Extend USB through a PLC and a USB-RJ45 converter

[MaEBLoR]

Hello!!! I've had them "forgotten" for years :nono:, but while browsing Forocoches I came across a post by Paco and I think it's time to do like the prodigal son and come back home, where I learned a lot of things by reading and re-reading threads. The main memory I have of this forum is that people generally try to help and there's also education.

It seems that lately the forum is more relaxed than when I joined years ago, but anyway, let's contribute a little by asking questions and helping in what little we can!!

So that's it, I'm going to come up with some nonsense to bother for a while jajajaja

Lately, while messing around with networks and wifil, the easiest way to extend the network is always that, using PLC or Wifi.
But thinking about how to put a USB stick at a certain distance, two floors above the house, which is the roof, the easiest thing I found is a PLC-USB, which besides its advantages and disadvantages, is quite expensive and only gives one function… And I wondered if it could be done the same way but in a more geeky version.

Instead of using a PLC-USB that's around 120 euros. Well, use a normal PLC that can be got for 30 euros and then a USB to RJ45 extender that costs about 10 euros. I've never used those USB-RJ45 adapters. Does PLC technology work like an RJ45 cable sending from A to B without problems? Or are there incompatibilities for making "inventions" of this type?

A big hug!!! And for the one who wants to know how long it's been since I wrote... just look at the signature :ugly: jajajajajaa

[cobito]

I have never used PLC or a USB-RJ45 adapter, but no matter how different the way of transmitting the PLC signal may be, the moment it reaches the RJ45, it is an Ethernet as valid as any other (for something the IEEE standards are there for). I see no reason why the invention you mention would not work.

Let's see if another forum member with more specific knowledge approaches.

Ahh, and welcome back.

[MaEBLoR]

I have used the PLC but for what it is designed, to pass the signal and that's it... And I am of the opinion that it should work without problems as well. But seeing that some PLCs are a bit picky, maybe it's not going to work.

Anyway, this is more of an experiment, so I will surely buy the USB-RJ45 that costs 10 euros and try it.

This hobby has one thing, and it is that one realizes that one spends a lot of money on nonsense jajajajaja

Goodbye!!

[lforos]

I'll answer you even though I have no idea what I'm talking about because I don't know about the USB-RJ45 connectors you mentioned... ;D

If the USB-RJ45 converter only "wires" the USB connection to be able to connect the RJ45 connector, it will work well if you have another identical converter on the other end (well, it would be a RJ45-USB male), the network cable that connects the two outlets is direct and does not go through any router, switch or hub. In any other case, it won't work since the USB protocol has nothing to do with Ethernet and when the signal reaches any network equipment (hub, PC (through the ethernet port), router or whatever) it won't understand the protocol and won't detect it as equipment.

If the USB-RJ45 converter really does a protocol conversion to ethernet and presents the USB equipment as a network equipment, then it would work as such, but I doubt that something like that is worth 10 euros. Also, I suppose they would call it USB-Ethernet and not RJ45 and it would only be useful for certain types of USB devices (printer or hard drive, I suppose).

In short, if what you do is: USB Device + USB-RJ45 Converter + Network Cable (without going through any network device) + RJ45-USB Converter + PC USB Port, it should work well. Keep in mind, however, that although the USB protocol is less sensitive to distance than other protocols, a very long cable will imply more transmission errors and other problems.

I suppose that if the USB device has its own power supply and doesn't demand it from the PC it will be better, although for the intensity they require I don't think it's a big problem either.

NOTE: By the way, the USB-PLC converter will be much more expensive because it surely does a real protocol conversion from USB to PLC. What you have to look at is if what it does is only "adapt" the USB signals to be supported in the PLC transport or if it presents it as a device. If what it does is the former, you will also need a PLC-USB converter on the other end. Although I insist that I don't know these devices to know the real behavior they have.

[MaEBLoR]

The PLC-USB is expensive if the iodine is expensive, only the USB part is worth €120

This system works simply by inserting a PLC to USB converter, but what makes it work is software on the pc that the device will use. The software puts the information through the network, the network is supposed to be connected to PLC and one of the PLC is this little device of 120 euros, which will recognize that it is for it and make the USB work. It is sold only for €120 the USB part or €145 euros the kit of a normal PLC Rj-45 to electrical network plus the one that collects from the electrical network to pass to usb.

And the cheap system I am looking at, is really not an adapter, it is a usb extension by ethernet-rj45, it brings as you say a female part and a male part of usb, the characteristics say that it reaches about 150 feet with rj-45 cable, which I don't care if I try it this way, because I will crimp a cord of 50cm at most and swearing... it must have plenty of power for this. And in price, like everything... to the Chinese, between 8 and 9 euros the two models I have seen. Then I order it, it will take a while to arrive if it comes from joncon xD

[MaEBLoR]

This is the USB extender by PLC, in case anyone is curious to see it. But I think it's very expensive... although there will be people who will compensate for those 145€ of the kit...

dLAN 200 AV USB extender Starter Kit

[lforos]

I don't understand you well. If the idea is to put the USB device "two floors above the house", what do you mean by putting a cord of only 50 cm? Do you mean this distance only for tests?, because two floors probably imply more than six meters.

