CatX KVM extenders are devices specifically designed to increase the distance that a keyboard, monitor and mouse (Console) can be placed from a computer or KVM switch. CatX KVM extenders can also extend the connection from a computer to audio devices.

Although associated with Data Centre administration, CatX KVM extenders have been installed in Classrooms and computer facilities where physical access to the computer must be restricted.

CatX KVM extenders were first introduced to the Data Centre market to overcome the distance dependent bandwidth limitations of traditional VGA cable and the distance limitations of the PS/2 protocol.

The SVGA (HD15) connector is by far the most common interface used to connect a display to a computer. The VGA standard originally supported a resolution of 640×480 and it is possible to extend VGA up to a distance of 150 meters or more over good quality VGA cable. However, high quality VGA cable is dual shielded and contains mini coax cores to carry the colour signals. This makes the cable thick, stiff, difficult to terminate and install and is therefore a poor choice for long distance cable runs. Also, modern computer graphics cards still utilise the VGA connector and cable, but now resolutions of 1920×1080 are not uncommon. These high resolution computer graphics do not transmit well over long distances of VGA cable as the high frequency signal components suffer severe degradation and result in a poor quality image.

CatX KVM extenders will maintain image quality and peripheral signals (mouse & keyboard) up to 300m depending on the CatX KVM extender that is installed.

In addition to this, the PS/2 keyboard and mouse protocol is only designed to run to a distance of about 10m, so longer keyboard and mouse cables do not work with all peripherals. This combination of factors means that the VGA and PS/2 protocols must be modified in some way for successful long distance transmission, and this is what the CatX KVM extenders are designed to achieve.

The entry level CatX KVM extender (CatX KVM) extends a console up to 150m from the trasnmitter unit, with no local console at the transmitter.

CatX KVM extenders also include a universal transmitter (CatX Universal Tx , CatX Universal Tx2) and different receiver options.

CatX universal transmitters have a local console facility. The remote or local console is available on a first come, first served basis.

Console only receivers such as the CatX Console Rx (150m) and CatXQ Supervisor (300m with local PC option).