VGA over IP/Ethernet

[DannyBroadhurst]

Hi,

 

We currently have one Screen up on the wall in our IT department. We want to move the PC Powering the screen into the Server room so it is out of the way.

 

Our next idea was to put up 4/5 more screens around the building showing the same thing all coming from the one computer moved into the Server room.

 

I am wondering the best way to do this is. My idea would be to get a basic VGA to Ethernet adapter and plug it into a floorport (which goes back to our server room) and then have a switch on the end of the PC with all of the Screens going into it through the floorports. Would this work?

 

If not what do you suggest?

 

Any help much Appreciated

[MatthewL]

We have a similar thing at work running off Mac's which a local company did supply, they were showing a looped TV type thing in the reception areas. You need some sort of distribution switch, unfortunately I do not know off the top of my head what it was we used but was only a 1U device, if I get chance on Monday I will pop by and get the details from one of our sites for you.

[DannyBroadhurst]

Much apprechiated if you could. We are running a PC and Windows iw ouldnt of thought it would be much differant.

[srochford]

We've used these - Ethernet to DVI Video Adapter over IP - StarTech.com

 

Not sure if you can have multiple devices (but I think you can - when you run the software it asks you to select the screen to connect to which suggests you could have more than one)

[m25man]

I have a similar system being installed that runs 30 Large Screen TFT's from 4 PC's located around the site.

Each cabinet has an HP SFF pc with a Video Capture card installed.

These PC's pick up a live UHF RF Feed on CH47 delivered by Coax to each Cabinet.

Each PC has an Internet connection and at scheduled intervals downloads pre-defined content from a remote FTP site which then overlays this content with the live RF feed to deliver a branded TV Channel to each screen.

 

Each PC cabinet has a Broadcast Device that takes the PC output and sends this over CAT5 to a box on the back of each TV

 

Now, none of this was my idea I just had the internet and power provisioning dumped on me at the last minute!

 

The company providing this system to many Football Clubs this year has valued the 30 screen system @ £116k (It has cost another £10k to deliver Power and Internet to this installation)!

No wonder so many of these clubs are running close to bankrupcy!

 

Any way, I looked at ways I could do it myself and I decided that the LevelOne stuff was extremely good value and could do the job at a fraction of the price these cowboys are charging.

 

http://uk.level1.com/category2.php?id=22&id2=123#0

LevelOne - HVE-6000 Short Range HDMI Receiver

 

They also do DVI/VGA and Audio only.

 

Im just playing with sending the HDMI signal from a laptop upto a projector at the moment using this stuff but as I get more into it I can see many more possibilities for it.

 

If you need any help sourcing this stuff just PM me.

Edited July 11, 2010 by m25man
Additional URL added

[robyholmes]

If I am right in thinking these can not be used over a 'network', they are just using the media? If so you would need a hub so it sent the same image to all converters and screens? But never experienced these before so not sure.

[Andrew_C]

Not in the sense of just plugging stuff into your existing Cisco and getting a picture somewhere else.

 

You can get a piece of active kit to convert your signal to run over CAT5 cable, but it won't distribute via standard switches or hubs. You could get a video distribution gizmo that you could site in your server room but you might need to buy a pair of converters/baluns for each line you want pictures on. Look at Kramer kit, it is at the lower pro end of the market, but it does work well.

 

e2a - the Cobra range looks just like the stuff you will need!

 

I've read of a new standard for distributing HD over CAT5 that would be worth a look at too, but I don't think there is any kit available yet

Edited July 11, 2010 by Andrew_C

[Sylv3r]

We use these across our school on 5 or 6 screens all showing the same information powered by one PC.

 

Mauve Systems

[LukeC]

we have 4 screens around the building all VGA over CAT5 from one central computer which has a splitter to support 4 computers we have used several different vga to cat5 and found some flicker or dont last long, we have tended to find that we get what we pay for. The ones that we have found most reliable are

 

KRAMER|PT-110|CAT5 TRANSMITTER, XGA | CPC

KRAMER|PT-120|CAT5 RECEIVER, XGA | CPC

 

or we have used this one

 

Rextron Hd15 Extender Through Cat5e - KVM-VGAXT at Insight UK

[MatthewL]

I've not had chance to get to one of the sites today and doubt I will this week but as soon as I do I will post up.

[Guest Guest]

Another option is to buy a Acer R3610 and slap it to the back of the screen. They can be picked up from £180, although ebuyer currently have them at £200

 

Acer Aspire Revo R3610 Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com

[funkymunky]

Another option is to buy a Acer R3610 and slap it to the back of the screen. They can be picked up from £180, although ebuyer currently have them at £200

 

Acer Aspire Revo R3610 Desktop PC - Desktops | Ebuyer.com

 

We've got 3 of them powering the 3 screens in our NOC. Decent units for the price.

[MatthewL]

Attached are some images of one of our units we use, it connects to the MacMini and shows something on the TV screens. I will get to the other site and look at the 1U unit we have there as well.

 

[Andrew_C]

This question came up about a week, maybe two back. I found some Kramer kit that would do it. Worth a search.

 

Edit-

 

Hang ON! The OP started the thread with exactly the same title!

 

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/hardware/59587-vga-over-ip-ethernet.html

Edited July 21, 2010 by Andrew_C

[vikpaw]

I'm going to merge this thread with the duplicate one created here as it got more of a response.

http://www.edugeek.net/forums/networks/59604-vga-over-ip-ethernet.html

[DannyBroadhurst]

I have been in contact with startech thinking that would do what i need, and was told that the VGA over Etehrnet wouldnt work going through switches.

I also need to go over fibers for one of the screens because its down the other end of the building and cat5 wouldnt work efficently.

 

I kind of want a program that installas and lets me send a certain program to the screen with an IP set Say.

 

Send Powerpoint 1 to IP: 1.2.3.1

Send Powerpoint 2 to IP: 1.2.3.2

Send Powerpoint 3 to IP: 1.2.3.3

 

Not sure if this is possible?

I am looking through the solutions you have posted as we speak see if anything will do what i need.

[p858snake]

You could do a XIBO setup, but powerpoint isn't the best for it afaik.

[jamesb]

PsExec \\machine1 "C:\Program Files\OfficeOne\PowerViewer.exe" "C:\My Presentations\P1.ppt"

PsExec \\machine2 "C:\Program Files\OfficeOne\PowerViewer.exe" "C:\My Presentations\P2.ppt"

PsExec \\machine3 "C:\Program Files\OfficeOne\PowerViewer.exe" "C:\My Presentations\P3.ppt"

 

Any help?

 

http://officeone.mvps.org/powerviewer/tips_remote_powerviewer.html

[DannyBroadhurst]

Attached are some images of one of our units we use, it connects to the MacMini and shows something on the TV screens. I will get to the other site and look at the 1U unit we have there as well.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]7794[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7795[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7796[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7797[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]7798[/ATTACH]

 

Hi,

 

Thanks for this.

Ive just been looking at the Kramer kit.

Looks like it should do what i need.

 

 

Although ive now been asked is it possible to have the screens showing something differant to eachother but on the one PC still. Not sure if this is or not.

[DannyBroadhurst]

PsExec \\machine1 "C:\Program Files\OfficeOne\PowerViewer.exe" "C:\My Presentations\P1.ppt"

PsExec \\machine2 "C:\Program Files\OfficeOne\PowerViewer.exe" "C:\My Presentations\P2.ppt"

PsExec \\machine3 "C:\Program Files\OfficeOne\PowerViewer.exe" "C:\My Presentations\P3.ppt"

 

Any help?

 

OfficeOne: Control PowerViewer sessions on remote machines

 

Hmm that would work with only 1 PC.

 

I guess it would if i can give the Screen VGA to Ethernet adpater an IP?

[jamesb]

Hmm that would work with only 1 PC.

 

I guess it would if i can give the Screen VGA to Ethernet adpater an IP?

 

If you want it to display on multiple screens attached to the same PC (not sure if using an Ethernet to VGA adapter is treated that way by the machine) you can append a number to the command line to select the monitor to display to.

[m25man]

Our own systems as are many other commercial based signage systems such as SCALA are based around locally located PC systems that pull content from a central location.

A small form factor PC preconfigured to boot and load automatically usually from SD card or USB drives a multi display adapter the application is executed and the content read from a remote FTP site.

The systems are automatically set to restart overnight just in case one fails or hangs.

 

I have one home brewed system using an Acer Revo and Powerpoint.

The revo is connected to one monitor via the VGA interface the other via the HDMI using dual monitor options.

The content is stored on the local Revo HDD and uses the Powerpoint stand alone app to play the presentation.

A scheduled task runs the app and loads presentation #1.

Then stops the app every hour and runs presentation #2.

Whilst Presentation #1 is loaded the script copies Presentation #2 from the central location if changed and vice versa.

 

The office junior updates each presentation stored on the central share and the system looks after itself.

Total cost 2 x LG or Samsung 23" Monitors (with Freeview) £200 each inc VAT

1 x Acer Revo £175 1 x Windows 7 Pro OEM £95 1 x 5 Meter HDMI cable.

The whole 2 screen system less than £700

We also added for good measure a Bluetooth Messaging System that puts an ad onto any nearby phone as well for £100 it's only about 50% effective at delivering bluetooth spam but at that price it's easily justified.

[DannyBroadhurst]

I know, no one has replied to this for a while now but the need has arisen again.

 

I am in need Of 1 PC to power 4 screens in differant areas.

 

The connection will need to go over Fibre and Ethernet to reach the server room where the pc will be kept

[lambda]

Hi,

 

I'm the network administrator for a small graphic design firm. The owner wants to be able to work entirely from home and be able to conduct remote meetings with his employees at the office. He wants to be able to show his computer desktop (at home) on the LCD screen in the conference room at the office and then conduct the meeting over speaker-phone.

 

Essentially, I'm looking for an all-in-one device that I can connect to the LCD screen in the conference room and connect to the internet and it will receive and show his home, computer desktop. I looked into the Ethernet to VGA over IP Converter and it looked promising but earlier in the thread DannyBroadhurst mentioned that it won't work through switches, which is obviously a necessary criteria in order to for it to work over the internet. Does anyone have any ideas? Again, this is a small firm so I'm trying to keep IT costs to a minimum.

 

Thank you.

Lambda

[jamesb]

A small, cheap computer running Windows Live Mesh?