wireless mouse/keyboard with long range?

[weepul]

I'm setting up a HTPC (home theater pc) and one of the problems i've hit is the mouse. my living room is about 20ft long and most RF wireless mouse/keyboard only gives me about a range of 6ft. I currently have a Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse 2.0 installed and it's giving me about 5ft ish before it lags or stops responding.

Is my only option to go bluetooth? Will bluetooth give me the 20ft that I need? How bout infrared. I know those aren't as good as RF, but when long distance is concerned and I have a direct line of sight, would it work over 20ft?

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[Pr0d1gy]

Logitech Bluetooth combo? I read where someone could use their from the next room over through a wall basically.

MX900+matching keyboard.

 

[Amaroque]

Originally posted by: weepul
I'm setting up a HTPC (home theater pc) and one of the problems i've hit is the mouse. my living room is about 20ft long and most RF wireless mouse/keyboard only gives me about a range of 6ft. I currently have a Microsoft Wireless Intellimouse 2.0 installed and it's giving me about 5ft ish before it lags or stops responding.

Is my only option to go bluetooth? Will bluetooth give me the 20ft that I need? How bout infrared. I know those aren't as good as RF, but when long distance is concerned and I have a direct line of sight, would it work over 20ft?

Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

//krunk (^_^x)

For that distance, bluetooth is currently the only option that I know of. 20 feet is no problem for bluetooth. On my MS bluetooth KB/mouse, 60 feet is flawless. I haven't tested any farther, because I can't hardly see the mouse pointer at 60 feet (19" LCD).

 

[weepul]

thanks for you replies. guess bluetooth is the way to go.

can i know which model your ms bluetooth kb/mouse is?

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[Amaroque]

I'm using the MS "Desktop Elite for Bluetooth" You need to be aware that you may not have Bluetooth support in the BIOS. You will may (depending on your MB) need to use a standard keyboard while in the BIOS.

I haven't used Logitech's Bluetooth solution, but I would imagine similar performance.

 

[Zepper]

My A4Tech gets over 20' on the kbd and about 16' on the mouse. YMMV. Bluetooth is kind of an expensive way to go. If you play with the orientation of the little receiver box of the A4Tech systems, you may get more distance.

.bh.