Baker's Corner: The AVPro USB 2.0 Extender

​This month's spotlight is on a brand-new product that fits into a slightly different category than most of our products, the AC-EXUSB-2-KIT USB 2.0 extender. USB signal transmission has been part of the low voltage integrator's world for some time now. Universal Serial Bus is, for the most part, a technology that works reliably as intended for a variety of signal types. It does have its limitations, however, most notably distance. On its own, USB 2.0 is limited to 5 meters. Available USB extension cables can extend the signal up to 30m, but they can introduce their own issues, not to mention that 30m is in many instances not sufficient. Other extension methods tend to be quite costly and may not provide the needed signal stability.

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AVPro has several HDBaseT video extenders that incorporate USB extension. It has been a popular feature in many applications for a while now; however, we are now seeing many cases where USB extension is needed without being accompanied by HDBaseT video. Covid19 has by necessity caused many of us to find new ways of doing what we do, many times, in places we're not used to doing them. Moving some of those activities out of the office and into our homes has created some technical challenges. Cameras, keyboards, mice, and computers are many times not in the same room. Home theaters and other spaces are being converted into multi-use areas. Even before Covid extending USB signals was a common request; however, the current situation has multiplied the demand many times over.

​​In response, AVPro has developed the AC-EXUSB-2-KIT USB extender, allowing USB 2.0 extension up to 328ft over category wire. And of course, in true AVPro fashion, we have found a way to do things just a little better than the rest with a measured throughput of 324Mbps, making sure your customers' devices perform the way they should. We even added a 4 port hub on the receiving end, allowing multiple devices to be easily connected (computer, mouse, camera, flash drive, etc.). We've done this at a remarkably affordable cost, still covered by our 10 year parts and labor warranty.

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​This extender kit utilizes standard USB-A and USB-B connections. I have had some questions regarding compatibility with USB-C connectors. All you need is a standard USB-C to USB-A connector cable to use a USB-C device with this extender. Since USB-C cables do not adhere to the same strict standards as USB-A versions, we chose not to put USB-C connectors directly on the device, avoiding potential compatibility problems.

The AC-EXUSB-2-KIT is available now. If you have any questions regarding applications or installation, just let us know. We're here to help!

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