Multiple Monitors

[Habby]

I hope I am in the right section. What equipment do I need to feed several monitors or televisions a live video from a camcorder as I video a church service? I have s video out as well as Firewire. Can you just make splits or do I need some kind of box to handle all this? I don't mind spending money. I will be making some long runs as far as 100 feet.

[edDV]

Firewire is only good for 15ft. (60ft max with active extenders). Use Firewire for computer transfer.

For distribution, use S-Video for high quality monitors and composite for longer runs and lower quality.

Google "S-Video distribution amp" or "S-Video DA".

Cheapest but not best is Radio Shack online.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103065&cp=&sr=1&origkw=s-video+...entPage=search

[Steve Stepoway]

Speaking from painful experience (hours spent trying to solve the problems doing exactly what you are doing), you are going to have ground loops unless you are very careful to tie all the TVs to the same circuit (and so the same ground). It will show up as a rolling light or dark bar on the screens. More distant screens will be worse. Make certain that the TVs, the distribution amps, and your camera are all on the same circuit. You can't just plug them into any convenient outlet.

Steve

[edDV]

Agreed. If you need to feed a distant point, carefully placed Hum Buck isolation coils can stop hum rolls. Easier to use composite or RF for more distant points.

http://www.21best.com/21_best/electronic/security/video/filters/for_sale_.html
http://www.elect-spec.com/survl_z.htm