carpent@SRC.Honeywell.COM (Todd Carpenter) (08/04/90)
I have a rather hairbrained idea: (Well, numerous ones. But you knew that)
I want to extend my keyboard, mouse and moniter a *long* way away from my
Amiga. I don't need the box (2500/30) for the floppy, since everything I do
is based off the hard drive.
How long? Oh, about 8 meters. (16 would be nice, but I think that is quite
impossible) This is so I can work while sitting in the back yard, and just
feed the cables through a window. Or work in a different room, and leave the
Amiga sealed up somewhere to limit dust, humidity, theft, and fan noise.
What is the farthest people have managed? I assume there are some timing
problems with extending the keyboard, and noise and voltage problems
extending the video line. Is this a completely wacko idea?
If you do have part numbers, or supplier (Like the Radio Shack mouse
extender), please include information on that as well.
Please email me, and I'd be happy to summarize or forward responses to
interested parties. And then this can get added to the "Monthly Amiga Trivia
for those of us who don't always pay attention" posting.
Thanks!
Todd P. Carpenter Honeywell Systems and Research Center
voice: (612)782-7229 paper: 3660 Technology Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55418
UUCP: carpent@srcsip.uucp bang-style: {umn-cs,ems,bthpyd}!srcsip!carpent
Internet: carpent@src.honeywell.com or Arkon%kryl@src.honeywell.com
peck@ral.rpi.edu (Joseph Peck) (08/04/90)
In article <85117@srcsip.UUCP> carpent@SRC.Honeywell.COM (Todd Carpenter) writes: > >I have a rather hairbrained idea: (Well, numerous ones. But you knew that) > > I want to extend my keyboard, mouse and moniter a *long* way away from my > Amiga. I don't need the box (2500/30) for the floppy, since everything I do > is based off the hard drive. > I would like to add two more to his list. How long can the RGB cable be extended, and how long can the composite video cable from an A500 video add-on-thingy be? I would like to be able to put a monitor or composite TV in a different room than the CPU, but don't really want to overload the video drivers and have to read smoke signals! Thanks, Joe Peck peck@ral.rpi.edu
tep@tots.UUCP (Tom Perrine) (08/07/90)
In article <S67$ZQ%@rpi.edu> peck@ral.rpi.edu (Joseph Peck) writes: >In article <85117@srcsip.UUCP> carpent@SRC.Honeywell.COM (Todd Carpenter) writes: >> >>I have a rather hairbrained idea: (Well, numerous ones. But you knew that) >> >> I want to extend my keyboard, mouse and moniter a *long* way away from my >> Amiga. ... >I would like to add two more to his list. How long can the RGB cable >be extended, and how long can the composite video cable from an A500 >video add-on-thingy be? I would like to be able to put a monitor or >composite TV in a different room than the CPU, but don't really want >to overload the video drivers and have to read smoke signals! > > Thanks, > Joe Peck > peck@ral.rpi.edu I have built a 12 foot RGB cable from mini-coax. I looks great from my 500 to a Sony 27XBR. I am fairly sure that I could easily double the length with no problems. I used the directions from the Amazing Computing article of several years ago. Make sure you use at least a *good* (not necessarily great) grade of coax. Tom Perrine (tep) |Internet: tep@tots.Logicon.COM Logicon |UUCP: nosc!hamachi!tots!tep Tactical and Training Systems Division |-or- sun!suntan!tots!tep San Diego CA |GENIE: T.PERRINE "Harried: with preschoolers" |+1 619 455 1330 Home of the _Tower Operator Training System_ as seen in the SunTech Journal.
tep@tots.UUCP (Tom Perrine) (08/08/90)
OK, I have had a *lot* of requests for the "monitor extension cable"
article reference, so here it is.
The article is "The Sony Connection", in Amazing Computing Vol. 2
#12, from 1987. It describes how to hook up a Sony KV-20XBR monitor. I
used the same stuff to hook up my KV-27XBR, which is the same, except
for screen size.
Both of these monitors have the 34-pin connector on the back; Sony
sells a PX-34 plug for mucho bucks that fits it. (I bought mine from a
surplus house for about $2.) I have no idea what this connector is
really called.
"Recent" Sony TV/monitors may or may not have this connector on the
back. I bought mine in 1987, and I have had differing reports of
whether or not this connector is on the later models.
I recommend building at least a 10 foot cable for a 26" monitor.
Of course, you really should get the article, as it explains about the
connector, etc. But just in case you can't...
*********
Enter disclaimer mode: This information is provided for amusement
only. If you fry your Amiga or monitor, you are on your own! If you
are not comfortable with soldering small connections, or familiar with
connector pin numbering, you may not want to try this from these
directions. Get the article, if at all possible...
Kids! Don't try this at home!! :-)
**********
I'm fairly handy with a soldering iron, and I had to work to get the
itty-bitty coax connected to the itty-bitty pins, so fore-warned is
fore-armed (or 1/2 an octopus). If you have, or can borrow a
"third-hand", you will save yourself a lot of aggravation.
OK, the "cable" is actually four separate coax cables, one each for
Red, Green, Blue and SYNC.
IF YOU HAVE THE SAME CONNECTOR on your TV, the important pins are:
13 GROUND
25 RED INPUT
26 GREEN INPUT
27 BLUE INPUT
30 HORIZONTAL SYNC OR COMPOSITE SYNC INPUT
Note that the numbering for the connector is kinda nonstandard:
18 ____ 34
+-------------| |------------+
| |
+-----------------------------+
1 . . . 17
Make the connections using any miniature 75-ohm coax, Beldon 9221 or
8218. Don't try Radio Shack, they will try to sell you RG-59U which is
way too big. I just called a local video shop (that also does repairs)
and they just said, "How much do you want?".
Connect:
Amiga Sony
cable 1 3 25
shield 16
cable 2 4 26
shield 17
cable 3 5 27
shield 18
cable 4 10 30
shield 20 13
Notes:
1. The Red, Green and Blue inputs are dual-purpose. If you ground pin
21, the inputs are IBM-PC style digital RGB, but we want analog signal
levels, so leave pin 21 alone.
2. There are external audio connections, which I don't use, on pins 24
(left) and 20 (right). IF pin 34 is connected to +5v (from pin 1 or 2)
AND the Sony is in RGB mode, THEN these inputs will be connected to
the speakers. I find it MUCH easier to bring in the Amiga audio on
Video 3, then I use the remote to select Video 3 AND then RGB.
Take your time. Have fun. Don't smoke your tube. Enjoy your favorite
flight simulator.
Tom Perrine (tep) |Internet: tep@tots.Logicon.COM
Logicon |UUCP: nosc!hamachi!tots!tep
Tactical and Training Systems Division |-or- sun!suntan!tots!tep
San Diego CA |GENIE: T.PERRINE
"Harried: with preschoolers" |+1 619 455 1330
Home of the _Tower Operator Training System_ as seen in the SunTech Journal.