Anyway, a category 5 UTP cable should let you carry low voltage signals in conditions of more than 30 meters so you shouldn't have any problem.

[MaEBLoR]

@lforos:

I don't understand you well. If the idea is to put the USB device "two floors above the house", what do you mean by putting a cord of only 50 cm? Do you mean this distance only for testing?, because two floors probably imply more than six meters.

Anyway, a category 5 UTP cable should let you carry low voltage signals under conditions of more than 30 meters so you shouldn't have any problems.

The thing is…

-pc>usb to rj45 adapter>plc>powerline>plc>rj45 to usb adapter>wifiusb

The 50cm cord is because you don't need more if it's really going to go through a PLC. The issue of using PLC is because you don't have access to lay cables well, plus I doubt that a gadget from China like that adapter is going to have a minimum of power.

I'm making a giant omni antenna for the person who wants to use this experiment, to see if the antenna works, because I'm a disaster at soldering xD

[lforos]

If you use a conventional ethernet to PLC connector, I think it won't work for you because it does a protocol conversion and what it expects to receive through the RJ45 is ethernet protocol, not USB. Let's say it works as an access point for a different physical network, so it solves the conversion at a higher network level than mere electrical signal.

Can't you just run a normal UTP cable to the place where you're going to put the USB device? If so, the configuration PC > USB to RJ45 > UTP cable > RJ45 to USB > USB device would work well for you.

[Kernel1.0]

@MaEBLoR:

The thing is…

-pc>usb to rj45 adapter>plc>powerline>plc>rj45 to usb adapter>wifiusb

Look how you like to complicate your life…
PC\\PLC\\PLC\\Wifi access point

[MaEBLoR]

@lforos:

If you use a conventional PLC ethernet connector, I think it won't work for you because it does a protocol conversion and what it expects to receive through the RJ45 is ethernet protocol not USB. Let's say it works as an access point for a different physical network, so it solves the conversion at a higher network level than mere electrical signal.

Can't you just run a normal UTP cable to the place where you're going to put the USB device? If so, the configuration PC > USB to RJ45 > UTP cable > RJ45 to USB > USB device would work well for you.

The adapter is a kit, it comes with a male USB on one side and a female USB on the other side, look at a little picture…

My doubt is if it will fight with the PLC xD

[MaEBLoR]

@Kernel1.0:

Look how you like to complicate your life…
PC\\PLC\\PLC\\Wifi access point

XD

I could also buy the antenna made and instead I have a cut on the palm of my hand from watching TV and cutting the cable at the same time :ugly: ajajajaja

The thing about using this is because it already has USB WIFI, besides it is 2w and has quite a lot of power, it also has PLC.

I would have to buy either the USB-RJ45 adapters, or a access point. And the adapter is worth less than 9€, besides we do experiments and we don't get bored xD
The problem is that the USB doesn't give electricity, but it's solved with a hub that was in the drawer… it has its own power supply, 2A takes the crap, so it's more than enough that I have already tested it.

[Kernel1.0]

You can find access points for less than 20€, but if it's for your entertainment, I'm not the one to deprive you of fun.

[MaEBLoR]

@lforos:

Can't you just run a normal UTP cable to the site where you're going to put the USB device? If so, the configuration PC > USB to RJ45 > UTP cable > RJ45 to USB > USB device would work well for you.

I can't believe I'm answering this!!

You can't run the cable because you don't have access to the holes where the cables are run, and the person who does have access is never there; it's an empty house. Plus, I think they'll be moving in a couple of months to another place, and the whole PLC thing looked easier to set up/take down... than the issue of running cables and such.

[Nemo]

@MaEBLoR:

XD

I could also buy the antenna made and instead I have a cut on the palm of my hand from watching TV and cutting cable at the same time :ugly: ajajajaja

The thing about using this is because I already have USB WIFI, besides it's 2w and it has enough power, I also have PLC.

I would have to buy either the USB-RJ45 adapters, or an access point. And the adapter is worth less than 9€, besides we do experiments and we don't get bored xD
The problem is that the USB doesn't give electricity, but it's solved with a hub that was in the drawer… it has its own power supply, 2A takes the crap, so it's more than enough that I've already tested it.

Of course yes!! These experiments are the cool ones and keep creativity awake. ;D
That then they don't work…at least they try. But if they work it tastes like the sweetest of victories. :fuckyea:

Best regards