Simplest Device to access a computer 30' away

Hi Geniuses

I have my main computer, which has a Wi-Fi
anternna, in one room A and I work occasionally in
another room B about 30' away. I could easily
connect wires between the two points.

All I want to do is to transfer small amounts of
data to the main computer. Ideally, I should be
able to see the main computer screen.

What would be the lowest-cost device that could
handle this?

TIA

 

Lowest cost would be a wire.
Otherwise an access point and wi0fi.

 

You can get USB buffer cables. Connect two in a row, to reach 30 feet.
Before buying one, you want to check the reviews, to make sure it
works when two are put in a row. Some don't work right. One reviewer
says this one works OK.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16812232008

Plug a USB keyboard into the end of the cable. As long as the
keyboard uses less than 100mA of current, it should work OK. If
it doesn't for some reason, connect a powered USB hub at the end
of the cable. That can power the keyboard, if the USB bus power
isn't working right for some reason.

At the computer, open a notepad session, Place the
cursor in notepad.

Now, walk to the other room.

Type the "small amount of data" on the keyboard.
If you think you made a mistake, make a note of it
on the keyboard, and retype the data. You don't need
to see the Notepad session to do this. Simply
hit return after each datum. Later, you can return
to the main computer room, and make corrections.
Then copy/paste to some other tool, if needed.

Since you don't have a mouse with you in the other room,
the cursor should stay in the Notepad window.

A computer can be run with multiple keyboards and mice,
and all the input just gets combined. So you don't need
to disconnect the remote keyboard when you're finished.

By using no display device, you'll save money.

Total project cost - $10 for keyboard + 2 x $10 for USB
active extension cables (the ones with a "blob" on one end).
There is a limit on the number of extension cables that
can be connected together, as each one uses a "one port hub"
as the active extension device. Using two or three should be
OK.

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/12-232-008-02.jpg

$10 keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16823131131

Paul

 

Thanks everyone for the replies. Seems like
everyone had a different interpretation of what I
was looking for, and that I didn't make myself clear.

"What would be the lowest-cost device that could
handle this?"
The device is to be located in room B and
communicate data back to the computer in Room A.
What device is recommended?

Last night, after I posted, I saw online a small
Dell notepad that would do the job at a very
reasonable price - less than $250.

Any other suggestions?

 

We don't know what kind of data or what you are doing but assume that the
'device' would be another computer.

I think we were under the impression you were asking about a connection
method. Not a device.
If you use a laptop you can conect with an RJ45 cable made for connecting
between two computers.

Step up from there to a router or a switch.

from there to a wireless 54g connection..

YOU can run VNC on the laptop and have access to your desktop on the other
machine also if you wish.

 

"RF" wrote ...

Perhaps we still don't understand your conditions?

Why wouldn't a $15 USB thumb drive work?
Why wouldn't a $5 crossover network cable work?

I would consider $250 to be 10x outrageous for a solution
to transfer data between 2 different computers, whether
real-time (Ethernet) or batch (sneakernet).

"Never underestimate the bandwidth of a station wagon full
of tapes hurtling down the highway."
Tanenbaum, Andrew S. (1996). Computer Networks.
New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. pp. 83. ISBN 0-13-349945-6.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sneakernet recommended read.

 

My thanks again to everyone.

The device I referred to was what would transmit
the data from room B. I thought that was clear. My
rambling mind hit phones, PDAs, mini computers,
etc. at that time but I hadn't a clue about prices.

Seems like you hit it on the nail Ken. I'll check
out your suggestions.

Sorry about the choice of newsgroup., Which one
would have been a better choice for this query?

 

True but I often have to make 3 or 4 trips between
the rooms about 35' apart.
The right device would save those trips and the
time of writing and later typing in.

Apologies to all for the lack of info in my first
post. I am not up-to-date with computer
communication devices, so I was waiting for
suggestions from people who are. What I had
initially in mind was a device with a small screen
and a keyboard and the means of transferring the
data to the main computer. I didn't specify that
to leave more room for OPs ideas.

To be a bit more specific about the setup, the
main computer has a WiFi receiver (real wiring is
also available) and the reason for interacting
with it is that room B is a kitchen where food
details (weights mostly) are determined. These
data are to be sent to the main computer - about
35 numbers each day. To be able to input the data
directly to the program running in the main
computer would be very convenient.

Ken came closest to the solution - seems like a
PDA with WiFi should do the job. I have never used
a PDA and am assuming that I could input the data
from it via WiFi directly to the program in the
compoter.

Thanks again for all your efforts.

 

It doesn't even have to be an old one.
You can buy a new laptop for under $400.
It wouldn't be what you or I might use, but would be adequate for entering a
little data.

David

 

That's definately the easiest way to do this.

Been a while since I've purchased a laptop. I inherited both of mine from
my son in a rock band. He stepped on one in the middle of the night .. so I
replaced the display and voila! The other one he sent out because it stopped
working and once I cleaned all the dog hair out of the cooling system and
replaced the hard drive! Voila! A nice big noisy HP ZD8000.

I run VNC a lot here with all the computers I have in house. The older I get
the more handy that little app is.

 

"Flatulent Father Flannigan" wrote...

You can likely get a "netbook" class portable computer AND
a USB-connectable scale for <$400 total. You could run the
(unidentified) application on the netbook and not even involve
the remote computer. The ~$350 netbook-class computers
I've seen have 100GB hard drives and are capable of running
most apps directly (except maybe for HD NLE, etc.)

Indeed. No way could I keep ~100 classroom PCs running
without remote control. An excellent example of computers
making our jobs easier.

 

My thanks again to all.

Now I have enough info to get me on my way.

Have a great week

 

The OP might also consider using online software such as Google Docs
to update text or spreadsheet input over the Internet.