[webboy10169]

I have a server in my media closet and would like to output the computer to the panny plasma 50". Usage would be picture slide shows, surfing the web, and maybe streaming some video. No gaming would be done as its just a server. When wiring the house we forgot to wire a monitor cable to the plasma. The server has a on board ati rage chipset.


Is it possible to just get a cable VGA to Component and run that or do i still have to deal with a transcoder. This is all new to me so please go easy.


Or should i just run 100 feet of monitor cable to the plasma? can you run it that far?


Any links to prior posts wold be appreciated...


Adding a video card may not be an option as the motherboard doesnt have an agp slot just pci and super pci.

 

[beun]

If your PC accepts VGA style input than you can just use a VGA cable. If your TV does not (it most likely doesn't) then you need a transcoder and powerstrip to setup the right timings. Because you have an ATI Rage, powerstrip probably can set the right timings.

 

[webboy10169]

Quote:

Originally posted by beun If your PC accepts VGA style input than you can just use a VGA cable. If your TV does not (it most likely doesn't) then you need a transcoder and powerstrip to setup the right timings. Because you have an ATI Rage, powerstrip probably can set the right timings.

Yes the Panny 50" has the vga card in the monitor from time to time i hook the laptop up. Because the walls are all closed now(been in the house for 8 months now) its not possible to make the small run down the wall to the plasma. Instead ive got to go into the attic from the media center over a bedroom, into the garage, into the basement and up the wall where the plasma is. This is doable but I am unsure if a monitor cable that lengh will carry a good enough signal. Will it need to be amped?


As for a rga to componet is a transponder needed?

as for powerstrip not setting the right timings does that mean i'd be stuck in 640x480 mode (surfing for the blind)? Id like to get 1080i mode to fill the screen but will settle for 720p.


Is there a pci card that will do the trick, I see quite a few agp cards.


Just got off the phone with ATI thay make no cards in pci to do this.


Has any one tried this product?

or this one?


Just got off the phone with that company they reccomend running the cable or buying their product (the first link).


any thoughts???

 

[gtrogue]

The second device you listed is a transcoder. The first one appears that it may be a scan converter/transcoder. I can't tell from the description whether or not it provides scan conversion for all outputs or provides scan conversion to the s-video and composite video outputs and transcodes the signal for component output.

Which Panasonic model do you have? I know the PT-50PHD4-P has a BNC style RGB connection as well. If you have an RGB BNC connection you can use a breakout cable to connect the server.


Otherwise, to go from VGA to component you will have to have a transcoder unless your video card can output a signal in the component color space, like the newer Radeons.


I think beun was saying PS can set the T&R.


To me, 720p provides a better image than 1080i especially when dealing with computer output. A progressive image is much more pleasing to look at. At least to my eyes.


By the way, cruising the web at 1080i is "surfing for the blind", as in, it will make you go blind. Unless you have a gigantic display or one capable of high refresh rates, surfing the web at 1080i is a painful experience. If you want to know what it will be like, set the resolution of a 19" CRT computer monitor to 1280x1024 or 1600x1200 at 60Hz and then move about 3 or 4 feet away and squint your eyes. You've just surfed the web at 1920x1080i. Your fixed pixel plasma may be less flickery than a CRT at 1080i but the tiny writing will still make you go blind. I use 960x540p for most general computer stuff.

 

[webboy10169]

Quote:

Originally posted by gtrogue The second device you listed is a transcoder. The first one appears that it may be a scan converter/transcoder. I can't tell from the description whether or not it provides scan conversion for all outputs or provides scan conversion to the s-video and composite video outputs and transcodes the signal for component output. Which Panasonic model do you have? I know the PT-50PHD4-P has a BNC style RGB connection as well. If you have an RGB BNC connection you can use a breakout cable to connect the server. Otherwise, to go from VGA to component you will have to have a transcoder unless your video card can output a signal in the component color space, like the newer Radeons. I think beun was saying PS can set the T&R. To me, 720p provides a better image than 1080i especially when dealing with computer output. A progressive image is much more pleasing to look at. At least to my eyes. By the way, cruising the web at 1080i is "surfing for the blind", as in, it will make you go blind. Unless you have a gigantic display or one capable of high refresh rates, surfing the web at 1080i is a painful experience. If you want to know what it will be like, set the resolution of a 19" CRT computer monitor to 1280x1024 or 1600x1200 at 60Hz and then move about 3 or 4 feet away and squint your eyes. You've just surfed the web at 1920x1080i. Your fixed pixel plasma may be less flickery than a CRT at 1080i but the tiny writing will still make you go blind. I use 960x540p for most general computer stuff.

