How to: One signal to 2 projectors.

[DJ Freddy]

Guy's next year I have a wedding that is requesting 2 projectors where I want to send a slide show to. My projectors do not have an in and an out to daisy chain them. What would be the best way to provide these projector's with the signal so both can display the same image. I was told to provide some sort of splitter but would this distort the signal to a projector?

 

[djronh1]

There are plenty of various "signal distribution" boxes available.

To know where to start, you need to know what's connecting to what, meaning what sort of output to what sort of input (e.g. HDMI to HDMI, DisplayPort to ??, etc).

Also, there have been new wireless options appearing over the past few years, not sure if they are limited to a single devices or not though.

Google would be a good place to start, or any decent pro video shop.

I think B&H Photo does video, perhaps give them a call.

 

[Audio One]

I split a vga signal for my karaoke night at the bar. Coming out of the vga on my computer, the signal splits with one video signal running about 20ft for the singers video monitor and the other signal running 3 ft into a vga to composite adapter located in my rack. Then the composite signal runs another 40 ft to a projector. I have no issues.

The bar just got a new video mixer and I plan to run a split signal 50 ft vga and then use a rgb breakout cable to tie into the house system. Basically the same thing you want to do. In theory it should work but I realize the run is long and I may have other issues.

I would just get a splitter and try it. Cables/adapters are cheap. You need to do a dry run anyway.

Good luck and let us know your results.

 

[Valerie Hicks]

Unless you're running pretty long distances, you can usually get by with a splitter for just 2 projectors. Try it out at home; sometimes you get enough signal loss it ticks off the projector and will give you glitches. Your best way is to buy a video amp. This gives a powered signal split so each run maintains a good signal level. This generally becomes necessary at 3 or more devices.

 

[ahoustondj]

I use a powered splitter for all my feeds. With the new TVs you don't want conflict with the different resolutions.

For HDMI:
http://sewelldirect.com/Sewell-HDMI...e=7375044123&gclid=CIWI2taj57ECFUWc7QodC0AAMA

VGA Splitter:
http://sewelldirect.com/PTC-Premium-400-MHz-VGA-SVGA-Projector-Splitter---2-Port-.asp

S-Video:
http://www.cablewholesale.com/specs/s-video-splitter/40s1-09602.htm

Another thing to consider is Converters. Some places have different types of inputs for different TVs. For example you may need HDMI to one device and VGA to another. Most of these powered converters are between $20.00 - $40.00 Be prepared.

 

[rickryan.com]

One thing to add, be careful about distances and the power source of the remote projector. I've run into several cases where, if I was running the remote projector from a separate circuit, it will cause my laptop to reboot. You also didn't mention what type ports you have available on your projectors. IMHO, 50 feet is about the max I'll dare to run VGA and even then I've had a few issues getting it to work. HDMI, s-video, composite all have their own issues so the important thing is to find out the distance, get your cabling and TEST, TEST, TEST before the day of the event.

 

[DJ Freddy]

Wow........ thanks for the help guy's. I have a NEC projector but it only has VGA, Video or SVideo connetions. I am thinking of buying a powered video splitter like the one Houston recommended and connecting it via the SVIDEO conection to both projectors. This should do it right? Also what would be the delay? It should be barley noticeable right?

 

[ahoustondj]

Wow........ thanks for the help guy's. I have a NEC projector but it only has VGA, Video or SVideo connetions. I am thinking of buying a powered video splitter like the one Houston recommended and connecting it via the SVIDEO conection to both projectors. This should do it right? Also what would be the delay? It should be barley noticeable right?

Right now I run 50' and 15" together HDMI, before with s-video I ran one projector 25' simultaneously with another projector 75 feet away.

 

[rickryan.com]

Wow........ thanks for the help guy's. I have a NEC projector but it only has VGA, Video or SVideo connetions. I am thinking of buying a powered video splitter like the one Houston recommended and connecting it via the SVIDEO conection to both projectors. This should do it right? Also what would be the delay? It should be barley noticeable right?

Hard-wired, you won't notice a delay at all. Now if you were doing a wireless, like bluetooth, the delay would drive you nuts.

- - - Updated - - -

Unless you're running pretty long distances, you can usually get by with a splitter for just 2 projectors. Try it out at home; sometimes you get enough signal loss it ticks off the projector and will give you glitches. Your best way is to buy a video amp. This gives a powered signal split so each run maintains a good signal level. This generally becomes necessary at 3 or more devices.

Valerie, I know you guys do primarily large-scale production work. How much of the time do you guys provide visual? Mind sharing any pics?

 

[Valerie Hicks]

Rick Ryan
Here are a few of a regular event we do. in addition to sound and lights, we provide a lot of video support. There are 2 15' screens flanking the stage, 2 10' delay screens, and a 10' confidence monitor screen. We use 3 robotic cameras in the ceiling (can you find them?) plus a handfeld out front stage on a stabilizer mount (except he ditched it in the one pic!). The first photo shows the video control stations back stage. The front table is dedicated to the camera controls, the back table for mixing cameras & other playbacks. You can't really see the other 2 smaller areas, 1 for the remote video feed to another building and 1 for video recording of the event. As you can see, this particular event requires a lot of good volunteer help! Note the rats nest of video cables, amps etc on the floor by each table! (that's why it's backstage).

 

[Precisionpower]

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=180-013 Run VGA up to 213ft with this