Novel approach to a "Remote Observatory"

[Macavity]

Not my observatory, so perhaps best in this section, rather than DIY observatories:

http://www.ourastrog...ction/id14.html

Still engaged on "remote experiments" myself. I am pretty much aware too that the conventional wisdom / setup uses "Windows Remote" or "Teamviewer" from desktop machine to a fairly Potent Laptop in the observatory. I've done my own tests on mid range USB extenders with good, but sub-100%(?) reliability... Yet now so tantalisingly close. I'm still hampered by my current horrible-hybrid modern 64bit machine running from a previously installed 32 bit windows XP disk drive!

This USB over Cat5 (Cat 6 here!) extender to be precise:

http://www.lindy.co....-up-to-50m-p439 (USB 1.1, Good, but not 100% perfect?)

The remote end into a posh / powered / metal hubs whose brand escape me just now...

But here the guy uses a more refined USB extender (see UK supplier link):

http://www.ourastrog...ction/id14.html (from the "USB Ranger" series)

But with this (plus USB hub) as Prime Mover, rather than remote access.

He does use remote access for occasional link back to his desktop machine.

I note that this (single chan) "USB Ranger" retails at £256 here. Faced with outlay of £300+ on an "Observatory Laptop", I sense the idea of long USB links is not as "dead in the water" as suggested or I had thought! I am aware of the "scalability" limitations. But I already have a fair variety of 30m cables in place, including two Cat6's...

I'd still prefer to run minimal computer hardware in the observatory. There is something appealing about his "reverse" solution. Of course less challenging for "Video Astronomers" - Our data comes along 75 Ohm coax and not USB 2.0 camera links. I can even control my Watec over 30m - Just DC levels over 2x8 way "alarm" cable.

I still accept the conventional wisdom (Astronomer addiction to Teamviewer etc.)

As ever the crucial factor is the reliability of long USB links. But food for thought?

Gotta hand it to our 'American Cousins' - A mighty purdy lil' observatory, Huh?

http://www.ourastrog...ction/id17.html