What's the Longest ADAT optical Cable Run possible?

[Dude Japan]

I have a digital preamp that I'd like to keep out in the studio room.
I read on the wikipedia page ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK )
that I can run 30 feet of Toslink cable without a signal booster.

This is just barely long enough to make it back to my control room.
Has anyone gone longer with such a cable?

[Scott Dorsey]

Dude Japan > wrote:
>I have a digital preamp that I'd like to keep out in the studio room.
>I read on the wikipedia page ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK )
>that I can run 30 feet of Toslink cable without a signal booster.
>
>This is just barely long enough to make it back to my control room.
>Has anyone gone longer with such a cable?

You might be able to go farther, you might not. It depends on the quality
of the cable you use, how straight you keep the cable (bends are an issue),
and how much flakiness you're willing to put up with.

I have seen folks do it. I wouldn't recommend it, but you can try it.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Richard Crowley]

"Scott Dorsey" wrote ...
> Dude Japan wrote:
>>I have a digital preamp that I'd like to keep out in the studio room.
>>I read on the wikipedia page ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK )
>>that I can run 30 feet of Toslink cable without a signal booster.
>>
>>This is just barely long enough to make it back to my control room.
>>Has anyone gone longer with such a cable?
>
> You might be able to go farther, you might not. It depends on the quality
> of the cable you use, how straight you keep the cable (bends are an
> issue),
> and how much flakiness you're willing to put up with.
>
> I have seen folks do it. I wouldn't recommend it, but you can try it.

Aren't there "adapters" to go from the little plastic TOSLINK
"connector" to proper glass fiber optics? I suspect that decent
light-pipe would considerably extend the reliable operating range.
Those TOSLINK extruded plastic "cables" are designed primarily
to be cheap, not to have any significant operating distance.

There are also optical to electrical (and back again) converters
which allow use of coaxial cable vs optical.

[Ron Capik[_3_]]

Dude Japan wrote:
> I have a digital preamp that I'd like to keep out in the studio room.
> I read on the wikipedia page ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK )
> that I can run 30 feet of Toslink cable without a signal booster.
>
> This is just barely long enough to make it back to my control room.
> Has anyone gone longer with such a cable?
Don't know how well it works, but
these guys [MyCableMart] sell Toslink
cables as long as 100 ft.

<
http://www.mycablemart.com/store/cart.php?m=product_list&c=11&gclid=CK3S0LKmpp0CFU1M5QodwCxe8w
>


Later...

Ron Capik
--

[Scott Dorsey]

Richard Crowley > wrote:
>
>Aren't there "adapters" to go from the little plastic TOSLINK
>"connector" to proper glass fiber optics? I suspect that decent
>light-pipe would considerably extend the reliable operating range.
>Those TOSLINK extruded plastic "cables" are designed primarily
>to be cheap, not to have any significant operating distance.

Yes. Hosa even makes some that are pretty good. They are expensive,
but they are the right tool for the job.
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Mike Rivers]

Dude Japan wrote:
> I have a digital preamp that I'd like to keep out in the studio room.
> I read on the wikipedia page ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK )
> that I can run 30 feet of Toslink cable without a signal booster.

That's what the spec says, which means that's what they're pretty sure
will work under the worst conditions. Some will say that TosLink IS the
worst condition. But you can get longer cables and they usually work.

The biggest problem apparently is with the connectors. And while you can
put a better connector on the cable, you can't usually replace the connector
on the equipment you're connecting. And half a good connection is still half
a good connection.

There are repeaters, there are TosLink-to-Ethernet converters, there are
TosLink to glass fiber adapters. All will extend your working range. All
will
cost more than a cheap plastic fiber TosLink cable.

[Arny Krueger]

"Dude Japan" > wrote in message

> I have a digital preamp that I'd like to keep out in the
> studio room. I read on the wikipedia page (
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK ) that I can run 30
> feet of Toslink cable without a signal booster.

That's conventional wisdom, but I've broken that rule myself.

> This is just barely long enough to make it back to my
> control room. Has anyone gone longer with such a cable?

You've got at least 3 options, one being the supersized cables that have
been mentioned, one being the plastic/glass adaptors that have also been
mentioned, and the other being TOSLINK to SPDIF and SPDIF to TOSLINK
converters, using regular coax to go the distance.


