Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!emory!gatech!uflorida!unf7!tlvx!sysop
From: sysop@tlvx.UUCP (SysOp)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: Maximum mouse and keyboard cable runs?
Summary: Extending those cords
Keywords: keyboard
Message-ID: <462@tlvx.UUCP>
Date: 2 Mar 91 21:06:35 GMT
References: <1991Feb20.225323.10467@cs.dal.ca> <1991Feb22.093748.3065@sol.UVic.CA>
Distribution: na
Organization: Temporal Vortex BBS of Jacksonville, Florida
Lines: 41

In article <1991Feb22.093748.3065@sol.UVic.CA>, gmclaren@sirius.UVic.CA (Gavin  Mclaren) writes:
> In article <1991Feb20.225323.10467@cs.dal.ca> dewolfe@ug.cs.dal.ca (Colin DeWolfe) writes:
> >The subject line says it all...  What would the maximum cable runs be for a
> >A1000 keyboard cable.  We are considering using a wall phone jack to plug the
> >keyboard into the wall and keep the machine on a different floor.  Same thing
> >with the mouse.  Any idea how much footage we will be able to get away with?

Uh, what about the monitor?  (And if a program asks for a floppy, that would
be annoying, going between floors... ;-)  I guess you could run speaker wire
with NTSC pretty far, although I suppose that probably isn't the correct
wire to run.  (?)
> 
> There was a discussion a few years back, if I remember correctly.  The
> problem with this is that the keyboard gets its power from the Amiga, and
> people with even 12' extensions to the keyboard cable were having
> trouble.  The resistance loss in the cable is too much.

With my A1000, I have what must be a 25' coiled phone cord, with no problems.
Also, I have a joystick extention cable for my mouse (which is maybe 6 to 10
feet).  I have no idea what the maximum length is, although in my case 25'
seems to work.  (Could it be heavily machine-dependant?  Or dependant on
the size of wire?)

I got the cords when my monitor broke, and I wanted to use my Amiga in front
of the TV.  (The NTSC jack does come in handy!)
> 
> The solution at the time seemed to be to add another power source for
> the keyboard, keeping a common signal ground.  You might be able to
> install batteries in the keyboard, or a small DC transformer  at
> the wall outlet you are talking about.
> 
> Gavin McLaren

Another wire question:  at a local music store, they said to be sure to
use audio cable with audio equipment.  I've been using speaker wire with
the Amiga -- should I buy some RCA-to-1/4inch jacks and use audio cables?

Speaking of my broken monitor, if anyone knows how I can get a certain
coil for a 1080 monitor, let me know.  Or, does anyone know what I can
do with a 1080 that works fine except for one missing peice?
--
Gary Wolfe, SYSOP of the Temporal Vortex BBS                        // Amiga!
..uflorida!unf7!tlvx!sysop,   unf7!tlvx!sysop@bikini.cis.ufl.edu  \X/  Yeah!