RSS
I need to try this to confirm it works...It's possible to send a VGA "video" signal down an ordinary Cat-5 ethernet cable. This is possible for two reasons: firstly, although VGA connectors have 15 (or 13) pins, only about 8 wires are actually necessary to send the VGA signal; and secondly, ethernet cable is twisted pair, and we can use the magic of twisted pair to push the analog VGA signal further than spec. Link.
VGA over Cat-5 cable
I need to try this to confirm it works...It's possible to send a VGA "video" signal down an ordinary Cat-5 ethernet cable. This is possible for two reasons: firstly, although VGA connectors have 15 (or 13) pins, only about 8 wires are actually necessary to send the VGA signal; and secondly, ethernet cable is twisted pair, and we can use the magic of twisted pair to push the analog VGA signal further than spec. Link.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jun 5, 2005 12:51 AM
DIY Projects |
Permalink
| Comments (5)
| Email This |
| Digg this!
Recent Entries
- 3D renderings of the Mandelbrot set
- New in the Maker Shed: Microbe Motel kit
- Science through graphic novels
- Tiny solar-powered brass engine in a wineglass
- Maker Shed kiosks at Fry's
- New hackerspace in Chicagoland: Workshop 88
- Mint tin electronics dev kit packs the essentials
- Olympus BioScapes competition winners
- Mac mailbox
- LHC tweets its first circulating beam of 2009
Comments
Oldest comments listed first.
Leave a comment
Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!
Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.
$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)
They make a device called a Cat-5 extender specifically for this purpose. We use them in our auditorium when we need to put a projector in a space too small/awkward for a computer and an operator.
Reply to this comment
The company I work for makes a version of this already, and in in-house tests we've found it works to about 130ft give or take depending on length (It will work at longer distances, but you start to loose synch signal in one or two colors depending on what category of cable you use). It has 110 punch downs on the back (if you're familiar with RJ45 jacks you'll know what that is) and we have a version in a plastic housing to go into faceplates as well as a version that can be mounted elsewhere (it includes the threaded nuts... yeah, sorry, heh).
Also, just so you know, you can also do this with S-Video and RCA connectors too.
I'm not endorsing these mind you, I think that better versions can be made (see next paragraph for problems not yet solved with the version above), I just think that this is kind of cool and I'm glad someone else has picked up on it.
One last thing, we've found that newer projectors and monitors work off of a newer VESA VGA standard and use more than the 9 pins of the 15 pin HD connector (12 or 13 of them dependant on which digital signal level they're using) than older equipment. These are digital control signals for one or two way communications between the monitor equipment and the computer. This means that more of the pins need to be connected to get it to work, or in other words you need more conductors. To give your self an extra "ninth" conductor we suggest using a shielded cable (which contains a "drain wire" that can be used as another conductor for grounds) and you can use two cables if need be and still have conductors left over to run a couple of audio signals off of them... ^_^
Reply to this comment
Using low skew CAT5 and some off the shelf componentry from Extron and Crestron, audio/video companies are running over 300-400 feet with VGA signals over stock CAT5. My personal best is 327 feet with no video boost for a remarkably clear image using a Sony FX-50 LCD projector...
Reply to this comment
Where can I get these components.
Reply to this comment
Where can I get these components.
Reply to this comment