Does anyone know if I can run a VGA cable 125'.
My customer has a late 90's Sanyo projector and wants a port computer jack in the floor behind his sofa connected to the ceiling mount projo.
I am thinking of running VGA to his eq room about 50' and then with a 75' extension to the projector. This will allow for possible HD in the future.

I'm not completly sure about 125 but we run it 100 feet with no problem for situations just like that.

There are limits to VGA cable length. Can't remember the exact length, but I'll look it up. I've run 35' an had no trouble. But like I said, there are limits. From the application, it sounds like you may require a signal splitter. I know some models boost the signal. Been a while since I've messed with this stuff. Locally, the folks that put the cable together is ACC (Alberta Computer Cable). Their website is www.cablesbyacc.com

This from another forum. Similar question and the result was as follows:

Have decided to go with a VGA/Multisync video extender
with CAT 5 cable. The signal should be pretty decent.
The cost for a 120FT HDDB 15 VGA cable was around $300
I'll save around $80

Hope this helps.

Depends upon your cable quality, if your using Cactus Cable, then you can get upwards of 300 feet without any line drivers.

I have run 150 feet with an in line VGA amplifier spliter , no problems, great picture.

I use belden RGB cable. I make up the BNC ends, and install RGB/VGA breakouts on either end. Works like a charm.

Our company frequently installs 150 - 300 foot lengths of VGA cables. We use high grade broadcast quality cables from TecNec & BiTronics. On runs over 150', we commonly add a VGA amplifier at the head end, and over 200' we make sure that the amplifier has peaking & tilt controls. Problems with signal are most commonly seen as "ringing"...slight ghosting image smears. As for the balun type extenders with CAT-5, you will find that your savings may be overcome by installing the right cable after the building walls close. Once in a while, a cable route and time/space conditions are just right...sometimes a 200'+ run will net a perfect picture without amplification or fine tuning. Good luck!

Most of the places I've read said that you should use coaxial cable for long runs. Solder the center conductor to the pin and the shielding to the ring.

CJ

My company does custom projects for residential and commercial customers. I have found that for VGA runs over about 25ft. it is best to use a powered line driver. Sure, you can get an image with (unamplified) runs of perhaps 100ft., but you usually get ringing (ghosting) and soft focus due to excessive high frequency loss, and sometimes color shift. We use the "Ditto" amp. from Altinex, out of California. The retail is about $249.00 for an amplifier that will easily drive 125ft. of VGA cable. It is about the size of a deck of cards. Their phone number is 1-800-altinex. Web address is: www.altinex.com. In three years we have had zero failures. Altinex also sells high quality VGA cables, and will make custom lengths to your specs. Hope this is helpful.

Bruce

This message was edited by sndtowne on 12/25/02 12:40.57.

Ian Schatz and sndtowne bring up the real technical issues. We could run a signal 300 feet, have it "look great," but still be missing half the detail due to high frequency loss.

If altinex does not have a good answer, talk to the tech folks at Extron. Find them via extron.com. They should be able to give you answers with more technical backup than anything we have seen out here in the field.

Ernie

Both Extron and Altinex are excellent companies. Actually, Altinex was started by an engineer who use to work for Extron and wanted to build lower cost, but high quality alternatives. Altinex also offers great technical assistance.

I've pushed to around 20m without any degredation with good UL2919 type pre-mouled cable. Have also gone to 40m but noticed smearing and shimmering of image.

The addition of a cheap and very chearful 2 way D.A. at the head end to line-drive works a treat at the resolutions I'm using for plasma screens.

The D.A. I use are called Rextron (can see details of their VGA D.A.'s at their Jap' site: www.rextron.co.jp)

You can get these cheap from CPC (www.cpc.co.uk) [prod. ref. CS0798466} or from http://www.kvmswitchdirect.co.uk/