Finally a DVI- SDI converter

[samsc]

Finally a cheaper DVI- SDI converter

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=2566

works both way, dvi to sdi and hd-sdi and sdi to dvi...


Configuration for a DVI to SDI conversion requires no more than a simple selection on the unit.

Addendum:

As of March 2005 ( i emailed their tech support )- gefen is no longer supporting dvi-sdi conversion.

[Spam Butterfly]

This has been around for a while.
However, there is a school of thought that suggests that DVI should be kept as DVI, since most professional projectors and devices like the Vista Montage and Barco Encore can handle DVI natively.
http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=1833

I understand HD-SDI doesn't actually go as far as SD-SDI.

Hugh

[samsc]

but you cant send dvi more than 12 feet without very expensive convertors.

[Sven]

Have you seen or tested this device?
http://www.miranda.com/product.php?i=235&l=1

I am yet undecided on whther DVI should stay DVI. I found this device because it could be useful sometimes to send "hd" content over a single cable.

Best wishes,

Sven

[samsc]

yes.

dvi-ramp - these have been around longer.

they are much more expensive than $2000 for the gefen box.
i called them when they first came out.

cant remember the exact cost.
possibly close to $10,000 -someone can correct me on this?

isnt distributing dvi over anything other than a short run difficult?
and the cables are not designed for long runs.

[samsc]

28mar2005 -they seem to have removed the dvi -sdi conversion but from their webpage.
their webpage used to indicate that you could change the direction of conversion using jumpers.
The box still appears to have a dvi-input and a dvi-output

[Jan Opseth]

There is some Dvi to fiber options out there..

Here is a couple:

http://www.pacificcable.com/DVI_Extension_Cables.htm

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/DVI-X-Tender.html

I don't have any experince with this.



regards,

Jan Opseth

[SourceChild]

I am worried about a few of these solutions I have used in the past. I notice that the Gefen boxes tend to fail. Of course I have noticed this more with analogue than digital but I am curious if anyone has feedback on success with extender and converter boxes.

I am specifically looking for DVI over ethernet boxes and DVI to SDI converters.
Also would be nice to find a box that perhaps output multiple signal types simultaneously.

[peppe]

Also check this:

http://www.doremilabs.com/products/DSDI-20.html

http://www.doremilabs.com/products/XDVI-20.htm

Doremi is not so expensive ( well, in the video world expensive is REALLY expensive) and have good products.

[jasonrudolph]

I just had some of the doremi DSDI-20s on a tour I was programming, and we were having problems with them holding settings after powering down. They evertually held, but we had lots of problems with them. Also, there is no way to genlock these, if you need that in your system, so need another box for that.

As for DVI over ehternet boxes, I am doing a show right now where we have some of the Magenta Research boxes, they work pretty well, and have thernet AND fiber outputs (intersting to note though, the ones we got did not have the fiber enabled for some reason).

One problem with most of these boxes though, is that while they use Cat 5e able, they CANNOT run on most ethernet systems. The building we are in, for instance has networking all over the place, the bandwith these use if much higher than ethernet can take (I think they use like 1.6 gbps) so in the end we needed to convert to HD-SDI, which the building has wiring for as well, and then convert back to DVI on the other end. But when I had them all hooked up at FOH before everything was in place, they worked great.

[Sven]

Kramer make cables with in-built transmitters and receivers. Those cables work. Magenta Research make Excellent DVI extenders that are very flexible. They can be used with Cat 6 or Fibre and even daisy chained. However you need to know a little what you are doing, e.g use the adequate fibre or Cat 6 cable and be aware of how do deal with EEID data.
I have used the Gefen boxes over 300m without problems. Current I use Magenta Research. Usually the cable is not up to standard, there is noise in the system (no power filters/ conditioning) or the EEID data gets confused somewhere because either DVI detectives are not used or not correctly programmed.

Sven

[SourceChild]

Magenta is what I'm considering. However, Doremi is my next choice. I am about done with Gefen though.

[jasonrudolph]

If you do get the Magenta boxes, just make sure youve got the fiber enabled in them. We had two that werent for some reason, and the factory said they would drop ship us new ones. Really annoying when you think you are covered for either UTP cable or Fiber......

[SourceChild]

If you do get the Magenta boxes, just make sure you've got the fiber enabled in them.

I wasn't much for fibre until began reading and studying more.

I've been thinking copper and then something on another thread changed my mind. Christian makes some very good points which have started to change my point of view.




The thinklogical DVI extenders are absolutely brilliant...they cost more than Geffen but they are worth it.

...only need a single line of fiber to run to the other side of the extender (no Cat5e, no multiline fiber), however, they now have 2 fiber line outs...

...They don't require any Cat5e, just fiber which is very cheap now, just buy a spool and lamp kit. It is so cheap that you can literally throw it away at the end of the gig...

Thinkogical also has a relatively inexpensive DVI-D or Fiber routing system that can be routed via a web interface, Serial, or normally, by hand.

After seeing the Thinklogical products in action now for two shows, knowing how much savings it is, and how easy it was to get fiber feeds plugged in, having a build in DA for a preview monitor plus a spare fiber out where that in itself would take an additional ImagePro

These Thinklogical boxes look cool and match up to the Magenta. I would have leaned more towards Magenta since I have used them for other applications. I am still not sure so I am interested in feedback.

[jasonrudolph]

I wasn't much for fibre until began reading and studying more.

I've been thinking copper and then something on another thread changed my mind. Christian makes some very good points which have started to change my point of view.

Well, the reason I say this, is that you can go EITHER way with these boxes. I use them Copper as well, but for instance, if you are in a building that is pre-wired, you can jump on the fiber line, while you could NOT use the copper, as these systems dont work with ethernet systems (even gigabit)

The Magenta boxes give you that extra ace in your pocket. And they also have the loop through on them for a local monitor like the thinklogical boxes.

[SourceChild]

...if you are in a building that is pre-wired, you can jump on the fiber line, while you could NOT use the copper...


I suppose to say this correctly, the technology is not DVI over IP but DVI over Cat5e. I have been reading and studying the protocol used on the Cat5 solutions and I have discovered that it is not even a registered internet protocol.

Simply put, The boxes use twisted pair for their own protocol. Since about 50% of the TCP/IP packets is eaten up in addressing and continuity, they make for very inefficient tools to transport the very large data volume of video.

This is stuff I have always known but after the research I have done in the past few days, I am even a bit more apprehensive of using a Copper solution.

Basically the video transporters use each twisted pair to send a different part of the signal I.E. Red, Green, Blue, and Sync. This is why they will never be able to work in a traditional network.

[IanH]

I have been using 50ft DVI cables (copper) without any noticable problems for a number of years. Low res only (l1024 or less)

ian h

[thomasrotten]

I just saw a 70 meter long dvi cable from analog way.... and the price was okay to.. It lookes like a normal dvi cable with a little secret box in the projector end.. witch maked the magic.. and they ran 1080p ..

[SourceChild]

I just saw a 70 meter long dvi cable from analog way.... and the price was okay to.. It lookes like a normal dvi cable with a little secret box in the projector end.. witch maked the magic.. and they ran 1080p ..

It will certainly be worth testing. I'm curious now. I'll go look.