgamating tape to protect it from rain water since it's in the open outside, however should it get wet - it's cheap to replace.

[SpaxmoidJAm]

The power limitation is why I am keen to get a rtl style dongle on the end. I might just be lucky that a gns5890 just doesn't use as much power.

[MrMac]

You would need a second power injector above the preamp if the antenna has a shorted top (test with a multimeter on the resistance setting)

Just add one of these between the inline amp and a DC-shorted antenna: http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/437-dc-bl...g-33-0020.html

BR /Marcus

[peterhr]

Just add one of these between the inline amp and a DC-shorted antenna: http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/437-dc-bl...g-33-0020.html

BR /Marcus

Excellent, also available on ebay.co.uk

If you go onto Ebay and lookup 'Ethernet USB extenders' there are lots - starting at £3.50 (appx 5 USD) - strictly speaking these are not Ethernet though - they are just extending USB using a CAT5, CAT5E or CAT6 network cable.

[SpaxmoidJAm]

I agree my topic title could be a little misleading, they just use the Ethernet cable and a ASIC to allow the data to go further probably turning each USB signal wire into a differential drive like on RS485 comms.

I might add as well that I am using it from a powered USB hub these (hub) can make quite a difference to the power available. Things like beaglebones and Pi's and the like aren't normally able to deliver the full 500mA even if they are powered through an ample power supply.

[peterhr]

I agree my topic title could be a little misleading, they just use the Ethernet cable and a ASIC to allow the data to go further probably turning each USB signal wire into a differential drive like on RS485 comms.

I might add as well that I am using it from a powered USB hub these (hub) can make quite a difference to the power available. Things like beaglebones and Pi's and the like aren't normally able to deliver the full 500mA even if they are powered through an ample power supply.

The Pi is better than the Beaglebone Black in the respect of power delivery at the USB port - maybe because it has two to be able to power.

I would suspect that they would three of the for twisted pairs for power (to avoid volt drop) and one twisted pair for data.

[SpaxmoidJAm]

The RTL dongle fire and can be seen just fine, the problem is that the extender is reporting that its usb 1.1 device.

usb 1-1.5.2: dvb_usb_v2: this USB2.0 device cannot be run on a USB1.1 port (it lacks a hardware PID filter)

Dump1090 doesnt like that so stops. I guess i need a USB TV dongle that has a PID filter and will work at 1.1 the extender says it is USB 2.0 will have to investigate why its not reporting as a USB2.0

Edit:
Thinks it to do with EMI

dmesg output from when dump1090 spits out its error


[ 4191.234052] hub 1-1.5:1.0: port 2 enable change, status 00001101
[ 4191.234477] hub 1-1.5:1.0: port 2 disabled by hub (EMI?), re-enabling...
[ 4191.241726] hub 1-1.5:1.0: port 2, status 1101, change 0002, 12 Mb/s
[ 4191.243394] usb 1-1.5.2: usbfs: usb_submit_urb returned -121
[ 4191.255100] usb 1-1.5.2: USB disconnect, device number 18
[ 4191.255154] usb 1-1.5.2: unregistering device
[ 4191.255196] usb 1-1.5.2: unregistering interface 1-1.5.2:1.0
[ 4191.256106] usb 1-1.5.2: unregistering interface 1-1.5.2:1.1
[ 4191.256523] usb 1-1.5.2: usb_disable_device nuking all URBs
[ 4191.370717] hub 1-1.5:1.0: debounce: port 2: total 100ms stable 100ms status 0x101
[ 4191.437054] usb 1-1.5.2: new full-speed USB device number 19 using musb-hdrc
[ 4191.524077] usb 1-1.5.2: not running at top speed; connect to a high speed hub
[ 4191.529633] usb 1-1.5.2: default language 0x0409
[ 4191.534985] usb 1-1.5.2: udev 19, busnum 1, minor = 18
[ 4191.535037] usb 1-1.5.2: New USB device found, idVendor=0bda, idProduct=2838
[ 4191.535080] usb 1-1.5.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[ 4191.535119] usb 1-1.5.2: Product: RTL2838UHIDIR
[ 4191.535156] usb 1-1.5.2: Manufacturer: Realtek
[ 4191.535190] usb 1-1.5.2: SerialNumber: 00000001
[ 4191.536506] usb 1-1.5.2: usb_probe_device
[ 4191.536557] usb 1-1.5.2: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
[ 4191.540287] usb 1-1.5.2: adding 1-1.5.2:1.0 (config #1, interface 0)
[ 4191.542869] dvb_usb_rtl28xxu 1-1.5.2:1.0: usb_probe_interface
[ 4191.542923] dvb_usb_rtl28xxu 1-1.5.2:1.0: usb_probe_interface - got id
[ 4191.543330] usb 1-1.5.2: adding 1-1.5.2:1.1 (config #1, interface 1)
[ 4191.543679] usb 1-1.5.2: dvb_usb_v2: found a 'Realtek RTL2832U reference design' in warm state
[ 4191.545835] dvb_usb_rtl28xxu 1-1.5.2:1.1: usb_probe_interface
[ 4191.546010] dvb_usb_rtl28xxu 1-1.5.2:1.1: usb_probe_interface - got id
[ 4191.546481] hub 1-1.5:1.0: state 7 ports 5 chg 0000 evt 0004
[ 4191.612632] usb 1-1.5.2: dvb_usb_v2: this USB2.0 device cannot be run on a USB1.1 port (it lacks a hardware PID filter)
[ 4191.647688] usb 1-1.5.2: dvb_usb_v2: 'Realtek RTL2832U reference design' error while loading driver (-19)
[ 4191.648879] usb 1-1.5.2: dvb_usb_v2: 'Realtek RTL2832U reference design' successfully deinitialized and disconnected



having Googled this it could just be because of the USB a to b lead i am using. The hub is disabling the port because of EMI interference then the USB part of Linux is enabling it again but only in a USB 1.1 state.

I used the nice short that came with the extender on another project not getting that one back, if this is this simple as lead length then could be on to a winner here.