News from B&B Electronics Ltd Westlink Commercial Park, Oranmore, Co. Galway, Ireland +353 91 792444 FAX +353 91 792445 For further information, contact: Paddy Coyne at B&B Electronics Ltd +353 91 792444 e-mail: pcoyne@bb-europe.com 23 September 2005 For Immediate Release: Connect USB devices over a quarter mile apart? The USB standard calls for a maximum range of 5 meters (16.4 feet), but you can stretch this useful protocol to over 100 meters using standard UTP cabling, or as much as 500 meters (1640 feet) by using fiber cable. This magic is made possible through the use of the new Ulinx™ USB Extender Modules from B&B Electronics. “We’re not fudging on the USB Standard,” says B&B Electronics Director of Marketing (and past Director of Engineering) Mike Fahrion. “These are fully compliant with the USB specification. They deliver all of the benefits of USB, including remote device powering, plug and play operation, and cross-platform flexibility.” Ulinx USB extenders are composed of two separate units, the local extender and the remote extender. The user supplies up to 100 meters of Cat 5 cable or 500 meters of fiber optic cable to connect the modules. “It may even be able to use an existing cable, allowing you to use the copper or fiber data lines you have in place now for USB devices,” said Fahrion. “The fiber conductor models bring an added benefit to the table,” continued Fahrion. “Since fiber is inherently immune to electrical and radio interference, the fiber models give you surge protection and optical isolation. Many customers will purchase this product strictly for the isolation feature.” B&B Electronics has copper media models for USB Type 1.1 with ranges of 50 meters and 100 meters. A 50 meter version for USB Type 2.0 is also available. If fiber optic is your media of choice, there are 10 meter and 500 meter versions available. For further information on Ulinx USB extenders, visit the B&B Electronics website at www.bb-europe.com/ulinx - END - This copy and a high resolution photo are available on our website at http://www.bb-europe.com/press_releases/ulinx.html Please contact me if we can be of any further information on PC based data communications. Mike Fahrion EE, Marketing Director mfahrion@bb-elec.com 815-433-5100 ext 215