And just for fun, a fourth option, a toslink distance extender:

http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Shack-Amplifier-15-1588-connectors/dp/B000GPL6OI


A fifth option, which converts Toslink to CAT-5

http://www.opentip.com/Electronics-Computers/Atlona-Component-Video-Digital-Audio-Cat-Extender-Ft-p-875291.html#

[cedricl[_2_]]

On Oct 5, 10:47*am, "Arny Krueger" > wrote:
> "Dude Japan" > wrote in message
>
>
>
> > I have a digital preamp that I'd like to keep out in the
> > studio room. I read on the wikipedia page (
> >http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK) that I can run 30
> > feet of Toslink cable without a signal booster.
>
> That's conventional wisdom, but I've broken that rule myself.
>
> > This is just barely long enough to make it back to my
> > control room. Has anyone gone longer with such a cable?
>
> You've got at least 3 options, one being the supersized cables that have
> been mentioned, one being the plastic/glass adaptors that have also been
> mentioned, and the other being TOSLINK to SPDIF and SPDIF to TOSLINK
> converters, using regular coax to go the distance.
>
> And just for fun, a fourth option, a toslink distance extender:
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Shack-Amplifier-15-1588-connectors/dp/B00...
>
> A fifth option, which converts Toslink to CAT-5
>
> http://www.opentip.com/Electronics-Computers/Atlona-Component-Video-D...

I use the <http://www.google.com/products/catalog?
client=safari&rls=en&q=C02+audio
+adapter&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6296040863124670578&ei=KVLKSvHwJZCksgPF-
PyhBQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4#ps-sellers>

[WellMixed Press and Info]

On Oct 5, 11:22*am, Ron Capik > wrote:

> Don't know how well it works, but
> these guys [MyCableMart] sell Toslink
> cables as long as 100 ft.
>

Just bought the 35 footer here. Should give me just enough to keep my
bends down and not worry about stretching anything.

Thanks for the input, everyone. I'll let you know how it works out.

[Arny Krueger]

"cedricl" > wrote in message

> On Oct 5, 10:47 am, "Arny Krueger" >
> wrote:
>> "Dude Japan" > wrote in message
>>
>>
>>
>>> I have a digital preamp that I'd like to keep out in the
>>> studio room. I read on the wikipedia page (
>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK) that I can run 30
>>> feet of Toslink cable without a signal booster.
>>
>> That's conventional wisdom, but I've broken that rule
>> myself.
>>
>>> This is just barely long enough to make it back to my
>>> control room. Has anyone gone longer with such a cable?
>>
>> You've got at least 3 options, one being the supersized
>> cables that have been mentioned, one being the
>> plastic/glass adaptors that have also been mentioned,
>> and the other being TOSLINK to SPDIF and SPDIF to
>> TOSLINK converters, using regular coax to go the
>> distance.
>>
>> And just for fun, a fourth option, a toslink distance
>> extender:
>>
>> http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Shack-Amplifier-15-1588-connectors/dp/B00...
>>
>> A fifth option, which converts Toslink to CAT-5
>>
>> http://www.opentip.com/Electronics-Computers/Atlona-Component-Video-D...
>
> I use the <http://www.google.com/products/catalog?
> client=safari&rls=en&q=C02+audio
> +adapter&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=6296040863124670578&ei=KVLKSvHwJZCksgPF-
> PyhBQ&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4#ps-sellers>

I own a C02 and have used it sucessfully as well.

[Meindert Sprang]

"Dude Japan" > wrote in message
...
> I have a digital preamp that I'd like to keep out in the studio room.
> I read on the wikipedia page ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK )
> that I can run 30 feet of Toslink cable without a signal booster.
>
> This is just barely long enough to make it back to my control room.
> Has anyone gone longer with such a cable?

I have once achived a good signal through 250ft of fibre, using a custom
designed receiver circuit and carefully polished fibre ends. In many
commecial cables, the fibre is simply cut to length. But if you polish the
cable, you can gain 50 to 100% increase in length.

Another option is to use glass fibre. The thinner the fibre, the longer the
distance you can get. Also, glass has at least 10 times less attenuation
compared to plastic.

Meindert