VGA KVMs result blurry picture/display.
Ant
I read that cheaper KVMs do cause blurry display/picture for VGA
connections. I am using an old two ports Belkin OmniCube KVM. Connecting
VGA directly without KVMs show clarity. Also, my old Samsung SyncMaster
monitor has no problems autodetecting. If I use it with KVM, then it has
problems autocentering and quality degrades more because of refresh
rate(?) [forced 60 hz).
Since I still use PS/2 mouse, PS/2 keyboard, and VGA connections (don't
feel like shelling out money to upgrade all of those devices either),
I'd like to know if there are any better low cost KVMs that will result
clearer images.
Thank you in advance. :)
--
"I like ants, in chocolate. Crunch, hummmm." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: phi...@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANT...@zimage.com
Ant is/was listening to a song on his home computer: (11) []
Richard Crowley
> I read that cheaper KVMs do cause blurry display/picture for VGA
> connections. I am using an old two ports Belkin OmniCube KVM. Connecting
> VGA directly without KVMs show clarity. Also, my old Samsung SyncMaster
> monitor has no problems autodetecting. If I use it with KVM, then it has
> problems autocentering and quality degrades more because of refresh
> rate(?) [forced 60 hz).
>
> Since I still use PS/2 mouse, PS/2 keyboard, and VGA connections (don't
> feel like shelling out money to upgrade all of those devices either), I'd
> like to know if there are any better low cost KVMs that will result
> clearer images.
rec.video.desktop is not really the target newsgroup for your question.
r.v.d is chartered for the discussion of television production using
computer-
based non-linear editing software (NLE). There are other newsgroups
where computer monitors and video cards are discussed like c.s.i.p.h.v
Although it is possible that someone here might also have a suggestion
for an above-average performing KVM switch. My experience is the
same as yours, and I avoid them for critical use. Note that most of the
extension cables also tend to degrade the computer video even without
sending it through a KVM switch. Computer video cables tend to be
simple unshielded multi-wire cables, while television RGB, etc. uses
proper coaxial conductors.
Ant
> "Ant" wrote...
>> I read that cheaper KVMs do cause blurry display/picture for VGA
>> connections. I am using an old two ports Belkin OmniCube KVM. Connecting
>> VGA directly without KVMs show clarity. Also, my old Samsung SyncMaster
>> monitor has no problems autodetecting. If I use it with KVM, then it has
>> problems autocentering and quality degrades more because of refresh
>> rate(?) [forced 60 hz).
>>
>> Since I still use PS/2 mouse, PS/2 keyboard, and VGA connections (don't
>> feel like shelling out money to upgrade all of those devices either), I'd
>> like to know if there are any better low cost KVMs that will result
>> clearer images.
>
> rec.video.desktop is not really the target newsgroup for your question.
> r.v.d is chartered for the discussion of television production using
> computer-
> based non-linear editing software (NLE). There are other newsgroups
> where computer monitors and video cards are discussed like c.s.i.p.h.v
Thanks. I thought those people would KVM too. I guess not! My apology. :)
> Although it is possible that someone here might also have a suggestion
> for an above-average performing KVM switch. My experience is the
> same as yours, and I avoid them for critical use. Note that most of the
> extension cables also tend to degrade the computer video even without
> sending it through a KVM switch. Computer video cables tend to be
> simple unshielded multi-wire cables, while television RGB, etc. uses
> proper coaxial conductors.
Even the cable brands from Belkins? I don't think these cables are that
long. Maybe 6' long (don't remember the exact lengths) for each cable.
Maybe a foot if total (monitor to KVM + KVM to PC).
--
"What I fear most from the stars is not aliens for they have
intelligence, but I fear social creatures like ants, that can overrun
humans, that feel no emotion, and see us as an easy prey source." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: phi...@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANT...@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
RickMerrill
A good KVM will come with its OWN CABLES. Do not extend those cables or
you will have problems.
Also, you have to boot each unit while the KVM is set to that unit or
the BIOS POST code Might think there was no kbd attached.
CLicker
"RickMerrill" <Rick0....@gmail.NOSPAM.com> wrote in message
news:gjtqbr$klb$2...@news.motzarella.org...
