View Full Version : Looking for the Best way to get the A1 Picture to an external 7" or so monitor


Daniel Raebiger
July 18th, 2007, 07:17 PM
Hey folks,

i've googled quite a bit but I'm stuck with a few questions:

The Video 2 BNC Output - it's basically a ordinary cinch Video signal with just another connector that won't be any better than the cinch output i get via the video1 output, right?

The Composite Output - can it be put on a D-sub VGA Connector without any transformation that requires a powered converter?

I've seen 7 inch TFTs (for car audio^^) with resolutions up to 800x480 with a VGA connector and from my perspective converting the YUV to VGA would be the best result, right?

Thanks for any help :)
-Daniel

Blake Calhoun
July 18th, 2007, 10:00 PM
Component HD output would be the best if the monitor will take the signal.

Otherwise both the BNC and the A/V out are simply composite. Of course this is the way folks have monitored video camera signals for years before HD (and a lot still do it this way).

Really just depends on your monitor. BTW, a lot of the monitors made for car A/V systems (using a VGA converter) don't work very well IMHO

Daniel Raebiger
July 19th, 2007, 05:48 AM
thanks for the info :)

why would there be problems with a VGA converter Cable? The TFT i'm looking into supports Resolutions up to 1600x1200 which should be fine for the 1440x1080, right? :)

Blake Calhoun
July 19th, 2007, 06:16 PM
I didn't mean there'd be a problem with the VGA per se (although I'm not 100% sure). My problem was the quality of the monitor was not good. Very soft image. Only could really use it for color, and even that was not that good.

I've since been looking at a Marshall or similar one. You've really got to spend some $$$ for a crisp looking LCD I think.

Daniel Raebiger
July 19th, 2007, 07:02 PM
I didn't mean there'd be a problem with the VGA per se (although I'm not 100% sure). My problem was the quality of the monitor was not good. Very soft image. Only could really use it for color, and even that was not that good.

I've since been looking at a Marshall or similar one. You've really got to spend some $$$ for a crisp looking LCD I think.

hm well i've been using the MM400 from cartft.com for about 3 years now in my car with 1024x768 resolution (native 800x480) and it's a brilliant image. the only thing that could be better is the brightnes.

i've got me YUV -> VGA cable today but was unable to get any picture out of the A1 via this constellation. neither my PC monitor, the MM400 or my full-hd TV . Any suggestions on this? i thought YUV can be transformed to VGA by simply using the right cable...

Chris Soucy
July 19th, 2007, 07:19 PM
Erm, I'm a little bit confused about this VGA cable.

Why use a VGA connector if any of these screens have plug connectors for Component?

My HD TV will accept a VGA O/P from a pc BUT only at some pretty low res - if I want full HD I need to use either HDMI or Component.

My Dell 2407 and my Sony 46" 1080 screens both see the Component O/P from the A1 as 1920 X 1080.


CS

Richard Hunter
July 19th, 2007, 07:25 PM
hm well i've been using the MM400 from cartft.com for about 3 years now in my car with 1024x768 resolution (native 800x480) and it's a brilliant image. the only thing that could be better is the brightnes.

i've got me YUV -> VGA cable today but was unable to get any picture out of the A1 via this constellation. neither my PC monitor, the MM400 or my full-hd TV . Any suggestions on this? i thought YUV can be transformed to VGA by simply using the right cable...

Hi Daniel. VGA connectors carry an RGB signal with separate H and V sync signals, so 5 wires are needed for the video signal. The component output from the A1 is YUV with the sync pulses embedded in the Y signal. Only 3 wires total. You can get YUV-VGA converters, but it's more than just an adapter cable.

Take a look at this to get the idea:

http://www.js-technology.com/product_info.php?cPath=22&products_id=52

Richard

Daniel Raebiger
July 19th, 2007, 07:43 PM
thanks for the info - what's the purpose of the YUV-> VGA cable then? they've even marked the connectors with the appropriate colors and stuff...

http://www.al-kabelshop.de/shop/bilder/al%2DVGA%2D3RCA%2D0025.jpg

@Chris Soucy
I'm trying to use a VGA Connector as it provides much more quality than the 1-cinched output. especially in terms of resolution :)

any 7" TFTs with YUV Connectors onboard?

Chris Soucy
July 19th, 2007, 08:33 PM
I suppose what I was trying to say (in my own inimatable roundabout way) was that all the 7" lcd's I've ever seen (but I'm sure there's many I haven't seen) will only accept VGA 800 X 480 max on their VGA connectors - not 1920 X 1080.

Ditto my HD TV will only accept 1360 X 768 max on the VGA connector - not 1920 X 1080, which is what is coming off the A1's Component O/P.

Hence my confusion about why, exactly, you were trying to cram 1920 X 1080 Component down a VGA connector.

CS

Daniel Raebiger
July 19th, 2007, 08:40 PM
I suppose what I was trying to say (in my own inimatable roundabout way) was that all the 7" lcd's I've ever seen (but I'm sure there's many I haven't seen) will only accept VGA 800 X 480 max on their VGA connectors - not 1920 X 1080.

Ditto my HD TV will only accept 1360 X 768 max on the VGA connector - not 1920 X 1080, which is what is coming off the A1's Component O/P.

Hence my confusion about why, exactly, you were trying to cram 1920 X 1080 Component down a VGA connector.

CS
hm i thought that the A1 does 1440x1080? I've found a 7" VGA that gives at a native resolution of 800x480 VGA mode Support for up to 1600x1200. The reason why i'm trying to use VGA has quality issues ;)

Chris Hurd
July 19th, 2007, 10:55 PM
hm i thought that the A1 does 1440x1080?Recording to tape it's 1440 x 1080 anamorphic. Output over analog component video connection is 1920 x 1080 square (in other words, a function of the HDTV display that it's connected to). Nothing to be concerned about.

Gregg Bond
July 20th, 2007, 06:19 AM
thanks for the info - what's the purpose of the YUV-> VGA cable then? they've even marked the connectors with the appropriate colors and stuff...

Certain projectors and TV's will accept a YUV signal on their HD15 port. Remember VGA is the signal type, not the connector (although that naming convention has fallen into common use, like Hoovers etc...)

Daniel Raebiger
July 20th, 2007, 07:17 AM
Certain projectors and TV's will accept a YUV signal on their HD15 port. Remember VGA is the signal type, not the connector (although that naming convention has fallen into common use, like Hoovers etc...)

ah that's obvious :) thanks

James R. Leong
July 21st, 2007, 06:31 PM
You need a Mayflash YUV to VGA converter. it works with 1080p. The 1080i version doesn't work. Unfortunately these seem to be backordered at most e-shops for the past few months.

http://www.mayflash.com/vgabox/vga001/vga001.htm

so far BNC to composite adapter is OK for now, and the A1 Magnification button works on EXT monitor but Peaking does not.

Daniel Raebiger
July 21st, 2007, 06:54 PM
neat! thanks. does this require power supply?

James R. Leong
July 22nd, 2007, 11:24 PM
Yes, it needs 6V DC, but some people power it in the field with a 4 AA cell batterypak.