Re: USB module for monitoring multiple on/off switches

[gordon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Gordon Burditt)]

>Why would somebody get a bunch of paraphenalia to hang on a USB port so they
>can slow the signal down?

How many feet can a USB cable be run before it ceases working even
at the slowest USB speed?  If I need to run the cable to the front
door, back door, refrigerator, freezer, garage doors, every window,
some motion sensors, a couple of smoke alarms, and a keypad, that's
a lot of cable.  On the other hand, polling each sensor 5 times a
second is probably way overkill.

Four USB-to-parallel-port devices, with the parallel-port devices
(with data and control lines, you may be able to sense 10 contact
closures each) spread around the house, might be sufficient.