Not in my experience. Perhaps with very old PCs? My HTPCs boot
from the BIOS timer at 6:00PM to begin each days recording
sessions. Either or both may have no K or M attached at all
come 6:00PM. The KVM I use at the moment always links to PC 1
devices when it sees power from either PC. Thus PC2 always
comes up without K, V, or M.
I happen to have an unused, excellent KVM with VGA/PS2
connections. defaults to the first PC to power up, hot key
sequence ESC-ESC-a or ESC-ESC-b. Does not drop the unused ports
when switching. Will give it away, cables included, for the
cost of shipping. Otherwise, to the dumpster 1/23, when I
change addresses.
Now using a newer hub with VGA/USB (for wireless KB) + an
incorporated 3 port USB hub which switches other select devices
as well.
Ant
> >> for an above-average performing KVM switch. My experience is the
> >> same as yours, and I avoid them for critical use. Note that most of the
> >> extension cables also tend to degrade the computer video even without
> >> sending it through a KVM switch. Computer video cables tend to be
> >> simple unshielded multi-wire cables, while television RGB, etc. uses
> >> proper coaxial conductors.
> >
> > Even the cable brands from Belkins? I don't think these cables are that
> > long. Maybe 6' long (don't remember the exact lengths) for each cable.
> > Maybe a foot if total (monitor to KVM + KVM to PC).
> A good KVM will come with its OWN CABLES. Do not extend those cables or
> you will have problems.
Well, they are Belkin cables like the KVM switch. :P
> Also, you have to boot each unit while the KVM is set to that unit or
> the BIOS POST code Might think there was no kbd attached.
I never had that problem.
--
"He who dislikes aardvarks was an ant in his former life." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
( )
Arny Krueger
news:IJKdnRTzJYWrTsLU...@posted.pcez
> My experience is the same as yours, and I avoid them for critical use.
> Note
> that most of the extension cables also tend to degrade
> the computer video even without sending it through a KVM
> switch.
You get what you pay for.
You don't have to pay big bucks, but you do have to be discriminiating.
> Computer video cables tend to be simple
> unshielded multi-wire cables,
Not true. Cut one open. If the cable is thin, you'll find really thin coax.
If it is thicker, you'll find thicker coax.
There used to be a chance of confusion between video cables and serial
cables when both had the same connectors. The unshielded serial cables were
very bad for video beyond SVGA.
I've personally never seen a 15 pin D-submini cable that wasn't composed of
shielded cable for at least R, G, and B.
I find all this wailing and gnashing of teeth over to be a little strange.
However, people could be trying for 2048 x 1200 @ 120 Hz. I haven't seen a
complete statement of the problem.
BTW I have a number of LCD displays running at 1920 x 1200 and 1680 x 1050,
but only 60 Hz. They are all running DVI or HDMI connections, which is
shielded or die. ;-) I have to admit I haven't used any DVI or HDMI KVM
switches.
I have a video system at church with over 350 feet of cable runs between a
PC source, and an XGA projector.
When there was only 150 feet of cable, it was all off-the-shelf VGA cables.
OK, I was a little discriminating in my choice of VGA cables, but they were
all commodity cables. The piece de resistance was a 100' run that was
simply a good quality VGA cable. There was a 20' extension on one end that
took the brunt of life on stage. It got trashed once and I just replaced it
instead of having to pull a new one. There was a 20' extension to a video
switch (Black interval switch) and a 10' run from there to the PC. Then,
from the swtich to the projector, another 20' to a splitter which had a gain
adjustment. There were 2 6' cables on the splitter to two different XGA
projectors, one for the front and one for the back so that the people on
stage could see the video from the perspective of the audience.
Going to over 350 feet when I relocated one of the projectors towards the
front and hung both projectors from the ceiling, pushed the old system right
over the edge. I had to replace the longer runs with RGBHV links made up of
5 parallel runs of about 1500' of a good grade of RG6. But there are still
plenty of shorter runs within the system that are plain old PC VGA cables,
or the equivalent.
I find that analog video is a big PITA. I hope to move a big chunk of the
church system to HDMI via range extenders.
Richard Crowley
> "Richard Crowley" wrote
>> My experience is the same as yours, and I avoid them for critical use.
>> Note
>> that most of the extension cables also tend to degrade
>> the computer video even without sending it through a KVM
>> switch.
>
> You get what you pay for.