I talked with the company the guy said to go with the first one the GPV-2000 i believe it converts the computer output based on resolution to component. or run the cable. Going with the box would produce a great picture he assured me. A better choice, he said, would be to buy 100 feet of HD rated monitor cable (which they sell for $134) and run it


I misread beun PS can ok this is a good thing...


I didnt mean resolution depth as much as id like it to fill the screen. My pc monitor is set for 1280 x 1024 and my wife complains all the time about my monitor.


Im looking for a decent resolution to surf the web and view pictures at a decent size on the plasma. Maybe stream some downloaded movies too. Most of my pictures are 1600x1200 or higher.

id like to view them full screen with minimal scaling.


I have the Panasonic TH-50PHW5 with component/rgb and pc rgb inputs along with composite and svideo theres even a RS232 port.


The idea is to stay within 150 bucks. Any more than that and i might as well build a HTPC. But i know that will take me 8 months or so to find all the parts.

 

[gtrogue]

So the GPV-2000 is a scan converter with a transcoder built in for component output?


I'm a bit confused about your cabling problem. If you use the VGA input you have to run a cable from the server but if you use the component input you don't have to run a cable from the server? Or are you saying you have to run cable either way, the component input is just more accessible?

 

[webboy10169]

Quote:

Originally posted by gtrogue So the GPV-2000 is a scan converter with a transcoder built in for component output? I'm a bit confused about your cabling problem. If you use the VGA input you have to run a cable from the server but if you use the component input you don't have to run a cable from the server? Or are you saying you have to run cable either way, the component input is just more accessible?

It would appears so from the spec sheets and from what the guy explained. I guess i should have asked in those exact terms "transcoder built in for component output". Maybe ill call back tomorrow.


As far as cableing goes the server sits in ther closet with all my HT gear. I can convert the VGA to componet and run it to my switch box = 3 feet.


To run VGA straight to the plasma i have to go all around the house. From the a/v closet into the attic across a bedroom into the garage and threw it into the basement up to the wall where the plasma is.


So yes component makes life that much easier. But im not opposed to running the cable if it will look better then this magic box.


I might just try the box for kicks, as ive already been threw 2 vga cards with svideo out.

 

[beun]

Since the Panny has a VGA input that it is best to use that one, no reason for additional conversions.


The cable sounds like a very long one. This is going to cost you grief and you will probably need a few amplifiers in between with associated blurring of the picture.

 

[beun]

Oops, I missed a couple of posts when I posted the last one. I would go for the shorter run i.e. transcoder to component. My experience with scan-converters is that they are crappy so I would advise the straight transcoder.


If you are adventurous, there is a big thread on a DIY transcoder on this forum. There is even a finished printed circuit board and a complete partslist. PM me if you want more information on this.

 

[gtrogue]

Aah, I see, you already have component cable run to your display. How many set of cables are run to your display? If you have more than a single set of component cables running to it you can use an RGBHV breakout cable and route the signals over the the component cables you've already run. You won't need a transcoder if you can use the RGB signal.

 

[webboy10169]

Quote:

Originally posted by beun If you are adventurous, there is a big thread on a DIY transcoder on this forum. There is even a finished printed circuit board and a complete partslist. PM me if you want more information on this.[/b]

Ive been following that thread not that i understand all of it. Sodering small stuff that requires the use of a magnifying glass is not a strong point of mine. Ill have to catch up with that thread to see how far they have gotten.

Quote:

Originally posted by gtrogue Aah, I see, you already have component cable run to your display. How many set of cables are run to your display? If you have more than a single set of component cables running to it you can use an RGBHV breakout cable and route the signals over the the component cables you've already run. You won't need a transcoder if you can use the RGB signal.

Hmmm let see I think there is 5 RG6 3 are being used, 2 or 3 cat 6 and some other stuff. Cant remember all of it we ran 3/4 of a mile of cable through the house.


Breakout cable and how does this work? what else would i need to the plasma?