KVM extenders run up to 10km

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Nov 3, 2004

Scene Double has introduced a range of DVI digital KVM extenders that allow remote operation of a computer CPU at distances of up to 10km using just two fibre-optic cables.

A new range of products for keyboard, video and mouse (KVM) extension allow remote operation of a computer CPU at distances of up to 10km using just two fibre-optic cables.

Manufactured in Germany by IHSE, the DDXi series of KVM extenders are particularly suitable for cross-site applications where multiple CPUs may be located in a separate building to protect them from hazards such as adverse environmental conditions, theft or unauthorised installation of software.

Typical users are expected to be government and military establishments, industrial companies, audiovisual and broadcast organisations, airports and call centres.

Consisting of a local unit, a remote unit, two power supplies, CPU cable and DVI/VGA adapters, each set of extenders provides standard PS/2 connections for keyboard and mouse, as well as supporting both digital (DVI) and analogue (UXGA) video interfaces up to a maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200.

Because the extenders convert analogue signals into binary coded data prior to transmission over a fibre-optic link, users have complete flexibility in the way that they configure their system: the local unit may be attached either to an analogue or DVI graphics card, while the remote unit can be connected to either an analogue or DVI monitor, irrespective of the type of graphics card in the CPU.

In addition, a dual access facility enables a second KVM console to be connected to the DDXi local unit at the CPU.

The extenders are available in two main versions designed for use with either a pair of multi-mode fibre-optic cables for transmission distances up to 400m or a pair of single-mode fibre-optic cables, which provide the maximum transmission distance of 10km.

As an alternative to the standard PS/2 connections for keyboard and mouse, the DDXi extenders can be specified with transparent USB 1.1 interfaces if required.

Other options include stereo audio and serial interface support, as well as a 19in rack-mount kit accommodating up to three DDXi devices.

For applications where budgets are particularly constrained, the extenders are also offered in low-cost versions for use with Cat5 cable, providing both DVI and analogue support over distances up to 100m.