Sending video to 2 projectors & 2 LCDs

[crox]

As a church, we are moving from a cinema (lovely big screen to use) to another venue which doesn't offer quite the same opportunity!

We will be running two rear projector with a very short throw. Where we are now, we are able to simply connect one short HDMI cable from laptop to projector. We are looking are a run length of 20 metres from laptop to stage and then 5 metres between each projector. We also want to be able to add a couple of LCDs for stage viewing.

As we are working to a budget, and a tight one at that, what are our options? It needs to be durable as well as it will be packed up each week

[Trunker]

As a church, we are moving from a cinema (lovely big screen to use) to another venue which doesn't offer quite the same opportunity!

We will be running two rear projector with a very short throw. Where we are now, we are able to simply connect one short HDMI cable from laptop to projector. We are looking are a run length of 20 metres from laptop to stage and then 5 metres between each projector. We also want to be able to add a couple of LCDs for stage viewing.

As we are working to a budget, and a tight one at that, what are our options? It needs to be durable as well as it will be packed up each week

 

This option might be the cheapest solution http://www.misco.co.uk/Product/138568/Startech-4-Port-VGA-Video-Splitter-Distribution-Amplifier although I have never used this make. At £34, it should fit within your budget if running VGA which I can now see your not..........for HDMI what about this piece of equipment? http://cpc.farnell.com/1/1/65806-hdmi-distribution-amplifier-2x4-av19289.html

[crox]

Ta for that. Would it work for running media at 720p?

I've had some experience of using this in an outside marquee. Nasty!

[Trunker]

Ta for that. Would it work for running media at 720p?

I've had some experience of using this in an outside marquee. Nasty!

 

Here is the write up off the website.....

 

These HDMI Amplifier Splitter/Switcher allows two HDMI sources to be switched or split to 4 or 8 HDMI outputs. Simply connect your HDMI equipped HDTV displays to the units outputs and view either input on upto 4 or 8 screens.

The unit can be placed at the end of a long HDMI cable to regenerate the HDMI signal.

Inputs: 2x HDMI Sockets

Outputs: 4 or 8 HDMI Sockets

Simple to use requires no settings

HDCP & HDMI 1.3b support

480i, 576i & 1080i Interlaced & 480p,576p,720p, & 1080p Progressive HDTV resolutions

Switching: Inputs could be switched between two HDMI Source

Supports Video Amplifier Bandwidth up to 2.25Gpbs/225MHz

LED Input/output indicators on front

Can be Daisy chained for large distribution

Supplied with power adaptor

s 2x4 Splitter/Switcher

 

Dimensions (WxHxD) 270 x 40 x 181mm

Weight: 1.42kg

2x8 Splitter/Switcher

 

Dimensions (WxHxD) 441 x 45 x 202mm

Weight: 2.26kg

[crox]

OK. So looking at £300 all in with cabling.

 

Would it be cheaper using CAT5e/6 cabling and accessories?

[lite_lad]

If you do have a bit more money it might be worth having a look at Datapath X4 which will give you some additional options with resolutions etc if you have a mixture of 16:9 and 4:3 with the projectors/screens. It would also allow you the option of displaying different content on different screens should you ever want to, ultimately its more flexible.

 

And id stay well clear of any signal over CAT5, they'll generally break lots! and you'll probably lose a lot of the quality from your signal....

[Pete McCrea]

The issue you may come across with long (10m+) HDMI leads is the digital cliff effect, where the signal is no longer readable by the receiver.

 

You may need to either use suitable cables, which can be costly, or employ a reclocking 'Equaliser' device to recreate the eye pattern (the element that leads to the signal becoming un-readable). Unless it is specifically mentioned in the HDMI DA's details, then I would assume that it would not have this function built in to the DA.

 

Extron have a 75' HDMI cable (22.5m), but it lists at £408 ex VAT.

 

From the Extron Website the specs are:

• For cable lengths up to 12 feet:

- Conforms to HDMI High Speed Cable Specifications

- Supports signals up to 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz and 1080p/60

- Data rates to 10.2 Gbps

- Refresh rates to 120 Hz

- Color depth to 48 bits - 16 bits per color

- 24 AWG copper wire construction

• For cable lengths 25 feet and longer:

- Exceeds HDMI Standard Speed Cable Specifications

- Supports 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz and 1080p/60 up to 75 feet without a cable equalizer

- Supports 1920 x 1200 @ 60 Hz and 1080p/60 up to 200 feet with HDMI 101 Plus cable equalizer

- Data rates to 4.95 Gbps

- Refresh rates to 60 Hz

- Color depth to 24 bits - 8 bits per color

- 22 AWG copper wire construction

 

If you step back down to analog RGBHV carried over VGA cabling, then that can be done quite cheaply and easily - reasonable quality cable will give you 20m to the DA with little reduction in the image quality. Depending on the projectors, you might evan have the ability to daisy chain the two projectors together.

 

You **might** find a 20m HDMI cable for£40 cable from somewhere might work, but there is a chance it won't...

[AHYoung]

use vga, you don't have the budget for hdmi over fbre or cat 5, and all the cheap stuff doesn't work.... top quality vga will cost around £2 / m and the signal will go the distances required. its also considerably more robust than hdmi / cat 5 etc.

 

It also avoids any edid or hdcp issues which if you cobble together a whole load of equipment on hdmi distro you will very soon find all about when things stop working for "no reason".

[Pete McCrea]

AHYoungs also spot on on the EDID/HDCP issues - most of the issues we've had to deal with are those. And when setup time on a Sunday morning is limited, that's when it'll bite you clean in the bum and age you by several years in an hour.