Splitting VGA

[Sound In Gloucestershire]

Hi, ive searched the forum and found nothing that quite covers what I need it to

 

Ive been using a laptop to do visuals on a Screen (22") and displaying messages when im DJing and occasionally for Karaoke Use. Ive just been coming out of the VGA output on the laptop and using extended desktop. Max distance 2 metres.

 

Now I want to get a 2nd screen and I want it to show the same material as the other screen, max distance upto 10 metres. Ive found this from cpc.. http://cpc.farnell.com/_/av18739/vga-split...to-2/dp/AV18739

A friend has told me that this wont work for this purpose?

 

now ive found this http://cpc.farnell.com/_/av19064/svga-spli...to-2/dp/AV19064

which seems to be a better solution (they also do a 4 way and 8 way solution which is merely a few pounds more, so may just opt for that), however will using this add extra strain onto my laptop and its graphics card or does it just duplicate whats put into it?

 

 

I understand the costs here are pretty low, my problem is time! I need to get the system upgraded by the end of the week!

 

Any help is appreciated, thanks

[david.elsbury]

First link is not recommended as there is no signal amplification so that long runs are a bit of a problem and also display brightness may suffer.

 

Your second link would work just fine, no it won't put any strain on the computer.

[David Duffy]

I don't know why anyone sells (passive) VGA splitter leads. They're just a really bad idea.

[Sully]

Your friend is right. Active splitter boxes like the one you've linked to aren't especially expensive and will work with pretty much most things you can throw at them. Things may look a tiny bit "mushy" if you're running extremely high resolutions especially over longer distances, but for the kind of thing you're using it for it'll be fine.

 

David.

[Pattern123]

10M is not a particularly long run of VGA, I have used passive splitters OK over 5-10M with no problems, an active splitter/DA is better for runs above 10M and for splitting signal to large numbers of monitors. The reason passive splitters are manufactured is for desktop use - putting signal to more than one monitor on a desk. Be warned that some laptops cope better than others with longer VGA runs and split signals though!

[David Duffy]

The thing about passive splitter leads is they simply parallel the monitor loads on the video card output. This double loading is not what video cards are designed to drive into.

 

At best the picture will be darker. Much more likely is the picture can becoming distorted, patterned or unstable.

 

As far as I'm aware, it's just as bad as paralleling composite video. We've see a few damaged DVD and VCD players from people didn't use active splitting.

 

Using active splitting means it will work no matter what the video card is. Desktops, laptops - they're all good with an active splitter!

[Sound In Gloucestershire]

thanks for the great replies everyone, ive ordered the 8 way splitter from CPC as it was only about £20 and gives me loads of capacity for the future (always handy if a venue has screens etc), hopefully should be here in the morning (I say morning, its 4am but just got in from work haha)

[timtheenchanteruk]

those CPC ones, actually aint bad, we have just bought a shed load for work, the new PCs wouldnt drive a monitor and projector via the passive splits that had been used before (not by me) they support up to 2048 x 1536 not had them quite that high, but they cope well with higher resolutions had them up to 1280x1024, our PCs dont go higher than that...

[lonfire]

hi,

I've used the 4way version of your second link.. worked well.. we ran 15m from laptop to splitter then three outputs, 2m to first projector, 6m to second, and 10m to third proejctor.. worked really well for us.

 

regards

chris

[Sound In Gloucestershire]

the 8 way version arrived next thanks (thanks CPC) and it worked a treat, I only ran two sources, both flatscreens, one using a 2m cable and the other a 10m cable, both perfect and im very happy. Not exactly the most testing of conditions, but im happy!

[johndenim]

This is very strange, as I was going to post this very subject!

 

If the active splitter is OK as you say SIG I will order one too.

Unless I could get away with a passive?

I have to run a projector and a separate flatscreen.

 

Very shorts lengths, 5 metres max each.

[Sound In Gloucestershire]

yep, ive now used mine twice, whilst its not a demanding use, its done a good job and I have no complaints (especially for £20 for the 8 way version)

 

and yes its the same providing you are wiring via vga

[johndenim]

Sorry SIG, edit after your post.

For the sake of £20, I guess it's not worth risking the passive 2 way lead.

[Sound In Gloucestershire]

yep could always come in handy if you go to a venue with extra screens

[timtheenchanteruk]

passive is just baaad, sometimes it will work fine, others not, seems to be worse if your cables are not the sma e (or similar) lengths, you get ghosting and all sorts, for the extra cash, get an active.