[mythtv-users] Network Attached USB Adapter

[Brian Wood]

On Tuesday 13 April 2010 10:01:38 am Greg Oliver wrote:
> On Tue, Apr 13, 2010 at 10:58 AM, Brian Wood <beww at beww.org> wrote:
> > On Tuesday 13 April 2010 09:51:42 am Andre wrote:
> >> On 13 Apr 2010, at 16:27, Brian Wood wrote:
> >> > On Tuesday 13 April 2010 09:20:13 am Kirk Bocek wrote:
> >> >> Someone asked recently about a way to attach USB devices through the
> >> >> LAN. Just saw this:
> >> >>
> >> >> http://www.addonics.com/products/nas/ADU2N1G.asp
> >> >>
> >> >> Some suggested setting up an Acer Revo or somesuch to host USB
> >> >> devices. But *this* is really what we're thinking about: No OS to
> >> >> maintain, only $50, 5V power, etc.
> >> >
> >> > Interesting device, and a lot cheaper than any other similar solution
> >> > I've seen.
> >> >
> >> > I wonder what would happen if part of the network link was wireless
> >> > (like a WiFi bridge). IOW, what network layer does it operate on?
> >>
> >> I had a client who wanted to use one across a wan!?! At least they paid
> >> me to confirm that it didn't work across the wan and wasn't a reliable
> >> or fast solution across a local net either. They operate at L2
> >> (Ethernet) so wifi will be fine provided it's just wifi and not a nat
> >> router too or at least on the private side.
> >>
> >> >> I don't see any mention of OS support on the page. I assume Linux
> >> >> support will *not* be provided by the manufacturer.
> >>
> >> I believe there is some generic linux support for those sort of things
> >> but I found that in Windows the extra latency made it very slow and
> >> unreliable at best.
> >
> > That's what I was concerned about. Obviously I'm thinking about an
> > HD-PVR, essentially turning it into an HDHR-type network device.
> >
> > I suspect they are designed for things like keyboards, mice and printers,
> > all of which don't move a lot of data real fast.
> >
> > But for $50, it might be worth giving it a try.
> 
> I would tend to say there is no way it will work.  Since me having a
> USB cable 1 foot over spec caused it to negotiate at 1.1 speed..  I
> had to move my whole setup to get the hdpvr within USB spec range
> before it would work for me  :(

That's what I figure, but if I can think of something to use it for when it 
fails with the hdpvr (like maybe USB-based IR stuff), then I may risk the $50.

Actually, $50 is cheaper than a lot of print servers out there.

But the Linux driver problem will still remain.