VGA Cable Length?

[stim141]

Purchased a Phillips 17PF8946 HDTV which utilizes a component to VGA cable. I'm mounting the TV in my kitchen and keeping the receiver in the basement directly below the TV so I have to get an extension. Any problems with something like 10 to 15 FT VGA extension? Signal distortion, etc.? Thanks.

[edDV]

Purchased a Phillips 17PF8946 HDTV which utilizes a component to VGA cable. I'm mounting the TV in my kitchen and keeping the receiver in the basement directly below the TV so I have to get an extension. Any problems with something like 10 to 15 FT VGA extension? Signal distortion, etc.? Thanks.

What kind or receiver? Why VGA? It has component inputs but S-Video is probably fine for a 17" screen.

VGA can go 10 to 15 ft. but "component to VGA" makes no sense. The TV has YPbPr component inputs.

[redwudz]

I use a 25ft VGA cable to a LCD monitor from my HTPC with no apparent problems. But I wouldn't try to run a component signal that far, at least without some very expensive cables.

[stim141]

Receiver is unknown at this point - is from provider - Charter Cable. Apparently with this LCD HDTV the VGA port uses a supplied cable that converts component cables into the VGA port for the best quality/scale. It also has standard component input but the manu recommends the component to VGA cable for HDTV - called a vga to cinch cable.

Here is the setup guide in PDF for the set.

http://www.p4c.philips.com/na4/1/17pf8946_37b/17pf8946_37b_pss_aen.pdf

[edDV]

The cable box will have S-Video (analog SD), YPbPr and Maybe DVI-HDMI. It won't have VGA.

What are you using downstairs? Normally you would use analog Component to that TV.
Set cable box to 576p or 1080i. VGA is for a computer display card.

[stim141]

I agree on using component. For some reason the manual specifically says to use the included cinch cable which basically is a component to vga when using HDTV. Saw this comment as well on a few sites reviewing the TV. Has something to do with internal circuitry for progressive scan and upconverting - don't know. The TV arrives today and I'm getting the HD converter box as well from the cable company. Will try both ports - component and the VGA with converter cable to see if there is a difference. Saw on eBay that they are selling a component to VGA in lengths of 25' - otherwise I'll try a VGA extender with the cinch cable. Hopefully it will work out - tried a few and had to return due to poor video quality.

[dphirschler]

I have a VGA splitter, one going to a CRT monitor, the other going through a 12' VGA cable to my projector. No distortion.

My friend did something similar at his church except he split the signal and ran each cable 100' feet to a CRT monitor. As you can expect, there was some wavering in the picture. But it wasn't bad enough to look for another solution.

So I think a 10' extension would be fine.


Darryl

[edDV]

I've never seen a cable box with VGA out. The program providers wouldn't stand for it.

Component video and VGA are separate standards and have nothing to do with each other. Some projector manufacturers put everything on one custom cable but this isn't normally done for a HDTV set. These are fairly standardized.

[cpotoso]

I am not sure what you want, but for comparison here's my setup:

DVD player outputs component
component to VGA connector
VGA connector connected to a cat5 cable (3 sets of twisted pairs carry each "channel" of information).
VGA cable to XGA projector (projector accepts component over VGA cable).

Works very well even with a cable length of about 10 m, no ghosting or anything.

I have also made similar cables using cat5 cables to connect s-video, again these work well.

[TBoneit]

I've seen long, 10', VGA runs that picked up AC Hum. There were hum bars slowly rolling up the picture. Cheapo cable ti be true. Buy a good Shielded cable.

[stim141]

OK got it figured out this afternoon. TV arrived - without cable so I started calling around. Found a vendor locally that had it (supplies all the AV installers and big companies - bought a 12ft component to VGA - supplier said it was pretty common for the older three lense projectors and I could get a 25ft if necessary. Got the HD Box as well from Charter Communications. Was out of my "promotion" rate of about 120 (inclu tax) for telephone, 5mb down internet and digital cable. Rate jumped to 160 - so I had to do some negociation which netted me two HD receivers with everything I had before for about 120 + tax which isn't a bad deal considering that the two boxes would normally cost about 10 each per month. Cable cost about 22.00 including tax - totally shielded and pretty beefy and I only just need a cinched minijack audio cable to get the sound working in HD.

Anyway did the connections and got full HD on the 17" Phillips no ghosting/interference - yet. Picture was pretty sharp for 220 dollars! Have to run the cable through the wall to the basement - wife doesn't want the box in the kitchen - no big deal just a pain and unfortunately the wall I have to drop through has a ROMEX power cable pretty close.

Called Philips and said the component side of the TV would not work with HD - only through the VGA port.


Tomorrow may go out and buy a 30" Sanyo CRT based HDTV set for about 380 now that I have the extra HD box! Thanks for all your help!

[edDV]

Called Philips and said the component side of the TV would not work with HD - only through the VGA port.

I've seen projectors that connect YPbPr this way but never a TV set. The port is switchable VGA to component. VGA is RGB.
http://www.p4c.philips.com/na4/1/17pf8946_37b/17pf8946_37b_qsg_eng.pdf