[clrv]

From my dvd player to my projector it is about 18ft. I am looking at monster cable 400 series. Is there any other cables that might be better or some that are just as good for less money. Also will there be a los of signal for that long of a run?

 

[Bob Pariseau]

As best I can tell, you can only depend upon about 10 feet of DVI cable. However the standard has enough safety factor in it as implemented by most manufacturers that you can probably get away with more. The cable companies will cheerfully sell you cables that are too long so it's a gamble. There are plenty of reports of people running 25 or more feet of DVI cable without problem.


If you do have a problem, companies like Gefen and Dtronics sell DVI repeaters, and switchers that also act as repeaters, which regenerate the signal and thus restart the length of cable limit.


Also, if you are connecting HDMI to HDMI, the HDMI standard includes extra equalizing in the electronics at both ends that allows for longer cable runs. It is unclear whether you can get any advantage of this if either end of the run is actually DVI.


Note that the limiting factor here is more likely to be the natural range of variability in the manufacturing specs of the transmitter and receiver electronics in your particular devices than in the quality of the cables.

--bob

 

[Tinker]

DVI spec's says 5m (~16-17ft) and safe. Anything longer is ?

 

[Ingeborgdot]

I have a 30 foot run of dvi. Do I need a booster or something?

 

[Bob Pariseau]

If you are not seeing any obvious image problems then you are fine as is. Failures in a digital signal are usually not subtle.

--Bob

 

[clrv]

So what cable do you think is best for a longer run. There has to be quality difference because of the price or are you just paying for the name

 

[JediMaster Matt]

clrv - your question is what cable should you buy for a long run... the answer is the cheapest one that works with your display and your sources.


I know that it's a bad answer, but it's the truth.


The first question is what is your display device? The second is what are your source devices?


Then search the forums using the display and source plus dvi and the length you need and see what you get.


If your display is a 720p unit, then life should be a bit easier. They don't require as much bandwidth at something trying to fit 1080p.


For me, I needed 10m DVI with a BenQ 8700+ and a Momitsu - I searched the boards and found that the cheapest success rates were with Lindy cables.


Plus, Lindy has a decent return policy. There were a few tense moments waiting to see if my 8700 was going to be delivered in the return window for the cable, but I was able to test the cable this weekend and haven't noticed any problems with sparklies.


The good thing about these digital cables is that they work or don't.


A lot has to do with the display and the source. A friend of mine tested his 7m HDMI cable this weekend and found it worked with my Momitsu and didn't work with his cable box. We tested my DVI cable and it seems that the issue is with the cable box. Sure enough, we researched the boxes and found out that they don't put out a strong enough signal to work well.


So, again... my advice is to do some research on this site for your display, source and length, then pick the cheapest one that will work and also has a good return policy if it doesn't.

 

[Tinker]

I orginally got a Monster 400 DVI 2m cable for the Denon1910 (returned). Then on a lark...there was an open box 10ft DVI cable from Belkin in the computer section of the FutureShop store. I got it since it was ablout 1/3 of the cost of the Monster. Hope to find a connector to link the the two cables and I was going to run it behind a wall. Then found at a site that 5m DVI was all that is safe so I didnt bother. The Belkin works great with my Denon 2910. Also its a DD and not a SD cable like the Monster. I can use it to pass two source with it if I can ever figure how to do it...

 

[clrv]

Thanks for all the help guys. I will see what I can come up with

Thanks again

 

[santellavision]

Quote:

Also its a DD and not a SD cable like the Monster. I can use it to pass two source with it if I can ever figure how to do it...

If you mean 'Dual-link' & 'Single-Link' There isn't any A/V equipment that can use a dual link cable at the present time. (And most likely never with HDMI becoming the new standard)


Quite a lot of guys have gone 45' with DVI. Just make sure that the cable you buy has a return policy. Lindy and Ram cables are very well liked here on the forum. Stay away from 'Monstrosity cable'. Way over priced.


I have a super-cheapo, no-name 30' DVI cable that works fine too. There is no difference in PQ over DVI. It either works perfect or doesn't with sparklies or no signal at all.

 

[clrv]

Ernie, Thanks for the cable info if either one of those cables work it will save me little over $100.

Thanks Again, Cliff

 

[ac388]

I got a quote for a 40ft. Monster DVI400 at US$180,do you guys still think it is unreasonable ?

 

[clrv]

From what I have seen that is a good price. Where did you find it for that price?

 

[GreggPenn]

I found a heavy duty, triple-shielded 25' cable from a computer products website. The cable is as thick as my thumb (i.e., big). I suspect it uses oversize wire. They also sell a 50' cable. The owner of the website says he's connected two 50' cables for a "mission critical" operation at their office.


I was going to order an extra one and put DVI=>HDMI adapters on the ends to make the HDMI cable I also need. But, I decided not to be "cheap" and bought the high-end HDMI cable from RAM. Just got it yesterday, but haven't tried it yet.


All I can say is the DVI cable cost $40 and works great. I have no problems transmitting 1080i from my cable box across it. And, it looks better than a component connection -- so I'm sure there's no data loss. (Also, I agree with Bob that it should work/not work. Analog (component) cables with show degradation over long runs, digital cables while just cease to function at a point).


My RAM HDMI cable may also work, but I'm sure my STSI DVI cable is the better deal. Just looking at it provides a level of comfort that says it's well-made and well worth the price. Look here is you want to check the STSI DVI cables out.

 

[clrv]

GreegPenn,Thanks for the info I will check it out.

Thanks, Cliff

 

[DaveInBerlinNJ]

GreggPenn


What type of HD cable box are you using?

 

[GreggPenn]

Pioneer supplied by Time Warner.