Black Box Remote Port USB Network Card User Manual


 
2 of 3
9/18/2007
#25395
724-746-5500 blackbox.com
FEATURES
ExtremeUSB
technology provides
longer distances from USB device to
host computer.
Composed of two individual units:
Local Extender (LEX) and Remote
Extender (REX).
Single- and 4-Port models available.
Single-port unit is ideal for extension-
only application.
4-Port model works well for
multiple-device extensions.
OVERVIEW
Break the USB distance barrier with the Remote Port USB
from Black Box.
The Remote Port USB incorporates ExtremeUSB
technology. This technology enables you to enjoy the benefits
of USB beyond the desktop.
Using older technology, USB devices must be located less
than 16.4 feet (5 m) from the host computer. But with the
Remote Port USB, you can locate USB devices up to 328 feet
(100 m) from the host computer when you use Category 5 UTP.
Plus, the Remote Port USB can supply power to remote
low-power or high-power USB devices.
The Remote Port USB is composed of two individual units,
the Local Extender (LEX) and the Remote Extender (REX).
USB’s main attraction is that it makes adding peripherals to
your computer incredibly easy.
Forget proprietary interfaces. USB has been accepted and
is being implemented industry-wide. The USB standard was
developed by industry leaders including DEC
, IBM
®
, Intel
®
,
Microsoft
®
, and Compaq
®
. Most new PCs available today
feature at least one USB port with more peripherals than
ever available for the USB interface, from modems to joysticks.
Windows
®
95 Rev. B, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows
2000, and Macintosh
®
OS 8, 9, and X support USB.
A USB peripheral simply plugs right into the port and
works. You don’t need to install a card; you don’t even need
to turn off your computer—USB devices are completely hot-
swappable. And because USB also distributes power, many
USB devices don’t require a separate power supply, although
a bus-powered device must be attached upstream to either
a host PC or a powered hub.
Because USB configuration happens automatically, built-in
USB means you don’t have to fiddle with drivers and software
when adding most peripherals. USB host controllers
automatically detect when peripherals are connected to
or disconnected from a port. The controllers manage and
control the driver software and bandwidth required by each
peripheral. They even allocate the right electrical power to
each peripheral.
USB uses a tiered star topology, meaning that USB devices
called hubs can serve as connection ports for other USB
devices. Only one device needs to be actually plugged into
your PC. USB supports hubs that can be either standalone or
embedded within some other device such as a keyboard or
disk drive. A single USB port can support up to 127 devices.
USB 1.1 has two data rates: 12 Mbps for devices such as
disk drives that need high-speed throughput and 1.5 Mbps
for devices such as joysticks that need much lower bandwidth.
USB 2.0 provides increased speeds of up to 480 Mbps.
USB also improves the performance of joysticks and other
game controllers. A common problem with traditional joystick
connections is the tendency to “drift” and lose calibration
because of factors such as cable length and CPU overhead.
The USB interface, however, prevents drift by effectively
eliminating CPU overhead.
Technically Speaking
USB-compatible computer
Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable (up to
328 ft. [100 m] long) with (2) RJ-45 connectors (if using
surface cabling)
OR
Category 5 UTP cabling with (2) information outlets and
(2) Category 5 UTP patch cords with RJ-45 connectors (if
using premise cabling) (NOTE: The maximum length of
the Category 5 UTP cable, including patch cords, must
not exceed 328 ft. [100 m].)
USB device(s)
WHAT YOU NEED TO SUPPLY