I have a ceiling-mounted projector. I have a laptop. There is a directly cabled CAT5e run between the two. Can I get a VGA signal between them, using 'just' the cable run and perhaps some 'modified' cable :rubchin:

I've referred to VGA over Cat-5 cable but was wondering if ready-made cables existed as my soldering skills are, err, a little rusty

Thoughts please!

Cheers,

Steve

You need a balun, well two-of.

You get a pair, one transmit, one recieve. VGA degrades quite a bit, so these witll convert to CAT5 then boost the signal.

VGA and audio - DATABAY|AVE-M180TR|VGA AND AUDIO EXTENDER, CAT5 | CPC

DVI - Tx - DATABAY|DVIE-101T|DVI TRANSMITTER, CAT5 | CPC / Rx - DATABAY|DVS-DR|DVI RECEIVER, CAT5, 25M | CPC

Trouble is I've tried video senders over the same connection and they weren't worth the money so they got sent back!

So you think I need to re-visit this solution, perhaps with some better quality kit?

What I really want to do is just run a VGA cable straight between the projector and terminate it in a desk box (it's in a conference room). But I can't 'elegantly' get to the centre of the table, not without bringing up a concrete floor and running a conduit.

Steve

Or VGA (cheap and potentially nasty!): Tx - --|50-10250|VGA CAT5 BALUN, PC SIDE | CPC / Rx - --|50-10255|VGA CAT5 BALUN, MONITOR SIDE | CPC

We use this tech (specifically the VGA/audio Databay's although we've moved on to more expensive ones) on approaching 2000 sites, with a fairly decent uptime. I think most of the problems we do experience are with them being on 24/7/365 lol

is this the sort of thing you are looking for?

Video Splitters & Extenders | Sharing, Converting, Extending | LINDY UK

is this the sort of thing you are looking for?

Video Splitters & Extenders | Sharing, Converting, Extending | LINDY UK

Thanks, but this does look familiar to the kit I've already tried. And particularly VGA Extender - CAT5e, 50m | VGA | Extenders | Audio / Video | LINDY UK - this seems an awful lot of money, if the same can be done by making up a cable with RJ45 at one end and an HD15 at the other

Babs - can you send me some details of the stuff you're using? I'll PM you with an email address. Thanks

Cheers,

Steve

Have a look at Blackbox. Their stuff is usually ok.

Product Display: Black Box Network Services

£150+ for a kit though!

Product Display: Black Box Network Services

£150+ for a kit though!

Blackbox are never cheap, but they do have some stuff you can't get elsewhere.

Cheers guys, will take a look. Don't have a problem spending money, if I can prove that it will be a value-for-money solution

That's the difficult bit....

Steve

The other thing! You can't put VGA through switches/hubs/routers etc!

They will let you return within 15 days, so you can try it out and return it if it's no good.

The other thing! You can't put VGA through switches/hubs/routers etc!

That's OK, he says he has direct cable.

Yeah, it's a straight run. I realise a VGA signal through any type of switching would make for an interesting outcome

Steve

I'd avoid the Belkin devices that claim to do this. Incredibly poor quality and not especially reliable!

Phil

What I'm battling with at the moment is whether something from the likes of Black Box actually does the job any better than a modded RJ45>HD15 cable?? :rubchin:

Steve

I'd recommend the Databay's, no additional PSU's

What I'm battling with at the moment is whether something from the likes of Black Box actually does the job any better than a modded RJ45>HD15 cable?? :rubchin:

Steve

I suspect trying to bodge it over a cable would look terrible.

It is an interesting one. After all, the Blackbox is using a piece of CAT5 as its transport method.

So I'm again left wondering exactly what else there is to it? What else is in the Blackbox? A booster of some sort?

Steve

It is an interesting one. After all, the Blackbox is using a piece of CAT5 as its transport method.

So I'm again left wondering exactly what else there is to it? What else is in the Blackbox? A booster of some sort?

Steve

Some filtering, processing, amplification and impedance-matching circuitry I'd imagine. I'd guess it will modulate the signal on some carrier to pass it over the twisted pair cable (remember, twisted-pair cables are intended for a balanced signal on each pair to cancel out common-mode noise) and then demodulates it the other end.

Thanks. Just the sort of info I was looking for.

Cheers,

Steve

:bump:

I've been recommended these after speaking to BlackBox, as they'll handle video better:

Product Display: Black Box Network Services

But is this simply because they want me to spend more money? :rubchin:

I was originally going for these:

Product Display: Black Box Network Services

I need one source, but two display modules (for projector and LCD TV), so the more expensive option will also leave me with a spare source module, as you need to buy them in pairs

Thoughts?

Cheers,

Steve

The original ones that you were looking at don't have a very good resolution capability though (640 x 480).