Extension of USB devices placed at a distance away from the host computer is made possible by using the USB Booster. These extenders are also known as boosters since they boost the data being sent over longer distances. These devices overcome the distance limitations of 5 meters associated with USB technology by allowing extension up to 150 feet away. If single mode or multimode fiber optic cables are used, a distance of around 10kms can be achieved. The Cat5 extender, the wireless extender and the fiber optic extender are the three popular USB Extenders available on the market today, differing only in the way they are connected to the host computer. If the former version is being used, the connections between the local and remote unit are secured via economical category cables with the latter using fiber optic cables.

The USB Extender is compliant with USB 1.1 specifications. Operating on plug and play functionality, this extender is purely a hardware product which does not require Continue reading »

HDMI splitter is the first of its kind in hi-def cable connections that provides digital content in both video and audio. Its invention has revolutionized the world of video technology and has taken it to the next level. It is a distribution amplifier device that lets you connect HDTV products such as DVD players, D-VHS players, set top boxes, etc to two or more HDTV displays. Its biggest advantage is that it uses a single cable to connect your device with an HDMI output to your HDTV display. Also compatible with DVI, it can be used to for various applications. Working on the simple principle of plug and play, these splitters support Continue reading »

The KVM extender is a compact hardware device comprised of a transmitter and a receiver allowing the user to cost effectively make peripheral extensions. Depending on the type of extender, it enables the keyboard, monitor and mouse to be placed at a distance up to 1000ft from the host computer. Connections between the devices are secured via Cat 5 / Cat6 / UTP cables. This extender, when used with Cat5 cables proves to be versatile and much more of use as it is compatible with most operating systems and is ideal for commercial, industrial and government applications. It avoids usage of Continue reading »

Video Graphics Array or VGA, as it is commonly referred, is the graphics standard used in older computers. Even though many computers today still support this graphics standard, it also depends on the type of monitor being used. These days the cables which carry the display signals are referred to as VGA cables. Available in a wide range and at different prices, the more expensive models have gold plated plugs or shielding which prevent interference. However, experts believe that these expensive models offer almost the same image quality as the cheaper versions. The main thing which should be kept in mind while selecting these cables is the cable length. The length should be equal to the distance between the source and display devices as longer cable lengths can lead to Continue reading »

The USB extender has proven to be a great invention as it allows extension of 1 to 4 USB peripheral devices. While connected through Cat5 / Cat5e / Cat6 UTP cable, the distance of extension can be up to 150ft. It is a two-piece transmitter and receiver and no device drivers are required to run it. The set up is done easily with simple plug and play functionality. Also available in a fiber optic extender version, the Icron USB 2.0 extender permits an extension up to 10 km. Windows, Mac-OS, Linux and Sun are supported by these extension devices. Ideally used for applications which require Continue reading »

A compact audio/video interface for transmitting uncompressed digital data is the High-Definition Multimedia Interface best known as HDMI. The HDMI cables are ones which relay digital video, audio and control signals without any deterioration. All these signals are transmitted over a single cable and using these cables is a space saving solution. Used to connect a high-definition device to an HDTV, one end of the cable needs to be plugged into the HDTV’s HDMI input slot and the other end into the device’s HDMI output slot. Once this is done, signals can be transmitted and HDMI outputs received. These cables provide excellent Continue reading »

The video switcher is a hardware device which allows multiple computers to share one video display like monitors, projectors etc which have VGA ports. By daisy chaining these devices a greater number of computers can be connected. Mainly used in video and film production, these devices allow switching between different video and audio sources. This enables mixing of videos and addition of special effects or shots captured on a secondary source. Even though more than one display device is connected to the source, these switches maintain Continue reading »

Electronic displays showing video clips with music and/or other informative messages are all forms of digital signage. This technology is gaining a strong foothold in the advertising and media industry due to its reach and the time taken to deliver important messages to a wide range of consumers. Also referred to as Out of Home Advertising, it has tremendous benefits over the traditional static signs being used in advertising. Even though the initial investment is more than that of the latter, it offers a higher return on investment (ROI). Information is relayed to a target audience in real time and it can be changed immediately without any Continue reading »

A VGA Distribution Amplifier splits the video signal from one VGA source into two or more signals. It takes the signal from the source, amplifies it and then displays it on two or more VGA compatible monitors, displays or projectors. Working on plug and play functionality, this device can be installed in seconds. A user needs to connect the VGA graphic port on the computer to the amplifier’s input and the display devices to the output. VGA cables are used to secure Continue reading »

Whenever video from multiple sources needs to be viewed on one display device, a vga switch can be used. Multiple computers can share one projector, monitor or other video display with a VGA port using this device. PCs, MACs and SUNs with VGA video as well as various other VGA video sources such as VHS or DVD players can be operated with these devices. Available in multiple sizes including 2, 4 and 8 ports, these switches can be cascaded to achieve a larger distribution. Operating on plug and play functionality, setup is achieved by securing the connections between the video source and the display through standard vga cables. These devices maintain video integrity without Continue reading »