Re: Second Monitor

Out4Blud wrote:
> I want to hook up a monitor in the Kitchen that is connected to the computer
> in our Den. What is the easiest way? Thanks....

This is neither easy nor cheap.

You have at least the following three options, all of which assume that
you want a monitor in the den as well as one in the kitchen:

1. Use a video card in the den computer that has a second VGA output
(or buy and install a second video card). Buy a VGA-extension cable.
This site has a 100 foot cable for $105 that they claim will support up
to 1600 x 1200 video resolution: http://www.vpi.us/cable-vga.html
This site has a 100 foot cable for only $83; they don't say what max
resolution you can get. This site has a 200 foot "S-VGA" cable for
$89.50
http://www.pccables.com/cgi-bin/orde...g.svgat&rcode=
I'm sure if you Google for VGA cable you can find more. Connect your
extension cable to a computer monitor in the kitchen.

2. Use a video card in the den computer that has an S-video output, buy
an S-video extension cable, and connect it to a regular TV set (that has
an S-video input) in the kitchen. One of same outfits above has a 100
foot S-video cable for $36: http://www.vpi.us/cable-sv.html and another
one has it for only $16.50:
http://www.pccables.com/cgi-bin/orde...les.com&rcode=

Note that regardless of what the cable vendors say, you may well
experience picture degradation as the cable length increases. I suspect
that the S-video cable would be more sensitive to this than the coax
cable used for the VGA extension, but I don't know for sure. The cheaper
the cable, the more likely you will have problems at longer lengths.
For example, see the discussion here:
http://www.cinematography.net/Pages%...ableLength.htm
Professional video installers often include amplifiers for long cable
runs. This, of course, adds to the expense and complexity. Moreover,
depending on the layout of your home and your DIY skills, you may need
to hire an electrician or carpenter to string the cable for you.

3. If your den computer has Windows XP Professional (or if you upgrade
to XP Pro), buy an inexpensive computer (with Windows 98se or newer) for
the kitchen, install Remote Desktop Connection Client on the kitchen
computer, install 802.11g (wifi) adapters in both computers
(alternatively -- and preferably -- buy a 802.11g wifi router and
connect it to your den computer with a short Ethernet cable), and
wirelessly network the two computers.

Lem MS MVP -- Networking

To the moon and back with 64 Kbits of RAM and 512 Kbits of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer

Lem

On Fri, 22 Dec 2006 14:34:00 -0800, Out4Blud
<> wrote:

>Thanks, that was helpful.
>Now, I do have a router in the den for wireless hook up on my laptop.
>What about a wireless keyboard and mouse? Will that work as well?
>Thanks for your help...
>

Wireless keyboards & mice I've seen use IR, so you would probably need
an IR extender to reach from the Kitchen to the Den. These are
typically two devices, the first an IR receiver that receives the IR
signal and then rebroadcasts (via radio signal) to another device that
receives the radio signal, and transmits it again as an IR signal to
the computer. They range from cheap models for about $30 on up.

The wireless that your laptop uses is much higher quality radio
signals, typically "wireless-G" or WiFi.

The radio signal used on the IR extenders are more in the line of the
wireless used for garage door openers.
Charlie Hoffpauir
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~charlieh/