Splitter for using multiple monitors

[rupertotech 0]

I tried searching forum but couldnt find. Does anyone whats the best splitter or what to use in order to split the monitor out on a DVR to be able to see over multiple monitors? What I want to do is have multiple monitors for one DVR system? Thanks.

[tomcctv 187]

KVM do very good splitters 2-4-8 way.

http://www.kvm-switches-online.com/video-splitters.html

[Sawbones 0]

I use the StarTech ones. You can send a VGA picture over Cat5 to up to eight locations.

 

Highly recommended.

[Stuart 0]

How do you connect to the additional monitors using cat5. I too, want to connect to several monitors.

[Soundy 1]

Umm, first we need to know if your DVR uses a composite or VGA monitor...

[Stuart 0]

Right now I have a single monitor hooked up using the VGA output from the back of the DVR. Yet, I think it also has the composite output as well.

[bpzle 0]

I use the StarTech ones. You can send a VGA picture over Cat5 to up to eight locations.

 

Highly recommended.

 

You have a model number for this?

[Sawbones 0]

I use the StarTech ones. You can send a VGA picture over Cat5 to up to eight locations.

 

Highly recommended.

 

You have a model number for this?

 

Sure. I'd probably start with one of these base stations (this one does four remote monitors... they also have model that does eight):

 

http://www.startech.com/item/ST124UTPE-Converge-AV-4-Port-VGA-over-Cat5-UTP-Extender.aspx

 

 

 

 

And the appropriate receiver for the remote end:

 

http://www.startech.com/item/STUTPRXL-Converge-AV-Long-Range-Receiver-for-ST124UTPE-and-ST128UTPE.aspx

 

 

 

Realize that you need one of those receiver units for every spot where you want to plug in a remote monitor. If you'd like something a little more "integrated," you can get one of their built-in wall units:

 

http://www.startech.com/item/STUTPRXWAL-VGA-Wall-Plate-Video-Extender-Receiver-over-Cat-5.aspx

 

[bpzle 0]

Thanks. Do you guys buy direct or through a distributor? I already setup an account...

[Sawbones 0]

Thanks. Do you guys buy direct or through a distributor? I already setup an account...

 

I paid retail for mine, since I'm not a commercial CCTV guy.

 

Some of those distributors will only sell B2B

[bpzle 0]

Thank you very much for the info... very valuable. I didn't know devices like that existed. Can't wait to implement them into a project.

[Neutech 0]

If the composite output is available i'd use that

 

Run it into a Video Dist amp, you can get 2-4-8-16-32-64 output versions and Composite is a lot more forgiving than VGA over distance and cost is cheaper for Video Dist amp than a quality VGA Dist unit

[Stuart 0]

Thanks for the information. I am not familiar with that type of device-what heading will I look under in searching for it?

[Soundy 1]

If the composite output is available i'd use that

 

Run it into a Video Dist amp, you can get 2-4-8-16-32-64 output versions and Composite is a lot more forgiving than VGA over distance and cost is cheaper for Video Dist amp than a quality VGA Dist unit

 

The quality is also terrible compared to a proper VGA signal into a VGA monitor.

[bpzle 0]

I've never seen a DVR of any sort with composite video out... Are you guys talking about converting VGA to composite and then distributing that?

 

Or maybe using a PCI(e) video card for a PC based DVR that has component out? Never seen one but never looked either...

[bpzle 0]

I'm REALLY interested in trying this out:

 

http://www.amazon.com/ZeeVee-ZV100-NA-ZvBox/dp/B0018L7NUA/ref=sr_1_1?tag=gpse-20&ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1264916737&sr=8-1

 

Amazing idea in theory... Use existing CATV to modulate and broadcast a VGA source throughout a small building or home. Works with built in digital tuners on almost every consumer TV out there. No additional set top boxes or coverters at every TV, no new wiring, no additional power source needed at each TV. So simple it's sexy. Won't know for sure though until I or someone on the forum is willing to buy and test it...

