PC Output to coax tv cable??

[Eelskraps]

Hello all.
I've got kind of a project going on at work and I really know very little about multimedia setups so I thought I would come here to ask...

GOAL : To attach a PC to one or more TVs throughout our plant so we can show training movies, Powerpoint presentations with corporate info and that type of stuff.

I know that you can use S-video cable on alot of video cards but since I want to cover multiple screens in multiple rooms I thought coax would be best. At least alot cheaper to run and Ive never seen 100ft s-video cables anyway lol

I THINK the card I would need is a ATI all-in-wonder card but I wanted to see if anyone has any recomendations or if I am just way off base.

THANKS!

[pentachris]

If you've got a video card that has composite video out or S-Video out (most do these days), why not just pick up a RF modulator (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?parentPage=search&summary=summary&techSpecs=techSpecs&currentTab=summary&cp=&custRatings=custRatings&features=features&accessories=accessories&productId=2103095&origkw=rf+video+converter&support=support&kw=rf+video+converter&tab=techSpecs)?

[Eelskraps]

D'OH!!!

See!?!? THIS is why I come here....

Thanks :D :D :D

[saphalline]

Don't forget to test it with just one TV on the RF Modulator first! You don't want to be in the middle of a corporate meeting when you find out that all the images are upside down! :D

[Mini-Me]

This is the kind of thing I install for a living.

You should connect the output from the modulator via coax to a splitter.
Do not simply wire all the coaxes in parallel, as you will un-balance the system and get all kinds of interference patterns on the TV screens.

The "Drop-feeds" come off the ports of the splitter - one port per TV.

Depending on the length of your cable runs, you might need a booster amp(or several, depending on distance) and need to use taps instead of splitters. Taps have an IN and OUT port, and are daisy-chained on one main feed-coax, usually RG11 type thick-coax to minimize cable attenuation, however, it is probably more practical in this case to use standard RG6.

Do not use cheap coax - interference will bleed into cheap coax and intermodulate with the wanted signal, producing patterns and other nasties on the picture.

There are many configurations of splitter/amp(s), depending on how many TV's you want to feed.

A simple splitter is OK for up to 4 TV's, but if you want to feed 6-8(or more), then the signal should be amped just before the splitter(or 1st tap) to give it enough push to happily feed all the TV's on your network.

[Eelskraps]

Thanks Mini-Me

We are only looking at like three screens total. (One in lobby, one in cafeteria, one at break room) with the longest cable maybe 200 feet. Since I don't think it would hurt (and since the company is paying for it) I'll pick up an amp or two anyway as Im wiring it. And thanks for the hint about not using parallel lines.

[Mini-Me]

3-feeds?!
No worries.
:)

Simply run the coax from the modulator directly to the input of a 3 or 4 way splitter. Use the fully enclosed splitters with the screw-on "F" type sockets and plugs, as they are much better sheilded then the cheap nasty "saddle-and-screw" type plastic splitters - especially if you are installing anywhere within about 50 feet of any machine, as the cheap splitter won't be as good at sheilding out the electrical noise from the machines...

You probably won't need the amp for only 3 feeds, but if you want to get one, get one, as they are not very expensive. Look for one that gives you about 12-15dB of boost - this should be enough for your purposes.

You can buy much more juicy amps, but you don't need amps with 100dB of power if you are only feeding 3 or 4 TV's!!!
:D

If you can't get a 3-way splitter, get a 4-way one(they are very common), an put a "Terminator" on the unused port, to keep the overall balance of the system. Terminators(not the Arnold type! ;) ) cost about 50c, and simply screw onto the unused port(s) of your splitter.

As far as the connections for the coax to the splitter itself, it is ideal to use tapered-crimps on the RG6 feed coax(to each TV), however, you need a special tool for this, so it is more practical in your case, to buy a few screw-on RG6 F connectors - you screw the plug onto the stripped-back coax(the inside-rear of the plug has a thread which bites into the coax sheath), then screw the plug onto the splitter.

Hope it all goes well for you.
:)

Please post back if you have any probs.