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View Full Version : Ways to get my mouse working


JungleMan
04-05-2003, 5:40 PM
Hey all, I've had a home theater PC for about half a year now. It's a little less traditional than most machines, but anyhow.

My previous method of, well, using my keyboard and mouse was to wrap 25 foot PS/2 extension cables around the room, with a keyboard and mouse hooked up to the ends. Reason being that I couldn't find any inexpensive wireless kb/mouse combos with a range of about 12 feet.

Much to my dismay, I upgraded the motherboard to an Epox 8RDA+ and discovered that the system doesn't like PS/2 extension cables... :mad: I eventually got the keyboard working (apparently it didn't work with my IBM but it worked with some generic I had...go figure) so I know the cables are not bad. However the mouse, just does not work. I have tried about 5 different kinds of mice, and none of them have worked...yet when I plug the mouse directly into the PS/2 port, it works fine!

I tried the problem in my main computer's Abit NF7-S and it ALSO does not like PS/2 extension cables. I sold the original VIA based board, but I have two more in my house, of which I have not tried yet.

What do you all think I should do about this seemingly trivial problem?

I was thinking a USB solution might work, the mouse is USB anyway. Would 2 10 foot USB extension cables work? I am probably going to need about 20ft to work with. Or since USB has a limit I think, would a wall-powered hub + 10ft extension cable work to circumvent that limit?

mephistopheles
06-05-2003, 7:09 AM
Apparently, some m/bs have weaker ps2 mouse/keyboard signals than others; maybe that's the prob;em with your new board. Have you asked Epox tech support for advice? I have always found them extremely helpful and had an answer back within 24 hours.

USB can be extended a fair bit, I think, but you may need to use repeaters (cables with an amp in them) beyond a certain length. Subject to the cost of those it might be worth investigating wireless components. There was a recent thread which mentioned stuff around £25, as I recall.


http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=77644&highlight=wireless

JungleMan
06-05-2003, 8:00 AM
Would a wall-powered USB hub work the same as a repeater?

mephistopheles
06-05-2003, 10:43 PM
I don't think so. You'll need to check this with someone like Belkin's tech support, but I think you'd need a repeater every 3 metres.

AFAIK the 'power' to the hub does not amplify the USB signals; it merely provides the required voltage to the ports, as per the onboard ports, which I believe have 5V DC.