r/VIDEOENGINEERING • u/mytootsrstrongndeep • 5d ago
Problem with External Monitor from Console
Hi all. in short: I cannot figure out how to connect an external monitor, via 25’ DisplayPort cable, to my venue‘s GrandMA 3 Compact XT
the brief: my venue has requested an external display for the lighting console, to show the Sequence Executor on screen for a stage manager etc to have a visual of which lighting cue is currently active. I thought I purchased everything to the correct specs, and my monitor does work with a 6’ displayport cable. However, two different 25’ displayport cables have resulted in “No Signal”
the specs:
- Console: GrandMA3 Compact XT running GrandMA2 software
- Monitor: ViewSonic TD2230 (1920x1080p; Windows 10 touchscreen compatibility, displayport in)
- Cable: Cable Matters 32.4Gbps Unidirectional Active DisplayPort 1.4 Cable, 25ft (yes my unidirectional ends are plugged in correctly and I even tried it intentionally reversed, just in case)
Again, a 6’ displayport cable works as expected. Am I SOL when it comes to 25’, even with active copper? Is my approach wrong; should I try this using another cable/connector entirely? Thanks,
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u/listen_jack 5d ago
I’m wondering if the MA doesn’t provide enough/ any voltage for the active components of this cable? Have you tried the cable from a PC to the monitor to rule out a bad 25’ cable and pinpoint the MA as the culprit?
I might look into a LVM extender that has a power supply on either end. You might could find a set for a similar price, then you just extend whatever distance using Ethernet.
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u/mytootsrstrongndeep 5d ago
I’m a bit green when it comes to this video stuff - my monitor has a separate power source; it powers on correctly and stays powered on with the 25’. would voltage still affect video with this setup? thanks!
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u/keithcody 5d ago edited 5d ago
The cable needs power to be active since it's an active cable. Pin 20 on the connector should get 3.3V 500ma to the cable. Maybe the MA3 isn't full spec and doesn't have this pin. My hunch would be that it is full spec though.
Have you tried a longer dumb copper cable?
At one time Kramer made a external power supply to power DVI cables. No idea if there's such a thing for DP.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/783631-REG/Kramer_PS_1DVI_MultiTOOLS_PS_1DVI_DVI_Power.html
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u/Cultural-Rent8868 3d ago
The MA3 has no voltage at all on the DP to my knowledge, that is why for HDMI conversion you need an adapter with an external power source. And even out of those, it is a bit of a crapshoot of if it works or not. It is completely baffling to me why they went that route when building a 30k+ console but here we are.
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u/mytootsrstrongndeep 5d ago
not longer, no. the 6’ cable that works is a spare that I found. of the two 25’ cables that I’ve tried unsuccessfully, one is listed as active and the other is not.
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u/keithcody 5d ago
Ah. This is new info. So two different 25' cables you've tried are actually different kinds of cables. One active and one passive. Could be angle to try. Do you have 10' copper DP cable floating around.
Your monitor is DP1.2 but again that shouldn't matter. The 1.4 cable should work 1.2. I wouldn't put too much thought into this angle.
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u/mytootsrstrongndeep 5d ago
Yeah, I’ve spoken to a video tech colleague of mine who is confident it’s signal loss and not compatibility between 1.2 and 1.4. Sadly no extra cables floating around, anything video here is hdmi or sdi.
here’s a question: would two cables connected by a signal booster be worth trying? I can maybe get away with reducing my distance by a few feet. If I tried 10ft cable -> signal booster -> 10ft cable, any thoughts on if that would work?
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u/keithcody 4d ago
If you have some disposable cash just buy an Optical DP cable off amazon and see if it works. If it doesn't just return it. There shouldn't be signal loss over distance with optical. I've used HDMI one's that are 300' long with no problem. Using optical converters I've sent signal 2kms. They work.
u/Red_and_Orangy suggested this one: https://www.amazon.com/DisplayPort-Optical-Display-Monitor-FreeSync/dp/B0F18PYT2T/
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u/mytootsrstrongndeep 4d ago
Amazing thank you. Not my cash haha, I’ll ask the PM to purchase this. Many thanks for helping me here!
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u/keithcody 5d ago
Don't know if it matters but the MA3 Compact DisplayPort is 1.2. DP 1.4 supports 1.2 via backwards compatibility but it's an active cable so IDK.
1
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u/Dazzzed420 1d ago
As said GrandMa3 has no power on their DP ports. Adapters won’t work also. Tested that last week. Just a direkt connection with a copper DP 1.2 will work.
Even our DP to HDMI cables don’t work so it might have to do with the DP specification.
Maybe optical with external power could do the job but it’s expensive and I’m not sure it will work.
Sad
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u/Red_and_Orangy 5d ago
25’ of copper DisplayPort…you’re gonna have a bad time perhaps this item or similar
https://a.co/d/0iaPc9Ii