Extron has announced the USB Extender xi Series, which extends and switches USB signals from peripheral devices to a host computer up to 600 metres through a Gigabit Ethernet network or up to 100 metre point-to-point over one CATx cable.
It supports High-Speed (USB 2) and earlier devices. The transmitter can be powered by the host computer or included power supply and provides USB peripheral emulation to enable the booting of a host computer that is not connected to a keyboard or mouse. The receiver features a built-in, active four-port hub with up to 500 mA of power per port.
The matrix controller allows control for a distributed USB matrix switching system over an Ethernet network.
The USB Extender xi Series supports a wide range of USB peripherals, including interactive whiteboards, keyboards, mice, mass storage devices, webcams, headsets, and speakers, while USB Extender xi HID models help secure installations by restricting connectivity to authorised device types.
Available in multiple form factors for integration, the series can be combined with the USB Matrix Controller xi to create scalable distributed USB switching systems with up to 64 transmitters and receivers while offering centralised management and control.