Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uwm.edu!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!xanth!mcnc!ncsuvx!shumv1!unkydave
From: unkydave@shumv1.uucp (David Bank)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: extension cable for EGA/VGA monitor
Keywords: extension monitor/keyboard cable
Message-ID: <4241@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu>
Date: 19 Oct 89 15:22:38 GMT
References: <[253d2160:289]comp.sys.ibm.pc@nstar.UUCP>
Sender: news@ncsuvx.ncsu.edu
Reply-To: unkydave@shumv1.ncsu.edu (David Bank)
Organization: NCSU Computing Center
Lines: 39

In article <[253d2160:289]comp.sys.ibm.pc@nstar.UUCP> akcs.larry@nstar.UUCP (Larry Snyder) writes:
>What is the longest one could build a keyboard/monitor
>extension cable for a VGA or EGA monitor and have it work
>without damaging any of the equipment?  
> 
>Could it be 40 feet long?  50 feet?
> 
>The reason I ask is that I am considering moving
>my monitor and keyboard downstairs and will need around
>50 feet of cable for both the AT keyboard and monitor.

    Well, the keyboard is essentially a serial device. A "typical"
serial port (let me know when you find one) can drive about 100
feet without any noticeable loss of signal. After that you start
getting degredation and you'll eventually lose the signal 
somewhere between 300 and 500 feet.
    That still doesn't answer your question, does it?? Depending
on how well built the PC is, and what quality of components went
into it, I'd say you have about an 80% chance of doing what you want
with the keyboard....assuming "normal"-quality components. Damage to
the keyboard is not a concern here.

    Now, the monitor is a different story. Depends entirely on the
interface card and the monitor itself. Chances are, however, that
50' will be a mite too long to go without significant signal
loss.

    At lot of this is dependent on exactly what equipment you have and 
the quality of its components. I've met serial cards that couldn't
drive a signal 30 feet, and parallel cards that blew the tractor feed
pins off the printer at 50 feet. All I can suggest is that you try it
and see if it works. I wouldn't worry about messing up your
keyboard, but exercise some caution with the monitor.

Unkydave
unkydave@shumv1.ncsu.edu
bank@cslimg.ncsu.edu

to do with they keyboard - assuming "normal"-