Video/Computer signals to stage monitors/projectors

I'm seeking helping about a projector/switcher program my church is having a problem. We need a switcher to connect our projector, computer monitor, television, dvd/vhs player. i have an image and I am seeking help about what switchers to buy and if I can buy it for cheap anywhere.
hope this works.

sorry...i was in a rush and didnt have time to read what i wrote haha sorry guys
i was wondering if anyone could look over the diagram above and suggest anything or change anything about it. we are trying to connect our computer monitor, dvd/vhs combo, video camera, and tv to our projector. and i think we need a switcher box or something like that...
and i was wondering if there are any stores or websites that we can buy the hardware we need for cheap. thanks a lot people =)

[sheldon]

I think this site sells close to what you want here.

It has the inputs you need, but I really question the outputs you have listed. We run the VGA cable to a splitter and then to a monitor next to the PC (dual monitor setup with dual head card) and then to 3 projectors. Our next faze will be using a downconverter to go to 2 TV's in the foyer. The cat5 thing is expensive and usually not needed. We run 200' of VGA cable from the amplified splitter.

[Richvan]

Originally Posted by lvirden

Currently we are projecting worship lyrics, etc. on the front wall/screen of the sanctuary. However, the praise team has expressed an interest in having the words also appear on the back wall.

Personally, I would prefer not to do this. If the system should die for some reason (and this has happened probably 5 or 6 times over nearly 3 yrs), the worship team is going to be embarassed. And if someone running the presentation makes a mistake (which has happened probably 40 times in the 3+ years), even MORE people are going to be embarrassed.


however, I have been asked to investigate what it will take.

I'm working on setting up a dual monitor setup now, so that we can work on service presentations while projecting some slides.
Frankly, even that makes me uncomfortable - the most common time we need to make changes is during songs - and if I am messing with songs, then I'm not switching slides from one verse or chorus to the next...

Anyways, sorry to divert...

Does anyone here use multiple projectors from a single PC, and if so, how do you wire things up? One video card and then a splitter and some how boost the signal?

We are using 2 projectors 1 in front 1 on the back wall. I have a splitter that splits the VGA signal to both projectors . In the last few months I have installed another computer and after the splitter I have installed a multi port VGA switch so that I can show one thing on the front and then words on the back. Now the switching on the back projector is not seamless but the only ones seeing it are the choir and singers.

[wordsmith]

Originally Posted by lvirden

Does anyone here use multiple projectors from a single PC, and if so, how do you wire things up? One video card and then a splitter and some how boost the signal?

In a church conference setting (Northern California and Nevada churches, about 2,500 pastors, lay leaders and other church staffers in attendance for four days, we ran three laptops, live video, and stored images through a Sony video mixing board (approx. $18,000) and simultaneously ran four projectors, each projecting onto a rear projection flat screen that was at least 12 feet diagonal. The projectors ran flawlessly. I wish I could say the same for the laptops.

Wordsmith

[mshellman]

We use a desktop PC to run our services and we send our signal out split to two projectors. One facing the front that the congregation sees and the other projects agains the back wall up in the balcony for the praise team. I would recommend this. It works very well for us.

[nccwelch]

I use the output off the projector to feed two 19" computer monitors sitting in the front pew facing the stage. Since I always use LARGE lettering on my slides, the text is very readable at the back of the stage about 25' away.

[shones]

You might find it helpful to look at Presentation Manager Pro, as it's made to project two different output from the same software. In our church we run two 19" flat screen PC monitors, facing the singers. By experience I would suggest to give the leader some words he can look at on the lecturn: if the system fails, he can sing the congregation along. Make sure though that the lyrics come from the presentation software, especially in the case of songs which people know by heart (especially songs older folks learnt in Sunday school a long time ago).
As for projecting to the back - it really depends on your building as to how you can site the rear projector, as to how much distraction occurs

[shones]

If money is tight you could go down the route of manual switches. e.g. in our church we used cat5 with sender and receivers to relay the VGA signal, switching between two PC's to send VGA signal to Projector and two PC screens on the platform for the singers. VCR/DVD player joins in via upscaler to VGA.

method: computer 1 external output to local cat5 extender, cat5 into RJ45 switch.
The same for laptop at front goes into same switch.
Signal from scaler goes to yet another input.

on the output side, use a RJ45 splitter. one line goes to projector via CAT5 remote,
the other line goes to CAT5 remote, video splitter, to the two monitors (some CAT5 remotes have two outputs then no splitter needed.

At a later stage you can then look at neat ideas (using same cabling) such as http://www.itm-components.co.uk/iqs/...iew/video.html (NT in the US)

advantage btw of upscaling and running VCR/DVD over VGA: saves fumbling with the projectors remote to change from PC to VCR/DVD output especially in the case where projector is a long way away. (some folks might try wireless solutions -we've got too much interference already so it's not a good idea)

[Latisha]

Please re-post the link, I can't find the article.

[babson philip]

i like if some body can tell me on how to use rs232c to control projector from long distance without line off sight. i was told that to control a projector from far distance is possible by the miss of installing a sofware into a PC. i dont know how this can be possible. need help from who know about this.babson