Or you get whatever is available.
> You don't have to pay big bucks, but you do have to be discriminiating.
And buy from a place that sells decent cables.
>> Computer video cables tend to be simple
>> unshielded multi-wire cables,
>
> Not true. Cut one open. If the cable is thin, you'll find really thin
> coax. If it is thicker, you'll find thicker coax.
Coax that is thin enough to be mistaken for a simple insulated
wire is probably too small (high capacitance = HF rolloff) to
adequately handle the high bandwidth of modern screen dimensions.
> I have a video system at church with over 350 feet of cable runs between a
> PC source, and an XGA projector.
Right. With proper coax as you stated. UTP (Cat5, etc.) is proving to
be a decent substitute with the proper balun (passive or active) at each
end.
Ant
> And buy from a place that sells decent cables.
Are Belkin brand cables consider decent? I think they are from 2000. Do
they degrade overtime?
--
"He who dislikes aardvarks was an ant in his former life." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
Ant
>>> You don't have to pay big bucks, but you do have to be discriminiating.
>
>> And buy from a place that sells decent cables.
>
> Are Belkin brand cables consider decent? I think they are from 2000. Do
> they degrade overtime?
Wow, this unused OLD (no idea how old it is) one (from work) actually
fixed the problem! Basically it is the same Belkin brand but it is MUCH
thicker (harder to bend compare to my other light gray/beige Belkin VGA
cables) and black color.
--
"Above ground I shall be food for kites; below I shall be food for
mole-crickets and ants. Why rob one to feed the other?" --Juang-zu (4th
Century B.C.)
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Nuke ANT from e-mail address: phi...@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANT...@zimage.com
Bob Myers
"Ant" <ANT...@zimage.com> wrote in message
news:kqidnWuuIoz93PnU...@earthlink.com...
> Wow, this unused OLD (no idea how old it is) one (from work) actually
> fixed the problem! Basically it is the same Belkin brand but it is MUCH
> thicker (harder to bend compare to my other light gray/beige Belkin VGA
> cables) and black color.
Good. To answer your earlier question, coax cables can degrade over
time, but the rate at which they deteriorate is highly dependent on
environmental factors (esp. humidity, temperature, and UV exposure;
mechanical failure - fatigue - may also be a concern if the cable is
in an installation where it is regularly flexed). If in severe
environments,
it is certainly possible for a cable to be significantly degraded in under a
year; if not, though, you can get years of service life from a decent
cable.
Thicker cables (of the same nominal impedance) are GENERALLY
lower-loss and likely better shielded overall, but you can certainly
come across crappy fat cables that won't perform as well as a
higher-quality smaller type.
Oh, and just a note from an item earlier in the thread - I HAVE come
across some very cheap PC monitor cables (no-name Chinese-made,
at least the ones I found) which did NOT use coax of any type inside
and instead were just twisted pairs. Not good at all for any sort of
video work, but there they were. Fortunately, this sort of thing seems
to be the exception rather than the rule, but be advised they are out
there.
Bob M.
Arny Krueger
>>> You don't have to pay big bucks, but you do have to be
>
>> And buy from a place that sells decent cables.
>
> Are Belkin brand cables consider decent? I think they are
> from 2000. Do they degrade overtime?
Most of the significant degradation takes place within a few inches of the
terminations/connectors.
Ant
> > Wow, this unused OLD (no idea how old it is) one (from work) actually
> > fixed the problem! Basically it is the same Belkin brand but it is MUCH
> > thicker (harder to bend compare to my other light gray/beige Belkin VGA
> > cables) and black color.
> Good. To answer your earlier question, coax cables can degrade over
> time, but the rate at which they deteriorate is highly dependent on
> environmental factors (esp. humidity, temperature, and UV exposure;
> mechanical failure - fatigue - may also be a concern if the cable is
> in an installation where it is regularly flexed). If in severe
> environments,
Would room temperatures going over 85F degrees be the issue? I know it
is dry and sun never shines in thisroom. I have had the KVM and cables
since end of year 2000. I know I had to pack and move so maybe they got
damaged, but I didn't see the symptoms after that setting down.
> it is certainly possible for a cable to be significantly degraded in under a
> year; if not, though, you can get years of service life from a decent
> cable.
