A first time post for an electronics novice, so here goes:

I am helping a non-profit set up their video camera with two
monitors. The camera is 10feet away from one monitor and 50ft away
from another. They are using the camera to show closeups of a cooking
demonstration, so it's video only, and no sound.

I don't have the specs on the camera, but I believe it's a Sony, a
recent (2005 - 6) purchase.

My objective is to take the feed from the camera using the RCA jacks
and connect to the monitors. The monitors have RCA and Coax jacks.

I have to buy something and set it up without any experimentation
time, so wondering:

If I use an RCA adapter (splits the single RCA into two cables) to go
from the camera to the two monitors, will there be noticeable signal
loss? Do I need a distributor/amplifier?

Any suggestions or direction much appreciated.

R.

recolligo wrote:
A first time post for an electronics novice, so here goes:

I am helping a non-profit set up their video camera with two
monitors. The camera is 10feet away from one monitor and 50ft away
from another. They are using the camera to show closeups of a cooking
demonstration, so it's video only, and no sound.

I don't have the specs on the camera, but I believe it's a Sony, a
recent (2005 - 6) purchase.

My objective is to take the feed from the camera using the RCA jacks
and connect to the monitors. The monitors have RCA and Coax jacks.

I have to buy something and set it up without any experimentation
time, so wondering:

If I use an RCA adapter (splits the single RCA into two cables) to go
from the camera to the two monitors, will there be noticeable signal
loss? Do I need a distributor/amplifier?

Any suggestions or direction much appreciated.

R.


You'll probably need a simple amplifier, I think you can buy video
splitters, otherwise I saw a circuit once that was only one or two
transistors and a few resistors. You can try just a Y adapter but the
image will probably be too dark.

recolligo wrote:
My objective is to take the feed from the camera using the RCA jacks
and connect to the monitors. The monitors have RCA and Coax jacks.

I have to buy something and set it up without any experimentation
time, so wondering:

If I use an RCA adapter (splits the single RCA into two cables) to go
from the camera to the two monitors, will there be noticeable signal
loss? Do I need a distributor/amplifier?

Yes, there will be loss. Each monitor will only get 1/2 the signal,
darkening it. You can get a video distribution amp, which will solve
the problem.

If these are professional-grade monitors, they may have "looping"
inputs, where each video connection has an IN and OUT jack. In that
case you can daisy-chain one monitor to the other and turn off the 75
ohm termination on the first monitor. This will get you a good signal
without any amplifiers. It sounds like what you have are probably
consumer-grade monitors, though, so this probably doesn't help you.
(Professional ones usually have BNC inputs instead of RCA.)

recolligo wrote:

A first time post for an electronics novice, so here goes:

I am helping a non-profit set up their video camera with two
monitors. The camera is 10feet away from one monitor and 50ft away
from another. They are using the camera to show closeups of a cooking
demonstration, so it's video only, and no sound.

I don't have the specs on the camera, but I believe it's a Sony, a
recent (2005 - 6) purchase.

My objective is to take the feed from the camera using the RCA jacks
and connect to the monitors. The monitors have RCA and Coax jacks.

I have to buy something and set it up without any experimentation
time, so wondering:

If I use an RCA adapter (splits the single RCA into two cables) to go
from the camera to the two monitors, will there be noticeable signal
loss? Do I need a distributor/amplifier?

Any suggestions or direction much appreciated.

R.


The monitor should have either video loop through which is a pair of
video connectors, or a switched 75 ohm terminator. The terminator would
be marked "75 Ohms/Hi-Z" You only terminate the monitor on the end of
the line. Video is 75 ohms, so you want RG-59 or RG-6 coax.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

wrote:

}A first time post for an electronics novice, so here goes:
}
}I am helping a non-profit set up their video camera with two
}monitors. The camera is 10feet away from one monitor and 50ft away
}from another. They are using the camera to show closeups of a cooking
}demonstration, so it's video only, and no sound.

First, read the other answers that tell you the right way.

Done?

OK, here's how to do it the very CHEAP way.

Get a free or very cheap, used VCR.

Feed the camera to the video in; feed the near monitor from the video out.

Feed the far monitor (assuming it is a TV/monitor) with coax from the VCR
RF OUT.

Added bonus: during breaks or pre-show, you can run a pre-recorded
tape with some type of logo, which will appear on the monitors until
you're ready to go.

Stan.

In article . com,
recolligo wrote:
A first time post for an electronics novice, so here goes:

I am helping a non-profit set up their video camera with two
monitors. The camera is 10feet away from one monitor and 50ft away
from another. They are using the camera to show closeups of a cooking
demonstration, so it's video only, and no sound.

