Maximum cable lengths for monitor, keyboard, mouse

[Mxsmanic]

I read an article yesterday about NORAD's use of blade PCs, and it
described putting the PCs in a secured area, with only cables leading to
to the monitors, keyboards, and mice at the user stations. I was
surprised because I thought there were tight constraints on the maximum
length of cabling for keyboards, mice, and monitors--especially
monitors. Anyone know how this is done?

From time to time I've toyed with the idea of putting several PCs in a
rack or at least in a secured or soundproofed enclosure and then just
running long cables to a desk or workstation area for the monitor and
keyboard and mouse, but the concern about cable lengths has stopped me.
What are the maximum lengths, and is there a way to extend them?

What might be even more cool would be a CPU stashed away in a hidden,
soundproof enclosure, with only the monitor on the desk, accompanied by
the keyboard and mouse, and with separate, small boxes for the CD drive
and various other peripherals that you have to be able to get to while
you are sitting at the desk. But I'm not sure about cable-length
restrictions for that, either.

I've gotten used to the constant whirring of PC fans on either side of
me, and the looming beige boxes in my peripheral vision, but I'm still
curious.

Also, I presume that blade PCs are physically small. Are they still
expandable and/or easy to open and maintain?

 

[S. Whitmore]

For what little it's worth (fairly little, in fact), I've successfully
used extension cords for both monitor and keyboard that would've been
long enough to put the computer into a relatively close, yet
physically secured, area.

Anecdotal evidence is no replacement for scientific analysis. Maybe I
was just lucky.

On a related -- but not necessarily relevant -- note, many years ago I
used to attend an annual "computer fair" at the University of
Washington (AFAIK, they stopped holding it back in the mid-90s), and
one of the regular vendors was a company that sold really long
parallel cables. IIRC, they used to have a long one looped back and
forth and around their booth, and they had a contest to see who could
most-accurately guess the length. They made a big deal about breaking
the myths of maximum parallel cable lengths.

 

[Don Taylor From:]

I read an article yesterday about NORAD's use of blade PCs, and it
described putting the PCs in a secured area, with only cables leading to
to the monitors, keyboards, and mice at the user stations. I was
surprised because I thought there were tight constraints on the maximum
length of cabling for keyboards, mice, and monitors--especially
monitors. Anyone know how this is done?

The guy who provided all my cables used to say "want it cheap?
or want it good?, up to you." He had produced svga video cables
for trade show booths that were 75 feet and showed no problems.

But the $4 video cables you buy won't do that.

20 foot quality cables are no problem, from a good supplier.

Unfortunately he is gone, now I don't know what I'll do for good cables.

 

[Conor]

I read an article yesterday about NORAD's use of blade PCs, and it
described putting the PCs in a secured area, with only cables leading to
to the monitors, keyboards, and mice at the user stations. I was
surprised because I thought there were tight constraints on the maximum
length of cabling for keyboards, mice, and monitors--especially
monitors. Anyone know how this is done?

Its NORAD. THat means it won't be the shitty unscreened cable used on
normal gear.

 

[Al Dykes]

I read an article yesterday about NORAD's use of blade PCs, and it
described putting the PCs in a secured area, with only cables leading to
to the monitors, keyboards, and mice at the user stations. I was
surprised because I thought there were tight constraints on the maximum
length of cabling for keyboards, mice, and monitors--especially
monitors. Anyone know how this is done?

From time to time I've toyed with the idea of putting several PCs in a
rack or at least in a secured or soundproofed enclosure and then just
running long cables to a desk or workstation area for the monitor and
keyboard and mouse, but the concern about cable lengths has stopped me.
What are the maximum lengths, and is there a way to extend them?

What might be even more cool would be a CPU stashed away in a hidden,
soundproof enclosure, with only the monitor on the desk, accompanied by
the keyboard and mouse, and with separate, small boxes for the CD drive
and various other peripherals that you have to be able to get to while
you are sitting at the desk. But I'm not sure about cable-length
restrictions for that, either.

I've gotten used to the constant whirring of PC fans on either side of
me, and the looming beige boxes in my peripheral vision, but I'm still
curious.

Also, I presume that blade PCs are physically small. Are they still
expandable and/or easy to open and maintain?

There are all sorts of ways of connecting a kbd, monitor and mouse to
one or more computers at a distance. This is generally referred for a
KVM. Some run over CAT5 (ethernet) so the can owrk over standard
office cabling. Other solutions run vis TCP and can run over the
Internet. IME they tend to be business-grade products and not cheap.
If you only wnat to control one computer there is probably something
for you.

If you go to newegg.com and search for KVM you'll find a bunch of
products. Most of them will be for switching between 2 or more PCs
but you might find something.

You can extend the video and PS/2 cables 10 ft or so. If you have a
high-end Monitor you need to buy a premium video cable or accept lower
refesh rates or fuzzy image.