Black Box ICU504A – 4-Port USB 3/2/1 Extender over CATx Cable

Product Overview

The Black Box ICU504A is a 4-port USB 3.1/2.0/1.1 extender that carries all USB signals over standard CATx cable, extending the distance between USB host computers and USB peripheral devices up to 100 meters (328 feet). Designed for conference rooms, huddle spaces, commercial meeting rooms, and secure environments where USB peripherals must be located away from the host computer, the ICU504A supports simultaneous operation of USB 3.1 Gen 1, USB 2.0, and USB 1.1 devices across all four ports. AV integrators and IT managers deploying conferencing cameras, interactive displays, docking stations, and other USB peripherals benefit from the ICU504A's multi-standard compatibility and straightforward CATx installation over existing structured cabling.

Product Description

The ICU504A extends USB 3.1 (Gen 1, 5 Gbps), USB 2.0 (480 Mbps), and USB 1.1 (12 Mbps) device connections from a host computer to a remote location up to 100 meters away over a single CATx cable run. The extender consists of a local unit (transmitter) connected to the host computer's USB port and a remote unit (receiver) where USB peripherals are plugged in. All four ports on the remote unit operate simultaneously, supporting a mix of USB 3, USB 2, and USB 1.1 devices at their native speeds without any compromise in performance. This makes the ICU504A particularly well-suited for conference room and huddle space deployments where a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) docking area, conferencing camera, interactive whiteboard, or USB-to-video converter must be located at the table or display wall, while the host computer or rack-mounted PC remains in a nearby equipment closet or rack. In access-controlled environments such as government facilities or secure operations centers, the ICU504A allows operators to physically separate the compute equipment from the user workspace without sacrificing peripheral functionality. Medical imaging workstations, surveillance monitoring stations, and broadcast control positions are additional deployment contexts where extending USB across structured cabling is a practical alternative to running USB cable directly. The ICU504A leverages existing Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat6a cable infrastructure, eliminating the need for new cable pulls in retrofit installations. Creation Networks carries the full Black Box USB extender and KVM product line at creationnetworks.net.

Key Features

• 4 USB Ports on Remote Unit — Simultaneously supports four USB peripheral connections at the remote end over a single CATx cable.
• USB 3.1, 2.0, and 1.1 Compatible — All three USB generations operate concurrently across the four ports without cross-generation degradation.
• Up to 100m Extension Distance — Extends USB signals 328 feet (100 meters) over Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat6a structured cabling.
• Uses Existing CATx Infrastructure — Installs over standard structured cabling, avoiding disruptive or costly new cable runs in retrofit environments.
• Transparent USB Operation — Host computer sees attached USB devices as if they are locally connected; no special drivers required for the extender itself.
• Broad Peripheral Compatibility — Supports conferencing cameras, docking stations, interactive whiteboards, touch screens, flash drives, keyboards, mice, and USB-to-video converters.
• Compact Form Factor — Local and remote units are small enough for table, rack, or wall-box installation in constrained spaces.

Typical Applications

• Conference room
• Huddle room
• Boardroom
• Government space
• Commercial meeting space
• Training room

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions