Education | AV Distribution Tutorial Essential components for converting and upconverting video. Conversion and Scaling EDID Ghosts and Emulators Ghosts can be handy tools to solve problems with certain combinations of video sources, distribution equipment, and displays. Display Data Channel Extended Display Identification Data (DDC EDID) is the data that tells your computer’s graphics card what characteristics your monitor/display has, such as resolution, color depth, digital pixel mapping, and more. The monitor automatically sends the DDC EDID straight through to the computer. But, sometimes, when you put a device, such as a KVM switch, between your monitor and computer, the data is not passed through. The result can be blank screens, boot problems, as well as resolution and color issues. In these cases, use a ghost. A ghost will store the data from the display and pass it on to the graphics card. Ghost DVI PC DVI VGA Monitor HDMI Out Video Converters Video converters, at their most basic, convert and reformat signals from one video interface to another type of video interface, such as ones that enable you to display VGA computer video on an NTSC or PAL TV. Basic video converters are neither scalers nor scan converters. This means that the resolution of the video signal at output is the same as the input signal, which can be a problem if you’re trying to send PC video to an HDMIenabled display. Therefore, if you set your PC at a resolution of 1024 x 768 (XGA), your display may not show the HDMI image. In this case, you have to set your PC’s resolution to either 640 x 480 at 60 Hz (VGA interpreted as 480p), 800 x 600 at 50 Hz (SVGA interpreted as 576p), 1280 x 720 at 60 Hz (WXGA interpreted as 720p), or 1920 x 1080 (1080p). PC to Video Converter VGA Cable Composite Video Out LCD Screen S-Video Out VGA Out VGA In VGA/HDTV Scaler PC DVD Player 8 VGA Cable Tech Support 030 - 241 77 99 | Sales 030 - 241 77 77 | On-Site Services 030 - 241 77 44 LCD Screen HDMI Display Laptop PC Usually, the scaling involves “upconverting” the signal. This is a process where the number of display pixels is mapped and adjusted to accurately match the resolution of the newer display. Deinterlacing technology with advanced motion compensation intelligently scales the source signal to the desired resolution with virtually no artifacts or distortion. In addition, scalers often perform frame rate adjustments so the proportion of the image isn’t resized incorrectly. There are other products that scale images for larger displays and enable you to manipulate and rotate images on multiscreen video walls. VGA In Component Video In Scalers A scaler is a device that samples an input signal and scales it up or down to a resolution and timing suitable for the display. A scaler may optionally also convert the signal to a different format. A scaler that downscales video is sometimes called a scan converter. Scalers are particularly useful when you want to connect different analog and digital equipment for output on a common display, such as in a presentation environment where you don’t want to fiddle with controls to get the picture right. All you do is set the output resolution to match the native resolution of the connected display. Scalers that support switching take this concept further, enabling you to electronically switch video inputs and letting the box automatically make the necessary adjustments. RS-232 Cable External Serial Server HDMI Switching Scaler Supporting Multiple Formats S-Video In Set-Top Box DVD Player
Distribution Components Cabling DisplayPort DisplayPort is the newest AV interface. It’s incredibly versatile with the capability to deliver digital video, audio, graphics, bidirectional communications, and accessory power over a single connector. DisplayPort is targeted at the computer world rather than at consumer electronics. It is used to connect computers, monitors, projectors, etc. DisplayPort connectors are found on Quick Facts DisplayPort/HDMI comparison. 20-pin locking connector HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) was the first digital interface to combine uncompressed high-definition video, up to eight channels of uncompressed digital audio, and intelligent format and command data in a Quick Facts HDMI Standard HDMI and Standard HDMI with Ethernet 4.95 Gbps 720p/1080i single cable. HDMI is the de facto standard for consumer electronics. HDMI is backward compatible with DVI. Buy only tested cables with the HDMI logo. This guarantees the cable will perform to specification especially High-Speed HDMI and High-Speed HDMI with Ethernet 10.2 Gbps 1080p and beyond NOTE: The HDMI standards with Ethernet have an additional dedicated data channel for device networking. DVI These high-speed cables have the bandwidth necessary for high-definition video and are ideal for linking digital signage screens and other equipment. DVI-D is a digital-only connector. DVI-I supports both digital and analog RGB connections. DVI-A is used to carry an analog DVI signal to a VGA device, such as a display. DFP as an early digital-only connector. Dual-link cables double the power of the transmission up to 9.9 Gbps and support QXGA resolutions up to 2048 x 1536 at 60 Hz. Single-link cables transmit up to 4.95 Gbps at 1920 x 1200. Coax Coax cable is used as a transmission line for radio-frequency signals. It is ideal for AV distribution and for connecting CCTV, in-house TV systems, radio transmissions, and surveillance systems. Coax cables are shielded to prevent EMI interference. QUESTI NS to ask. 1. What type of connector does your equipment have? DVI-D, Single-Link DVI-I, Single-Link DVI-A DVI-D, Dual Link DVI-I, Dual Link DFP Currently, the most commonly found connectors on computers, displays, and projectors are DVI. New computer equipment will most likely have DisplayPort and/or HDMI connectors. Older equipment will have VGA connectors. And, home theater equipment will have HDMI connectors. Take a look at the connector illustrations on this page to determine what type of connector you have. 2. Can I mix equipment with different connectors? HD15 VGA These cables can contain both 28 AWG mini coax and 24 AWG tinned-copper VGA conductors to provide support for all control leads, including Pins 9 and 15 for DCC compliance. This cable transmits analog video signals. It does not support audio. HD15 Male—VGA HD15 Female—VGA Yes and no. If you need to connect a monitor with a VGA connector to a PC with a DVI-I connector, you can, but you’ll need an adapter or a cable with both connectors. Adapters also exist to connect DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, and VGA equipment. But, if you run a digital signal from a PC into, say, a switch, it can’t be converted to analog without an active converter or scaler. Also, to go from DisplayPort to DualLink DVI you need active converters. Contact the experts at 030-241 77 99. For more information and our online store, visit www.blackbox.nl 9 because there is no maximum length specified in the HDMI standard. And because longer lengths require a larger cable, HDMI cables usually have 24–28 AWG copper conductors. For 1080p, Deep Color, or 3D content, choose High-Speed HDMI cables. Cable length Top bandwidth Daisychain monitors Locking connector Backward compatibility Standard Market newer computers and displays; the Mini DisplayPort connector is also found on Apple® products. DisplayPort uses a packetized data structure instead of a serial one, like DVI and HDMI, so it is not directly backwards compatible. But DisplayPort ++ (dual-mode) is able to output DVI and HDMI signals with an adapter. DisplayPort 2 m; Reduced bandwidth: 15 m 21.6 Gbps 4 Yes HDMI, DVI, VGA with adapter Open PC world HDMI None 10.2 Gbps None No DVI Licensed Consumer electronics
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