> Thicker cables (of the same nominal impedance) are GENERALLY
> lower-loss and likely better shielded overall, but you can certainly
> come across crappy fat cables that won't perform as well as a
> higher-quality smaller type.
> Oh, and just a note from an item earlier in the thread - I HAVE come
> across some very cheap PC monitor cables (no-name Chinese-made,
> at least the ones I found) which did NOT use coax of any type inside
> and instead were just twisted pairs. Not good at all for any sort of
> video work, but there they were. Fortunately, this sort of thing seems
> to be the exception rather than the rule, but be advised they are out
> there.
I doubt Belkin uses those from 2000. Monitor's video cable should be
fine since direct connection didn't show the symptoms.
FYI:
The unused thick black VGA cable box's copyright date says 2001 (can't
find the manufacturing date). The 10 ft. cables (audio too) are for SOHO
series. VGA cable is industry-standard, 14-pin coaxial VGA cable type.
Model is F1D9100-XX. Cable is HDDB15.
Old cable label texts say, "Belkin Pro Series for Optimum Data Transfer
www.belkin.com U.S. Patent No. Des. 396.689. The head end says
F2N025-06-T.
I hope that give clues. ;)
--
"He who dislikes aardvarks was an ant in his former life." --unknown
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Ant @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
Bob Myers
> Would room temperatures going over 85F degrees be the issue? I know it
> is dry and sun never shines in thisroom. I have had the KVM and cables
> since end of year 2000. I know I had to pack and move so maybe they got
> damaged, but I didn't see the symptoms after that setting down.
No, no real problems there; when I was talking about environmental
issues, I meant something like exposure to "outdoor" conditions
(direct sunlight, etc.) or harsh environments (industrial chemicals and
such). In typical indoor use, coax basically lasts "forever" (well, at
least
as "forever" is defined in this industry - certainly well over 10 years
should not be a problem, assuming decent connector termination).
>> Oh, and just a note from an item earlier in the thread - I HAVE come
>> across some very cheap PC monitor cables (no-name Chinese-made,
>> at least the ones I found) which did NOT use coax of any type inside
>> and instead were just twisted pairs. Not good at all for any sort of
>> video work, but there they were. Fortunately, this sort of thing seems
>> to be the exception rather than the rule, but be advised they are out
>> there.
>
> I doubt Belkin uses those from 2000. Monitor's video cable should be
> fine since direct connection didn't show the symptoms.
No, I wouldn't be worried about Belkin. My comment was basically
just to note that such things HAVE been seen, from the less-reputable
makers (if you can even tell who the maker of such things are!).
Bob M.
Ant
> > is dry and sun never shines in thisroom. I have had the KVM and cables
> > since end of year 2000. I know I had to pack and move so maybe they got
> > damaged, but I didn't see the symptoms after that setting down.
> No, no real problems there; when I was talking about environmental
> issues, I meant something like exposure to "outdoor" conditions
> (direct sunlight, etc.) or harsh environments (industrial chemicals and
> such). In typical indoor use, coax basically lasts "forever" (well, at
> least
> as "forever" is defined in this industry - certainly well over 10 years
> should not be a problem, assuming decent connector termination).
Oh OK.
> >> Oh, and just a note from an item earlier in the thread - I HAVE come
> >> across some very cheap PC monitor cables (no-name Chinese-made,
> >> at least the ones I found) which did NOT use coax of any type inside
> >> and instead were just twisted pairs. Not good at all for any sort of
> >> video work, but there they were. Fortunately, this sort of thing seems
> >> to be the exception rather than the rule, but be advised they are out
> >> there.
> >
> > I doubt Belkin uses those from 2000. Monitor's video cable should be
> > fine since direct connection didn't show the symptoms.
> No, I wouldn't be worried about Belkin. My comment was basically
> just to note that such things HAVE been seen, from the less-reputable
> makers (if you can even tell who the maker of such things are!).
OK and thanks. :)
Ant
--
:) BD, USA (245)! Pls B betta. :P Will 2021 repeat 2020? :(
Note: A fixed width font (Courier, Monospace, etc.) is required to see this signature correctly.
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://aqfl.net & http://antfarm.home.dhs.org.
/ /\ /\ \ Please nuke ANT if replying by e-mail.
| |o o| |
\ _ /
( )