CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Aknottster · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 7

Hey guys,

Newbie here.. having a bit of trouble trying to get my Sony 1252 projector to work with my home PC (which I'm planning to convert to a HTPC if I can resolve this issue). I've got a Nvidia GeForce 7800GT card with 2 DVI-I outs, and I'm plugging a DVI-I to RGBHV breakout cable from that into the RGBHV inputs of the projector. Only problem is, no image, no matter what I do. The Nvidia control panel recognises there's an analogue display plugged in, but doesn't seem to output any signal to it, and the projector reports as 'no input'.

The projector also has a s-video input, which works with the nvidia breakout cable but I can only get 1024x768 out of it... plus all the wiring I've run in the house is for RGBHV, so would really like to get it to work with that input!

Any ideas/thoughts would be very much appreciated. Thanks guys.

Andrew

speedyandre · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Netherlands

Can you see a picture when a normal monitor is on the vga output?
That would prove that the rgb output of the pc is ok.
When assigning the outputs of the video card be aware that 2 outputs at one time can be active, e.g. one vga and one s-video output.
Also check for clone settings and fullscreen video output settings, you may get a blank/black screen on one output when no video is playing.
What inputcard (ifb11?) is in the 1252 and have you selected this card on the 1252 (red light on card is lit)?

André

perisoft · Joined: 29 Aug 2007 Posts: 2920 Location: Ithaca, NY

Using s-video is pointless; the 1024x768 you're seeing is downscaled. s-video is only good for 480i; you might as well not bother for that.

I'd try getting another VGA monitor and hooking it to that output. Test with 'clone'.

Another option is to put your computer's main output in the mode you want to use, and swap the projector input over to that output. If the PJ shows the signal, you've ruled it out as the problem.

Aknottster · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 7

The output of the card is fine, I've got the right input selected on the projector. I have also tried connecting the projector to my mac laptop via it's DVI output port, and get the same result. No image from the projector. I know the input of the projector works, as it is currently the input I use to play my DVDs, so the output of the computer is fine, the input of the projector is fine, they just don't seem to want to talk to each other!

Oh, and yes, it's an IFB-11 input board.

Any other thoughts?

Cheers.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 2:59 am Post subject: Re: Thanks guys

Aknottster · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 7

haha... yes.. I have the right input selected. I'm not THAT much of a newbie....

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:08 am Post subject:

Yeah, but you said, "I know the input of the projector works, as it is currently the input I use to play my DVDs".

It's the same input card, but it's NOT the same input. You have INPUT A-RGB and INPUT A-VIDEO.

So.... are you sure you have the correct input?

SC

speedyandre · Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Netherlands

Did you use a different cable for the the dvdplayer, maybe the vga cable has a bad H or V lead or it's marked wrong?
Without syncs your 1252 won't display any input.
The pc's output is not the problem if a monitor with vga works fine on it.

André

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:04 am Post subject:

Aknottster · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 7

Yep, I'm going into the component for the DVD too.. same inputs... unplug the DVD (RGB), plug the PC in (same RGB plus the HV).. no image.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject:

Component? The 1252 didn't usually come with component. Can you post a picture of your input card? It's most likely an IFB-12

ecrabb · Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:53 pm Post subject:

AR is right. If you're using a DVD player with component, than that is YCrCb, which is NOT RGB - even it's counterintuitive that the cables are red, green and blue.

If that's what you're using, then you MUST be using an IFB-12. In that case, the input card has to be configured for RGBHV -OR- component. It won't work in one configuration or the other without setting the switches on the card.

SC

Aknottster · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 7

Ah, whoops.. sorry, just wrong terminology.. it's an RGBHV input, the input card is an IFB-11.

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:15 am Post subject:

So you're using a DVD player with a VGA output, then?

SC

Aknottster · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 7

Ah.. no. I'm using a DVD player with 3 RCA plugs, that can be assigned within the DVD player's software to be either Component or RGB, interlaced or progressive.

ecrabb · Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:26 am Post subject:

Hmmm... OK. Out of curiosity, which DVD player is that? I think I remember a couple with configurable output, but the brands/models are escaping me at the moment. Momitsu?

Regardless, if you're using a DVD player with configurable outputs, and you've configured it to output RGB using the component output, then that's what's usually called RGsB, or RGB SoG (sync on green). The sync is "composite", meaning the horizontal and vertical sync pulses are sandwiched with the green picture component signal. If that's working for you and displaying properly, then the HTPC should work. That leaves me at a loss. The only things I have left to tell you to try (or test) are 1) a different VGA-BNC breakout cable, 2) a different video card (or settings), or 3) a different IFB card.

1) If you have another projector or device to test the breakout cable, I would. If the V or H sync signal is broken anywhere, then the projector wouldn't display an image. If you know what you're doing with the video card's driver or with PowerStrip, you could reconfigure the analog output to be RGsB like the DVD player - then you wouldn't even need the H and V connectors hooked up. That would help determine if it was the cable, since you may not have another RGBHV display with which to test the cable.

2) What video card are you using? What resolution/refresh do you have the card configured for? Have you tried 640x480 for starters? Do you have another computer you could temporarily try using with the breakout cable (a friend's notebook computer for instance? If you tried another computer and it didn't work, I'd be very suspicious of the cable. If the other computer worked, then I'd be suspicious of display adapter interface setting being goofy.

3) Last resort. Get another IFB-11 from somebody to try. Somebody around here probably has one sitting around they could loan you, or you may be able to buy one on ebay. I'd be highly suspicious of all the other things long before I'd suspect the IFB or projector, though.

SC

Aknottster · Joined: 05 Sep 2008 Posts: 7

Nice, thanks SC. Yep, I'm starting to think it's the cable.. have tried it from my Mac laptop and it doesn't want to know either. I've got a mate with a HTPC he's going to bring round and we'll try a few of those things.. I've got Powerstrip but haven't tried using it yet, so that will be worth a go too.

The DVD player is an Omni, cheap brand I think, but when I got it 4-5 years ago it was so cheap for progressive and with RGB out.. couldn't believe it.