VGA cables (audio/visual question)

[old.user4556]

All,

Can anyone recommend a place for high quality VGA (analogue) cables? I'm looking to purchase a home theatre projector this month and I want to feed it the best possible signal from the PC. S-Video is the other option, but VGA (RGB component effectively) gives a sharper/better picture.

Additionally, is there a maximum recommended length for a VGA cable? I'm looking at ~7m in length to run from the PC, round the skirting and up the back of the opposite wall.

G

 

[Tom]

I've been looking into this for other reasons, mainly to move my computer box to another room for a bit of peace and quiet. Anyway.

I would suggest you buy a VGA breakout cable, and run the rest of the connection on 75ohm video coax (http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/category_2000837_2000053.aspx), terminated with either 75ohm or 50ohm BNC connectors (50ohm are a bit easier to crimp).

This will ensure that most of the cable run is shielded. It will take up more space than a VGA cable, but the picture quality will be far superior.

/edit: btw, try and find out what the output impedance of your video card is, and match the cable/connectors/projector accordingly. The closer they all are, the better your signal will be at the projector end.

/edit2: try this stuff http://www.canford.co.uk/commerce/category_2000843_2000054.aspx, easier to handle.

 

[old.user4556]

Ah Tom, just the man I was hoping to reply (since your AV orientated).

Component video would definitely be the best, but I think that may only be more beneficial once I'm driving the projector with a decent feed. As it stands, the DVD drive on my PC probably won't compare with a mid-range (~£300ish) DVD player so I reckon I could get away with a VGA cable at this early stage. I will probably invest in a decent DVD player fairly soon and components will be used without a doubt.

What about a VGA to Scart ?

G

PS Tom, I love your posts, but unless that avatar changes; your cats run a real risk of "disappearing" in the night.

 

[Tom]

I think you might suffer some serious interference problems with a 7m cable (you'll probably end up getting 2 VGA cables and trying them in series). Give it a shot, and if the picture is satisfactory, then thats great. The trouble is, with such thin conductors, and poor screening, you might get all kinds of problems. Having it screened on a projector will just exacerbate those problems.

VGA is component video anyway btw. I suggest you get some VGA cables from wherever you can, and experiment in connecting them in series between your computer and monitor.

Also, make sure that your video card is properly earthed in the computer's chassis, as this can help to reduce interference on the picture. Your projector should be adequately covered on this score. Also, try putting your video card as far away from any other equipment inside your PC as you can.

PS Isn't it your video card that determines the picture quality from the DVD, and not the DVD itself?

 

[old.user4556]

Not got time for a full reply, but i saw this (down the bottom).

VDC VGA Lead (6 metre) for use with Plasma VGA unit £ 42.00, a high quality 15 pin D for connecting to a plasma TV, so I expect it will have to be a good lead to retain quality for plasma.

G

 

[Tom]

Its only 768x576 you know

 

[RandomBastard]

I don't know why people seem to think vga cables have to be so short. Ive said it before and ill say it again we (people i do volunteer stuff for) have 50meters of it in the roof in one of the unions venues. I really dont think 7meters is gonna be a problem.

 

[old.user4556]

Its only 768x576 you know

The signal to the plasma? If so, the max res to the projector will be 800*600 so i'm not feeding a particularly high res / refresh rate.

I don't know why people seem to think vga cables have to be so short. Ive said it before and ill say it again we (people i do volunteer stuff for) have 50meters of it in the roof in one of the unions venues. I really dont think 7meters is gonna be a problem.

Thanks RB, that's good to know. I'm investing quite a bit of cash in this, so I just wanted to make sure. What are you connecting with that VGA lead? Is the picture as perfect as if it were on a 2 metre lead?

Cheers

G

 

[RandomBastard]

We connect projectors up to a vga matrix which is connected up to a pc ( the matrix is merely so we can switch and split the signals about) we also connect a video player up to it. The signal to the projectors is as good as the signal to our monitor which is on a standard monitor lead.

 

[old.user4556]

Found a solution here.

It's a 7.5m high integrity SVGA extension lead, with three coaxial leads for RGB and five twisted pairs for noise reduction. The cable is double shielded too, with gold plated copper connections.

Looks ideal for what i'm after and not too bad a price at £40 (considering that some 1m component interconnects can cost as much as £200).

G