Remote Monitor (Screen) Possibilities?

[Macavity]

Remote Monitor (Screen) Possibilities? OK, it seems pretty obvious that, to "do imaging", you just get a (budget) Laptop, to accompany you at the sharp end of the scope! But are there any viable alternatives? E.g. there may be "climatic" concerns. But aso, I'm fairly miminalist, and on a tight budget - I don't immediately want a Laptop, peripherals, another operating system etc.

Clearly e.g. active USB 2.0 camera cables (I have one!) mean a Webcam can be operated "remotely". The only thing I appear to need at the scope is some kind of "focussing screen". (O.K., maybe something to trigger "the action", but I'll worry about that later!). But I imagine SOME folks may prefer a (desktop) computer to sit in a "warm room" - Maybe even to do so, themselves as well!

So here's the QUESTION (finally)! PC Graphics cards have extra (rarely used?) connectors. Does the output from these repeat what's on the MAIN screen? Could these be pressed into service to drive a spare (already available!) LCD monitor, small TV screen, whatever? I may just buy a new graphics card (or better investigate my current one!) for my Desktop PC. But this is a GAP in my (outdated!) PC general knowledge too, so this is addressed to computerphiles, as well!

[jgs001]

Chris, the average graphics card should produce without problems the same output on both ports. You generally will have a standard VGA 15 pin D-type connection (Analog) and a DVI connection (Digital). I'm not sure how far you can drive the signals on either port however. I'd suggest, as you have a spare LCD available, trying it out, as long as you have the appropriate connections. What is the graphics card that you have installed ?

[Macavity]

Thanks for that, John - Heheh, you got it (my ramblings) in one!

The idea that the SAME output might well(!) appear at multiple ports is reassuring! Frankly, I bought the cheapest possible graphics card for this self-assembled PC. FWIW, a generic PCI-E GeForce 6200. I see this one has one VGA connector, which I will need for this (albeit nice, wide-screen, but soley VGA!) MAIN monitor. Looks like it has a coax TV-out & DVI-D (digital).

My "spare" LCD also has VGA input, so I will have to investigate if there are any possibilities for driving TWO VGA screens (buy a new card) OR adaptors(?), cable lengths, etc. Always good to have SGL folks to bounce ideas! BUT just maybe the general idea isn't TOO way out?

And, if I have any success...

[jgs001]

Chris, here's some options described. And they sell them here

It looks like you can buy a boosted VGA splitter allowing you to drive the signal quite some distance for about £25

[Macavity]

Hi John, Yeah - Looks like perhaps simple-ish (OR more complex) solutions may indeed already be available! But you were still ahead of me, so THANKS for the links. I often imagine a LOT more complexity, and (mostly?) end up pleasantly surprised...

[Keagle]

Or just pick up a REALLY cheap laptop, and run VNC?

Or I've lost you completely here! Heh.

[Beyond_Vision]

It would be better to get a small TFT screen and use the TV output of the Graphics card to drive it over a long co-axial lead.

Regards

Kevin

[Macavity]

Heheh. There's wisdom in that! I must admit, I tried an off-chance purchase of a "DVI-D to VGA" cable and it didn't work. (I suspect it was REALLY a VGA to DVI-D adaptor) But I'm sure, with more considered (correct) thinking re. cable "genders" etc., it has some future prospects. But I sense the SIMPLER solutions might be more appropriate for now...

Thanks ALL!

[jgs001]

Chris, the problem with that sort of cabling, is that, standard VGA output is Analog and DVI-D is digital. So you need a monitor that can handle either an analog or digital feed on the same connection, or an ADC/DAC adapter/converter assembly in the cable somewhere.