How Long Can Video Cable Be?

[Dave]

I'd like to attach my computer to my HDTV via a common computer
monitor style cable. (VGA, I think it's called). The HDTV has this
port. I'm now using an S-Video cable and it looks okay, but I'm
hoping for a better picture.

How long can these cables be before they lose their signal? Can I
bring two cables together via some kind of coupler?

Do they make some kind of booster that would allow a cable to be
longer?

Thanks for the info.

OK, the analog cable can be virtually as long as you need it to. I used to work on systems with 50-foot EXTENSIONS and they worked fine. However, it is not going to look better than S-Video, so don't bother to even try. -Dave

 

[Jim Rainfordson]

I'd like to attach my computer to my HDTV via a common computer
monitor style cable. (VGA, I think it's called). The HDTV has this
port. I'm now using an S-Video cable and it looks okay, but I'm
hoping for a better picture.

How long can these cables be before they lose their signal? Can I
bring two cables together via some kind of coupler?

Do they make some kind of booster that would allow a cable to be
longer?

Thanks for the info.

 

[Dave]

That really depends on your hardware, specifically, the TV.

My TV is a 720p (1280x720) and it looks substantially better using a DVI
cable rather then an S-Video cable.

I believe that. But in your case, you are running a digital monitor with a digital input signal. The OP is wanting to switch one analog signal for another. Nothing wrong with that, if there was a need to do so. But to get better picture quality? It simply won't work for what the OP is hoping for. -Dave

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> Dave

OK, the analog cable can be virtually as long as you need it to. I
used to work on systems with 50-foot EXTENSIONS and they worked fine.
However, it is not going to look better than S-Video, so don't
bother to even try. -Dave

That really depends on your hardware, specifically, the TV.

My TV is a 720p (1280x720) and it looks substantially better using a DVI
cable rather then an S-Video cable.

 

[Dave]

Okay, so the goal would be to get the display to pump out 1280X768 for
the HDTV rather than 1024X768 and just let the HDTV deal with the
720vs768 difference.

No, the goal would be to exactly match whatever the HDTV's native resolution is. If viewing full-screen, 1280 X 768 will be pixellated, and 1024 X 768 will be pixellated also. (pixellated is not good)

I know my video card puts out that resolution,
so if it's not happening automatically in clone mode then I guess I'd
be looking at a different monitor driver? Or else there must be a way
in my display properties to adjust the output resolution for clone
mode. I'll check it out, but let me know if I'm missing anything.

Thanks again to you Dave, and the group for help.

OK, you are dealing with three different pieces of hardware.
1) Video card. It may or may not support 1280 X 720. But it won't give you that option if both your monitors don't fully support that resolution. You might be able to set a custom resolution, but I don't recommend that. You can damage your PC monitor (see 2 below)
2) Regular PC monitor. 1280 X 720 is probably not supported natively for this monitor. But this resolution -could- be OK if and only if the maximum resolution of your monitor is higher in BOTH numbers. For example, if your regular PC monitor has a native resolution or maximum resolution of 1280 X 1024 (pretty common), then it should be able to handle 1280 X 720. But if this is an older tube style CRT monitor, watch the refresh rate! You could damage your monitor trying to tweak your video card to output a resolution that your monitor doesn't support!
3) HDTV. This should be driven at exactly 1280 X 720, if that is the monitor's native resolution. Anything other than that will look terrible, and could be the reason that you posted asking about how to improve picture quality. For example, 1024 X 768 will look awful on your HDTV, no matter how the signal gets from the PC to the HDTV.

Your best bet to get everything working nicely together is to update to the latest drivers for both the video card and the regular PC monitor. DISconnect the HDTV until you get the video card and PC monitor playing nice at exact resolution of 1280 X 720, if possible WITHOUT setting a custom resolution for the video card. If you can get that far, then connect your HDTV and set your video card to clone the output to the TV. -Dave

 

[Jim Rainfordson]

Thanks for the replies,

I believe that. But in your case, you are running a digital monitor with a digital input signal. The OP is wanting to switch one analog signal for another. Nothing wrong with that, if there was a need to do so. But to get better picture quality? It simply won't work for what the OP is hoping for. -Dave

Here's the listing for my HDTV inputs:

PC Video Input(s)
* 1 (Rear) with D-sub 15 and L/R stereo mini plug connection1

So help me think this through... my HDTV is 720 X1280. I have a
regular monitor for my PC and the HDTV is just a secondary monitor.
When I want to use the HDTV, I use my Nvidia software to select CLONE
mode for the "TV" and my PC monitor. In this case the resolution gets
locked in at 1024X768. Is this the correct setting for my 720P
monitor? If I get my video card to put out 720X1280 will I get a
slightly better picture?

So my resolution settings have nothing to do with the cable type,
right?

And are we sure that a D-sub cable will not produce better results
than the S-video?

Thanks for your advice.

 

[Dave]

Here's the listing for my HDTV inputs:

PC Video Input(s)
* 1 (Rear) with D-sub 15 and L/R stereo mini plug connection1

OK, normal analog VGA plus stereo mini plug for audio. Sounds good.

