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Running display cable from IT Room to Editing Suite

Stephen Brock

Stephen Brock

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Hey everyone,

I've got a MacPro setup in our temp-controlled IT closet.

I'm shopping around for the best graphic card for monitor display, but first I need to determine the best cabling setup. We need to run dual monitors into our Editing Suite, 50 feet away. Through insulated walls and a drop-ceiling.

DVI-dual link? Display Port? HDMI?

The monitors are Dell U2410's. Minimum resolution needed is 1920x1200. Future-proofing is of-course ideal.

Thoughts?
 
There are a few options. At 1920x1200, you're within range of current HDBASE-T and video/ KVM over IP hardware. Personally, I really like the GEFEN hardware as it has been the most trouble-free of everything I've tried and they have pretty good support.

For full KVM w/ 2-way voice over IP at up to 1920x1200 over your LAN, there's this: http://www.gefen.com/kvm/ext-hdkvm-lan.jsp?prod_id=10594


But I would actually recommend this unit. I'm testing one right now and sending to a Dell U2711 @ 2560x1600 via DisplayPort with USB.

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/gtb-dpkvm-3cat7.jsp?prod_id=11065

or

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/ext-dp-2cat7.jsp?prod_id=11095 for the one without the USB and other goodies, just a DisplayPort extender and $$$ cheaper.


All you need to do is pull a few shielded CAT-7 cables. And for "future proofing", that's what I'd recommend anyway. Run a conduit if you can and pull through 3 to 5 STP (shielded twisted pair) cables rated for 550MHz or better. The unfortunate downside is these video senders are expensive and you'll need one for each monitor. You may have to get one of these for the DisplayPort connector and then something different for HDMI or DVI, depending on which outputs the video card has. On the bright side, you can use something like this for a primary display and get the USB / KVM / DisplayPort support. Then if you have a second monitor on an HDMI port at 1920x1200, you can use a regular HDMI balun set -- the GEFEN

The Gefen HDBASE-T HDMI sender does up to 4K @ 30Hz over a single CAT-6. I send REDRAY over these to both the SEIKI 50" and Samsung 55" 4K monitors. They do 1290x1200 @ 60Hz. Also send power over line, so you don't need extra power on the receiver end. They can be had for about $216 each from Provantage or B&H.

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/gtb-hdbt-pol-blk.jsp?prod_id=11041


Sorry to sound like a Gefen advert. I have no connection to them in any way other than being a fairly satisfied customer. FWIW, the Monoprice HDBASE-T HDMI extender is < $200 so a few bucks cheaper. It doesn't do POL and it's a little more clunky, but it also works alright.
 
It might work, depending on how strong the signal is from your display card. Generally speaking, any HDMI or DVI cable length over 20 feet is bound to be problematic at some point. You will most likely need a signal booster to make it reliable and avoid drop-outs and sparkles. I've burned up my share of long-run HDMI cables and when I install signage displays, projectors, etc... these days, I always extend over CAT-6. I've just found it to be much easier to support over time and fewer failures. It seems counter-intuitive that a complex conversion process would be less problematic than a simple A to B cable, but that's the truth. I also love HDMI extenders over CAT-6 because cable length suddenly becomes a non-issue and in commercial or retail spaces, there's always other factors or trades which can impact your cabling. Like the HVAC contractor who continuously uses the cable raceway as a step or work platform. Splicing or swapping out a CAT-6 cable is easy peasy. Swapping out a 50-foot HDMI is usually a pain because I don't like keeping them on-hand and it ends up costing more. The HDBASE-T units are not a whole lot more than a good booster or repeater that can still span less distance.

OK, so I know I'm talking about a different application than yours, but I suppose it's not all that different when you consider the DVI/HDMI spec. Which allows for up to 50 feet of cable run with appropriate amplification or a boosted signal. For nominal or standard signal, max length for full format support is usually about 20 feet. :(

If the power output from your video card is sufficient, it will probably drive a monitor with that cable just fine. I would wonder about the longevity of the cable though. OTOH, you can replace the cable several times before you pay for an appropriate extender system. So you have options.
 
