Long Westflex coax or Long USB cable?

[wibelwobal]

Some food for thought. All comments welcome.

When my Radarbox arrives, I am considering one of two options.

1. Put the radarbox in the loft with 1 meter coax run to loft antenna and therefore minimum loss, and using an active USB extender to enable a 15 meter usb cable down to PC.

2. Have radarbox in office with 2 meter USB cable to PC and 15 meters of Westflex to loft antenna.

Which is going to be the best option?

Gazza

[abrad41]

If it is any help

I use option 1 - But with my Antenna monted outside.

Andy

[malc41]

Would have thought the loss would have been less through the westflex than usb.

[t1mb0]

Hi

trying to spread the word a little here, my RB is in the loft as close to the antenna as possible.
I bought a USB Extender that uses CAT5 network cable in between two adaptors, so I have a single CAT5 from the loft to my permanent PC, about 25m.
This setup has performed fine for me and is the best of both worlds, come on you know it makes sense !

[bailey_uk]

Yep agree with the majority here.

Heard that some USB extenders have trouble over a certain length, or multiple extensions, but I have 2x 5m USB extenders between my laptop and Radar Box, using the supplied Aerial out of a velux window in my bedroom (Baseplate tucked under a slate), and works fine.

I had to make a high shelf on the wall for the box to sit on though.

[t1mb0]

just to re-iterate though, there's a difference here between these USB extenders that use USB cable, which use typically, fixed lengths eg 5m of USB 'daisy chained' between connectors, and the type that use CAT5 cable between the ends, IMO you are better off with the type that use the CAT5.

The other points mentioned above re RF loss etc , yes you will get loss over coax, but there's no RF going down the USB cable, so there is nothing to lose.

Those more technically in the know will correct me but I'd hazard a guess that USB either works or it doesn't ie the signals passing down it might even be digital.

Right, that's me, i'm ducking behind the sofa now.

[malc41]

t!mb0

Agreed and with the lenghts we are probably talking about it probably is acceptable, but  there is a limit to any cable and as you said the biggest problem is the connectors.