I'm almost finished with a "mini-media" room in the basement, and I have one niggling issue: I need to run a fiber optic cable (through lo-volt conduit) from a computer (mobo with Toslink out) to an input to the Zon whole house audio controller. The problem being is that they're about 40 feet apart (via conduit twists and turns).
I'm reading in spots that fiber optic (pre-made Toslink cable) will need some sort of amplifier after about 20 feet. Has anyone gone this length with no issue before? I have the option to use digital coax if I have to (same length), but I thought because of the length, fiber would be better suited (EMI, etc. in the room).
I don't have the option of moving where the 'puter will be, so I'm kinda stuck at this point.
Any help / insight would be appreciated!
Jay

I've never used one longer than 20', but the customer reviews on this 50' cable are good:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022901&p_id=2767&seq=1&format=2

Quality cable, and be sure it does not have any bend radius of less than 6 inches. 12 better. I know that is hard to maintain, but it is more important than the length.

I would run Coax instead of fibre optic.

Is there any reason you do not want to use Digital audio over Coax instead??

I have the option to use digital coax if I have to (same length), but I thought because of the length, fiber would be better suited (EMI, etc. in the room).


That is a false assumption, I run coax to 8 different rooms for digital audio (some 150' feet!!) and it work without issues. I use quad shielded RG6 stuff, no reason to waste $$$ and possible issues with fibre optic.

I'm reading in spots that fiber optic (pre-made Toslink cable) will need some sort of amplifier after about 20 feet. Has anyone gone this length with no issue before? I have the option to use digital coax if I have to (same length), but I thought because of the length, fiber would be better suited (EMI, etc. in the room). I don't have the option of moving where the 'puter will be, so I'm kinda stuck at this point.


I've run 10 meter standard fiber cable, no sweat. Also, no sharp bends.

The good longer toslink fiber allegedly has lower loss (i.e., more transparent) which I find to be believable since standard toslink is pretty lossy.

There are also inexpensive and effective toslink/coax converters and I've had good luck with those as well. But I did it for equipment compatibility, not distance issues.

However, I've heard of good results with 100s of feet of good grade coax.

IME toslink is more trouble-free if you can cover the length. No ground loops. No EMI.

That includes using really nice Belden "Brilliance" Quad-sheld, heavy copper coax. My fridge still got to it.

The good longer toslink fiber allegedly has lower loss (i.e., more transparent) which I find to be believable since standard toslink is pretty lossy.

I don't understand, how can a digital signal be lossy?

I have used a 50' optical cable out of my computer and didnt have any issues. You should be fine. I used this exact cable:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10229&cs_id=1022901&p_id=2767&seq=1&format=2

I don't understand, how can a digital signal be lossy?

Given unfavorable conditions, errors could occur in the signal.

MH, yes, that is why we invented signal coding. Most errors can be recovered and corrected. Can't do that with analog!

I don't understand, how can a digital signal be lossy?


The signal isn't lossy, the optical cable is lossy. Think of a really thick plastic window - about 30 feet thick. How transparent do you expect plastic that thick to be, anyway?

That's one reason why serious fiber optic cables are made out of glass - greater transparency.