How does one handle a monitor like the Panasonic lh1200 connected to a deck link card to monitor HD for color correction? I worry about cables/intermediate equipment messing with the color, so my tower sits in the room along with the pana and two apple cinema monitors.
 
Thanks so much for all this great info Jeff!! You have no idea how helpful this is for me. :001_smile:

Hm, HDMI extenders are sounding pretty tempting. There are a couple cheap(sub-$50 a pair) options on Monoprice...This could be a good option until we can afford HDBaseT solutions. The biggest question remaining is if it will do 1920x1200(most of the specs only mention 1920x1080) and also if color space/bit-depth/etc will be acceptable for grading.
 
Stephen, they should work fine at that resolution unless the hardware is somehow botched.
 
Watch out for those cheap extenders. They usually pull some tricks to make themselves work. I've had a couple of the cheaper Monoprice ones and they have all died in the line of duty. The only Monoprice extender I would recommend is their HDBASE-T extender.

As for Nikhil's concern over color, this is indeed a great question and valid concern. This is once again where HDBASE-T is the way to go. HDBASE-T is an industry standard transport that does not alter the signal. It has full support for x.v., FST, deep color 10, 12 and 16 bit, 3D, etc.. Most non-HDBASE-T extenders tend to alter the signal or use compression to transmit. The video over IP solutions mentioned above do work good, but they achieve their goal through compression and there can be compression artifacts or color space alteration and compression. It works great for interface or general computing displays, but I would only recommend HDBASE-T for anything where the image needs to remain unaltered.

For connection from Decklink or similar cards, I would recommend using HD-SDI in dual-link or 3G form anyway. If you need to convert to HDMI, then do it on the display end with an AJA or BMD converter. ...I realize some of the I/O cards don't have SDI available and have gone to HDMI unless we spend extra $$$ for breakout hardware or additional interface cables. So, yeah, just more things to consider.

I think your best solution if you don't want to go with an HDBASE-T solution at the moment is to use a cable with active electronics such as the REDMERE cables and then if you still need it, add a booster. Buy a spare cable to have on hand. Although, by the time you do that, you're close to the cost of the HDBASE-T solution anyway. 50ft active REDMERE cable is almost $60. http://www.monoprice.com/Product/?c...=1025506&p_id=9432&seq=1&format=2#description
 
I am trying to figure out the best switch/cabling options too. I have a similar computer setup, the mac & a linux cluster(each server has a nvidia k5000) are running two 65 inch 4k displays (XBR 4K Ultra HD TV) and a barco 2k(which I will be upgrading to 4k). the computers are within 20 feet of the devices. Sometimes I would like to have one mac run all 2 displays & projector, other times I'd like the mac to run one and the linux cluster to run the others. I'm also trying to keep this relatively simple to operate. I also have a couple of redplayers on order that i need to hook this up to also.
 
A decent HDMI matrix switcher or two should solve your dilemma. <ack, I'm doing it again> The new Gefen Toolbox matrices support 4K to 30fps (HDMI 1.4a). HDMI 2.0 support in such devices is at least 8 months away at this point, but I expect announcements at or around NAB.
 
Some people have said not so great things about them but so far my monoprice redmere 65 foot HDMI cable has been working great for me running 3840x2160@30Hz with no dropouts or any issues at all so far.
 
The Monoprice Redmere cables are great! I have not tried a 65 foot one though. My longest Redmere is 20ft and problem free.
 
I've been wading through the CEDIA press releases this morning and found this one from Crestron:

The HD-EXT3-C and HD-EXT4-C support 4K resolution content and can transmit HDMI long distance via HDBaseT using standard CAT5e/UTP cable. Both the HD-EXT3-C and HD-EXT4-C support 4K signals and extend uncompressed, HDCP-protected HDMI content up to 330 feet (100 meters) via HDBaseT without any signal degradation. Transmitters may be mounted in a single gang wall box and are available with black or white faceplates. They can also be easily rack mounted.
 
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