Video Amp or Booster

[WORDpictures]

Renting equipment for video IMAG & recording of a special event. Budget is a factor. Video signal from four cameras will send via approximate 150' cable runs then split to preview monitor & Edirol V4 switcher. Switcher signal outputs to projectors and recording device. A video signal booster hasn't been used during this event in the past - really haven't noticed serious issues, but I'm sure amp would be desirable. My question is, considering budget constraints, what type of device to use & where to place this.

Could something like this inexpensive booster be placed at the monitor/switcher split-off for each of the four camera inputs coming into the switcher? Or would mid run of the cable be better position? Or would it be possible to place a single better rented amplifier somewhere in that chain? Seems the only potential placement of a single amp would be post-switcher - in which case the signal is already weak at that point. Neither budget nor availability would allow for a true amplifier for each camera's signal chain. Thoughts?

[waynehoskins]

I take it you're not running triax chains there...

[kbob]

well, for composite or s-video signals, several of us here at CMN actually use-no kidding-a Radio Shack model found here:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103065

it's actually a full on distribution amp, 1 in to four out. Does not translate a s-video signal to composite or vice versa...

What I've liked about it is that it just works. .

Now, the one you've found seems pretty nice on the face of it, with adjustable gain and contrast, but that might be overkill....though it would be cheaper than the radio shack unit.

We placed our RS unit at the camera end, right at the camera, and it worked great from there...

Not sure of your cabling but it's surprisingly good for the money...

[WORDpictures]

Cable is coaxial. I've used a line amp to split to side-by-side devices so I wasn't sure about that kind of distance.

[kbob]

the Radio Shack model we used at a distance of between 100 and 125 feet. While we could get a signal using the Canon GL-1 we used to use occasionally at that distance using coax with composite terminations-it was far from a good signal, the Panasonic GS 150 we used to use showed no signal at all without it, and the GS 150 performed much better than did the Canon GL-1 sans line amp.

We eventually switched to using s-video to rj-45 baluns, and that gave the best signal of all, though at a cost of around $80 per end, or $160 per line, it wasn't a cheap solution.

[Carl Godsoe]

Originally Posted by kbob

well, for composite or s-video signals, several of us here at CMN actually use-no kidding-a Radio Shack model found here:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103065

it's actually a full on distribution amp, 1 in to four out. Does not translate a s-video signal to composite or vice versa...

What I've liked about it is that it just works. .

...

I've used these as well, and have had no problem translating, both ways actually. Even the site referenced above says:

"Changes composite (yellow) video signal to higher quality S-video signal"

[kbob]

good to know-think I'd tried it with another of their switchers, and had it fail with rolling et al, so never tried it on thie distribution amp....

Thanks!

[Brad Weber]

Originally Posted by Carl Godsoe

I've used these as well, and have had no problem translating, both ways actually. Even the site referenced above says:

In other words, takes the signal and makes you think it is better. That conversion function is useful if you need to convert to S-video but it is not going to make the signal higher quality since the compromises involved were already involved when it was composite video from the camera and along the 150' run, in effect the damage is already done.

If I understand it right there are actually two issues involved, one is the signal after the 150' run and the other is splitting it for the monitors and switcher and both can cause losses. It is impossible to tell from the information provided on the Radio Shack DA but while it may provide gain to offset the 4 way split, it may not address any losses from the 150' runs. That would probably help but

The best answer might be an EQ DA that could both apply adjustable EQ and gain at the end of the run and provide the two outputs desired, perhaps something like this, http://www.kramerelectronics.com/ind...tem.asp?desc=1.

My next thought would be a line driver adjustable EQ and gain at each camera, maybe something like this, http://www.kramerelectronics.com/ind...m.asp?desc=585. This might be a more practical option if either the switcher or monitor had looping inputs as that would negate the need for a distribution amplifier, but if you have to also have a DA then it might not be cost effective.