StarTech.com 4-Port USB 2.0-Over-Cat5-or-Cat6 Extender - 130ft (40m)

Product Overview

AI-generated summary

StarTech’s 4‑port USB 2.0-over-Cat5/6 extenders are one of those “quietly useful” tools when you actually need to get USB devices further away than a normal cable run allows. For £140.83 ex‑VAT, the value is there if you’ve got a real deployment problem—think receptionist hardware, a scanner, barcode gun, licence dongle, or small USB peripherals tucked away in another room/zone. The 40m headline is believable for USB 2.0 use cases, and using Cat5/6 keeps installs cleaner than chasing long USB leads around ceilings and floors.

That said, I wouldn’t buy this for anything that’s bandwidth-hungry, timing-sensitive, or picky—USB 2.0 over Ethernet isn’t the same as running native USB at the endpoint. You might see issues with some webcams, fast storage, or devices that enumerate/reconnect aggressively. Also check your environment: if you’re running through patch panels, random-quality cable, or electrically noisy runs, performance can fall off. If your goal is “reliable extensions for simple peripherals,” it’s a sensible buy; if your goal is “turn it into a long USB workstation,” you’re more likely to regret it.