I don't have the specs on the camera, but I believe it's a Sony, a
recent (2005 - 6) purchase.

My objective is to take the feed from the camera using the RCA jacks
and connect to the monitors. The monitors have RCA and Coax jacks.

I have to buy something and set it up without any experimentation
time, so wondering:

If I use an RCA adapter (splits the single RCA into two cables) to go
from the camera to the two monitors, will there be noticeable signal
loss? Do I need a distributor/amplifier?

Any suggestions or direction much appreciated.

If you're using monitors designed for this sort of use they will have
video in and out connectors. The end one of the daisy chain will terminate
the line in 75 ohms while the other(s) bridge it at high impedance. Either
automatically or via user switches.

If using monitors not designed for this sort of use the best answer is a
video distribution amp. But so saying try without. You may be able to
overcome the double termination and consequent loss of video level with
the monitor controls - to an acceptable degree. It is possible this
approach will give some ghosting, though.

--
*Why is the third hand on the watch called a second hand?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave, thanks for the thoughts. R

On Apr 18, 1:35 am, "Dave Plowman (News)"
wrote:
In article . com,
recolligo wrote:

A first time post for an electronics novice, so here goes:
I am helping a non-profit set up their video camera with two
monitors. The camera is 10feet away from one monitor and 50ft away
from another. They are using the camera to show closeups of a cooking
demonstration, so it's video only, and no sound.
I don't have the specs on the camera, but I believe it's a Sony, a
recent (2005 - 6) purchase.
My objective is to take the feed from the camera using the RCA jacks
and connect to the monitors. The monitors have RCA and Coax jacks.
I have to buy something and set it up without any experimentation
time, so wondering:
If I use an RCA adapter (splits the single RCA into two cables) to go
from the camera to the two monitors, will there be noticeable signal
loss? Do I need a distributor/amplifier?
Any suggestions or direction much appreciated.

If you're using monitors designed for this sort of use they will have
video in and out connectors. The end one of the daisy chain will terminate
the line in 75 ohms while the other(s) bridge it at high impedance. Either
automatically or via user switches.

If using monitors not designed for this sort of use the best answer is a
video distribution amp. But so saying try without. You may be able to
overcome the double termination and consequent loss of video level with
the monitor controls - to an acceptable degree. It is possible this
approach will give some ghosting, though.

--
*Why is the third hand on the watch called a second hand?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
If using monitors not designed for this sort of use the best answer is a
video distribution amp. But so saying try without. You may be able to
overcome the double termination and consequent loss of video level with
the monitor controls - to an acceptable degree. It is possible this
approach will give some ghosting, though.

Opening the iris on the video camera wider (or putting it in "high gain"
mode) sometimes works, too. The nice thing about closed-circuit TV is
if it looks good enough, it is good enough.

However, the original poster said the setup had to work right the first
time, with no experimentation, so he may not be able to risk this kind
of cut-and-try approach.

In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article . com,
recolligo wrote:
A first time post for an electronics novice, so here goes:

I am helping a non-profit set up their video camera with two
monitors. The camera is 10feet away from one monitor and 50ft away
from another. They are using the camera to show closeups of a cooking
demonstration, so it's video only, and no sound.

I don't have the specs on the camera, but I believe it's a Sony, a
recent (2005 - 6) purchase.

My objective is to take the feed from the camera using the RCA jacks
and connect to the monitors. The monitors have RCA and Coax jacks.

I have to buy something and set it up without any experimentation
time, so wondering:

If I use an RCA adapter (splits the single RCA into two cables) to go
from the camera to the two monitors, will there be noticeable signal
loss? Do I need a distributor/amplifier?

Any suggestions or direction much appreciated.

If you're using monitors designed for this sort of use they will have
video in and out connectors. The end one of the daisy chain will terminate
the line in 75 ohms while the other(s) bridge it at high impedance. Either
automatically or via user switches.

If using monitors not designed for this sort of use the best answer is a
video distribution amp. But so saying try without. You may be able to
overcome the double termination and consequent loss of video level with
the monitor controls - to an acceptable degree. It is possible this
approach will give some ghosting, though.


If you can't connect the first monitor as a loop-through, definitely try
simply connecting the two monitors in parallel (using the RCA adapter,
as suggested above). The voltage into each will drop will by about
3.5dB, and instead of the normal video level of 1V, you will only get
0.67V. However, this should be well within the 'tweeking' range of the
monitor controls. It's very unlikely that you will get any noticeable
ghosting.
Ian.
--