So help me think this through... my HDTV is 720 X1280. I have a
regular monitor for my PC and the HDTV is just a secondary monitor.
When I want to use the HDTV, I use my Nvidia software to select CLONE
mode for the "TV" and my PC monitor. In this case the resolution gets
locked in at 1024X768. Is this the correct setting for my 720P
monitor?

Not exactly. But it's probably the closest setting that your video card can
do in clone mode. The problem is, the video card has to choose a resolution
that is OK for BOTH monitors (treating your TV like a monitor). Assuming
that the video card could do 1280 X 720, it might not do that in clone mode
as that might not work for the regular PC monitor.

If I get my video card to put out 720X1280 will I get a
slightly better picture?

Most likely, yes. At 1024 X 768, the output to the HDTV might be slighly
pixellated if the HDTV is trying to output it in full screen mode. Bumping
up to 1280 X 720 would fix that, if that is what is happening.

So my resolution settings have nothing to do with the cable type,
right?
Right.


And are we sure that a D-sub cable will not produce better results
than the S-video?

Yes, absolutely sure.

Thanks for your advice.

No problem. -Dave

 

[Jim Rainfordson]

Thanks Dave, you cleared the deck of my questions, but one
clarification...

Most likely, yes. At 1024 X 768, the output to the HDTV might be slighly
pixellated if the HDTV is trying to output it in full screen mode. Bumping
up to 1280 X 720 would fix that, if that is what is happening.

Okay, so the goal would be to get the display to pump out 1280X768 for
the HDTV rather than 1024X768 and just let the HDTV deal with the
720vs768 difference. I know my video card puts out that resolution,
so if it's not happening automatically in clone mode then I guess I'd
be looking at a different monitor driver? Or else there must be a way
in my display properties to adjust the output resolution for clone
mode. I'll check it out, but let me know if I'm missing anything.

Thanks again to you Dave, and the group for help.

 

[Jim Rainfordson]

OK, you are dealing with three different pieces of hardware.

1) Video card. It may or may not support 1280 X 720. But it won't give you that option if both your monitors don't fully support that resolution. You might be able to set a custom resolution, but I don't recommend that. You can damage your PC monitor (see 2 below)
2) Regular PC monitor. 1280 X 720 is probably not supported natively for this monitor. But this resolution -could- be OK if and only if the maximum resolution of your monitor is higher in BOTH numbers. For example, if your regular PC monitor has a native resolution or maximum resolution of 1280 X 1024 (pretty common), then it should be able to handle 1280 X 720. But if this is an older tube style CRT monitor, watch the refresh rate! You could damage your monitor trying to tweak your video card to output a resolution that your monitor doesn't support!
3) HDTV. This should be driven at exactly 1280 X 720, if that is the monitor's native resolution. Anything other than that will look terrible, and could be the reason that you posted asking about how to improve picture quality. For example, 1024 X 768 will look awful on your HDTV, no matter how the signal gets from the PC to the HDTV.

Your best bet to get everything working nicely together is to update to the latest drivers for both the video card and the regular PC monitor. DISconnect the HDTV until you get the video card and PC monitor playing nice at exact resolution of 1280 X 720, if possible WITHOUT setting a custom resolution for the video card. If you can get that far, then connect your HDTV and set your video card to clone the output to the TV. -Dave

Thanks Dave. My vid card doesn't support 1280 X 768, only 1024 X 768
so that's what gets sent to the HDTV. Picture isn't terrible. I
guess it's translating the data okay. So long as the 1024X768 isn't
hurting the HDTV by telling it to play a resolution isn't not familiar
with then I guess i'm as good as I'll get.

Thanks for the help

 

[sbb78247]

No, the goal would be to exactly match whatever the HDTV's native
resolution is. If viewing full-screen, 1280 X 768 will be
pixellated, and 1024 X 768 will be pixellated also. (pixellated is
not good)



OK, you are dealing with three different pieces of hardware.
1) Video card. It may or may not support 1280 X 720. But it won't
give you that option if both your monitors don't fully support that
resolution. You might be able to set a custom resolution, but I
don't recommend that. You can damage your PC monitor (see 2 below)
2) Regular PC monitor. 1280 X 720 is probably not supported
natively for this monitor. But this resolution -could- be OK if and
only if the maximum resolution of your monitor is higher in BOTH
numbers. For example, if your regular PC monitor has a native
resolution or maximum resolution of 1280 X 1024 (pretty common), then
it should be able to handle 1280 X 720. But if this is an older tube
style CRT monitor, watch the refresh rate! You could damage your
monitor trying to tweak your video card to output a resolution that
your monitor doesn't support! 3) HDTV. This should be driven at
exactly 1280 X 720, if that is the monitor's native resolution.
Anything other than that will look terrible, and could be the reason
that you posted asking about how to improve picture quality. For
example, 1024 X 768 will look awful on your HDTV, no matter how the
signal gets from the PC to the HDTV.

Your best bet to get everything working nicely together is to update
to the latest drivers for both the video card and the regular PC
monitor. DISconnect the HDTV until you get the video card and PC
monitor playing nice at exact resolution of 1280 X 720, if possible
WITHOUT setting a custom resolution for the video card. If you can
get that far, then connect your HDTV and set your video card to
clone the output to the TV. -Dave

what about powerstrip? couldn't it force the resolution he needs?
--
sbb78247

resident redneck alt.os.windows-xp

you aint frum 'round here are ya boy!