CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

mikeyk · Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Kenmore, NY

Hey guys, looking to see what my options are for inputs for my 1272Q that I purchased from Curt over a year ago. I have an open slot that would probably take another IFB-11 or IFB-12 card. I've also read that their were moome cards and DVI input cards, but not sure where to start. So I guess I'll describe what I have and what I'd like to accomplish and let you guys fill in the blanks on what would be my cheapest options to accomplish what I'm trying to do.

I purchased a Samsung SIR TS-360 dish reciver that I'm using as an analog TV tuner, outputting via RGBVH to the IFB-11 card. I have an ATI video card in my PC, going component out of that into the Sir TS-360, it allows me to output media files at I believe either 480i or 480p into the Sir TS-360, and then it upscales to 1080i. Problem is that the Sir TS-360's inputs won't accept anything higher than the 480p/i, so I can't use my native monitor resolution (1024 X 768) into the reciever and can't do a clone monitor. I originally had my PC hooked to the 1271 via the same RGBHV/5 BNC cable, running a TV tuner card in the PC, but analog picture quality was crap, thats why I got the TS-360. But I lost the ability to run my PC natively into the projector.

So what are my options? I could add either an IFB-11/12/12A card into the unused slot on the 1271 and run a second RGBVH cable to the projector. I purchased a cheap VGA switcher, which works fine for the PC, but won't accept native resolutions for the TS-360. Would I be better off adding an IFB card with an extra cable, or would I be better off just using an external switcher that passes both native 480p/i, 720p, and 1080i resolutions as well as native PC 1024 x 768/1280 X 1024 (when I replace my monitor), or do I also need to add a transcoder? What say you all for the easiets and cheapesy way to accomplish this?

Mike

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:10 am Post subject:

I've you got a good cable running to the projector already, just pick up a nice Extron high-bandwidth switcher off fleabay for $30-50... say, a 4-input model. For not much more, you could even get a basic matrix switcher, and if you have a PC monitor that will accept 1080i/720p, you could, for instance be able to see what's on TV without firing up the projector.

A switcher would also give you more inputs in the event you add another source or two - say a Blu-ray or HD-DVD player connected through an HD Fury (RGBHV output).

Here's a cheap 2x1:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160191363557

Another cheap 2x1:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170179216550

Don't buy this one - it's hacked up - missing front panel screws, but here's a 4x1:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170179556542

Here's a CrossPoint 84HV - I have this in my system. You can switch any 8 inputs into any of 4 outputs (total overkill for your system):
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120200564519

Here's another:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320198426525

The way I have it set up, is I have both component and RGB devices plugged into the inputs. If the source is RGB, I switch it right to the projector - HTPC for example, or your TS360. If the source is component, I route that input to an output that is connected to a Kimcoder RTC2000 transcoder, then transcoder output is connected to an input that I route to the projector. It's not simple, but it's very flexible.

SC

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 4:53 am Post subject:

You could add a second input card to your Sony too. Have your TS-360 on input 'A' and run your PC into input 'B' at your 1024 x 768 resolution and set up another memory block for it.

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:12 am Post subject:

True. The input card would be cheap - say, $30 - but, you'd also need to buy another long RGHBV snake.

SC

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:48 am Post subject:

mikeyk · Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Kenmore, NY

The PC and TS-360 are about 3 feet apart, and the projector is about 15-20 feet cable wise apart, I have a SVGA/5 BNC cable running from the TS-360 to the projector. Looks like the IFB card and extra 20 foot snake cable is my best/cheapest option. The switcher would require extra 5 BNC/5 BNC cables. So now the question becomes which IFB card would be best, the IFB-11, IFB-12/12A, or one of the moome cards? I can go analog (SVGA/DB15)/5 BNC, DVI/5 BNC, DVI/HDMI into the projector.

I've seen some minor overscan issues at 1024 X 768, thats why I mentioned the transoder. I have the projector ceiling mounted (upside down) and the PC image seems to want to drop lower and to the right opn the screen and centering the image has been a pain due to overscan issues, but I can live with that problem. Which input card would you guys reccomend, and who has one available cheaply? I found an IFB-11 on fleabay for $125 before shipping.

Mike

Sonynut · Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 367 Location: Bradford,PA

$125 for an IFB-11--- OUCH

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 8:54 pm Post subject:

Ouch is right! IFB-11's usually go for $25-35. Even Hammerhead has them for $35/ea plus shipping.

http://hammerheadtech.com/commerce/catalog/product.jsp?product_id=11030

Still, I don't see how an input card and another snake (what, $80+ total) is cheaper than a cheaper switcher and a couple more short cables - especially since some of the Extron switchers are HD15-based (VGA connector). Plus, if you add another IFB card and a snake, then add another source 6 months from now, you're right back in the same boat. Just my opinion, though!

SC

mikeyk · Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Kenmore, NY

drice1234 · Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 1309 Location: Allen, Texas

As I thought about the cards are in a Sony 1271 switcher. I think there is (1) 11 card, (1) or (2) 12 cards, a couple of composite cards in there plus the monitor out. You could run all of your inputs into the switcher and then just the (5) bnc cable to your pj. I would take $60.00 plus shipping for the switcher.
Thanks
Dan

ecrabb · Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 11:00 pm Post subject:

He's got a HD15 to 5BNC cable to the projector, so the Sony (or any other) 5BNC switch won't work w/o an adapter. Of course, if you wanted to use Dan's switcher or any other 5BNC switcher, you could get one of these:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10203&cs_id=1020304&p_id=563&seq=1&format=2

SC

mikeyk · Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Kenmore, NY

69shelby · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 102

i use a a/b switch box, t360 and computer in, vga to rgb cable out, the switch was about $5 from a computer show

mikeyk · Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Kenmore, NY

69shelby · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 102

it's just a standard data transfer switch, I don't see a numer or name on it, li has a 2 position rotary switch on it. passes 1080i fine from the pc and 360, I don't see why it have problems synching, it just passes the signal with no power or circuits. I used it for 480p on my 1031 and now my g70. you can try a gender changer from rat shack do a manual switch for a few dollars also, I like to go the cheap lo-tech routes myself)

mikeyk · Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Kenmore, NY

Is the AB switch something like this box?

http://www.icables.com/hd15-vga-female-ab-2-way-switch-box.html

69shelby · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 102

looks like it.

mikeyk · Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Kenmore, NY

Thanks for the info 69shelby, I just ordered one on Fleabay for $9.99 plus shipping, I'll let you know if I get lucky this time.

Mike

69shelby · Joined: 05 Jan 2007 Posts: 102

try a 15 gender changer also and see if it has an issue synching

mikeyk · Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 16 Location: Kenmore, NY

It was a wall wart powered KVM switch, it think due to the electronics it only passes native PC resolutions, which would explain the synching issues. It mentioned on the box that the highest resolution it passed was 1024 X 768, so I figured I'd be ok doing 720p on it, but it doesn't like any of the TV standard resolutions, it just passed a noisy signal with no horizontal synch from the TS-360.