I'm trying to place a VGA/DVI monitor, keyboard, and mouse about 10–20 meters away from an HP ProDesk 400 G5 SFF desktop. The computer has VGA, USB, and DisplayPort outputs, while the monitor only has VGA and DVI.
My current setup uses USB-to-UTP adapters with a 20-meter network cable for the keyboard and mouse. For video, I'm using a VGA-to-UTP extender, a 20-meter UTP cable, and a UTP-to-VGA adapter. The picture has noticeable color loss and other display problems.
I don't need high-quality video for gaming or movies, but text, websites, and applications need to remain clear and readable. Would a normal long VGA cable be better? Should I use DisplayPort or DVI instead, and are there better ways to extend the video and USB connections over UTP?
3 Answers
The keyboard and mouse also need proper active USB-over-Cat extenders. A passive USB-to-network adapter does not convert USB into a signal that can reliably travel over ordinary UTP cable. For video, use a matched VGA extender or, preferably, a DisplayPort-to-DVI solution with an extender rated for the full distance.
A straightforward option is simply trying a properly shielded, good-quality VGA cable. Ten meters is normally within a reasonable range, and 20 meters can work if the cable and the computer’s VGA output are decent. Cheap VGA-over-UTP adapters can cause color shifts or ghosting, especially if the transmitter and receiver are not a matched active pair.
If possible, avoid VGA and use a digital connection. A DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter at the computer would let you connect to the monitor’s DVI input. For a 10-meter run, a good-quality cable may be enough; for 20 meters, use an active extender designed for the required signal rather than generic passive adapters. Digital video should keep text and fine lines much sharper than VGA.
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