[Stuart 0]

I guess you are correct about the component out (not). I actually used an adaptor on the BNC connection and plugged into my television's component input from it.

[bpzle 0]

lol my bad... I reread the thread. I thought you guys were talking about distributing COMPONENT video, not composite. I think I even goofed up the wording in my posts. I know the difference but in my head I was hearing component everytime I read or typed composite. lol big difference...

 

But, still I'd prefer a higher quality image from a VGA or component source over composite anyday. Especially when displaying a matrix style display, IP cams, or any kind of text information.

Composite just looks terrible on LCDs IMO.

[Soundy 1]

I've never seen a DVR of any sort with composite video out... Are you guys talking about converting VGA to composite and then distributing that?

\

 

Vigil and Video Insight cards have composite out - older ones have an output that can have one of the analog inputs, or a sequence of them, routed to it; newer ones have a software multiplexor as well (two separate outputs).

 

I installed a number of cheap-cheap standalone DVRs for a sub-job a couple years ago, they all had composite out... SOME models had a VGA out as well, but that was just provided by a separate internal VGA card that just converted the composite signal.

 

Or maybe using a PCI(e) video card for a PC based DVR that has component out? Never seen one but never looked either...

 

Many (most?) TVs with component input will accept RGB in addition to Pb/Pr/Y on their component inputs... a VGA-to-BNC/RCA cable will provide that from any VGA or DVI-A video card, doesn't need to be PCIe. My old AGP Radeon 9800 All-in-Wonder card has component output in addition to DVI-A.

[bpzle 0]

Soundy- read my last post. I confused myself and mixed up component/ composite in my previous posts. lol

 

Now that you say that about video cards... I remember now. Most do come with that S-video to component dongle I usually throw away. lol

 

But that dongle isn't really a true component signal, is it? Isn't that really just an upscaled S-video?

[Soundy 1]

Can't say that I've ever seen an S-to-component dongle like that. I know where I used to work, we had a line of Matrox cards that came with a VGA-to-S adapter; we almost never used those. I also have a number of ATI cards kicking around with S-video ports on the back. I'm just looking at two Nvidia cards sitting on my desk, one of which has DVI, VGA and composite (single RCA) outputs , the other with VGA, S-video and composite outputs.

 

S-to-component would NOT be that easy without some sort of upscaling circuitry.

[rory 0]

I've never seen a DVR of any sort with composite video out... Are you guys talking about converting VGA to composite and then distributing that?

.

 

Huh? You have never seen a DVR with a composite video out??

That makes no sense, a majority of them have composite video out, but not VGA.

If anything, VGA out is a new thing for DVRs, and still no where near as common as composite out.

VGA on stand alone RTOS DVRs is normally the same as a basic VGA converter and hence the quality is terrible compared to composite video. Ofcourse if you are going to end up converting it back into an LCD Monitor, it will all be the same crappy quality anyway - unless it is a PC DVR. That said, just like the VGA Converters, some are much better then others, eg. compare a $25 OEM VGA converter to a Viewsonic VGA converter, the viewsonic is much better quality, still not great, but much better, and it costs more also - plug that same composite output into a composite TV or CCTV CRT though, the quality is perfect.

[bpzle 0]

GUYS!!! lol holy $&*#! I meant to say COMPONENT. I corrected myself later. Learn from my mistakes and read the whole thread before you throw in ur 2 cents!!

[rory 0]

GUYS!!! lol holy $&*#! I meant to say COMPOSITE. I corrected myself later. Learn from my mistakes and read the whole thread before you throw in ur 2 cents!!

holy moly batman.

 

LOL

 

Also about the cat5 VGA extender, I saw one at a location and it was okay ... the client said he had nothing but issues with it. I didnt install it and I didnt change it. He was not my client.

[Harrar 0]

You can get video cards with VGA and composite outputs. We've used them in PC based Geo systems where the customer wanted an extra monitor in another office. Works fine but as Soundy said quality diminishes with distance even with an amp.