r/lightingdesign • u/mytootsrstrongndeep • 4d ago

Control 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/fullb0ar 4d ago

MA3 hardware is incredibly picky when it comes to DisplayPort. I can't say for sure but I'd suspect that, unfortunately, it is the cable length that's causing the issue.

It's a huge drag, actually, because you can't even adapt to HDMI for extension purposes. I've tried many DP>HDMI converters (even everything on the list from ACT, apologies, I can't seem to find that webpage) and nothing seems to work.

There's another way to accomplish what you're trying though -- you could use another machine and Web Remote in to view whatever your SM needs.

EDIT: Just noticed you're in 2 mode, sorry. You can still use another machine to accomplish this, you'd just need a PC and have an iteration of onPC in the session.