Output to Composite

DVI, HDMI (or lack of), VGA (or lack of), supported displays
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rbalara
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:22 am

Output to Composite

Post by rbalara »

We are looking at purchasing a fit-PC2i to stream content to our on-campus television stations. We need to convert the display to composite output. I realize the output on the fit-PC2 is only digital via DVI in an HDMI form factor. We are looking at the following item to convert the video (audio will be done via the Line-Out port):

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/C ... -/33-11065

Can somebody please shed some light on this and confirm whether or not this will successfully allow the PC's screen to be output over composite?

If not, a fit-VGA adapter will get it to VGA, but what about going to composite (without loosing significant quality due to the color spaces being different)?

I would prefer to use the straight HDMI->Composite idea above, if possible, since this will be installed in our server racks and we don't want a bunch of converters & cables everywhere.

Thanks,
Ryan

yogev_ezra
Posts: 539
Joined: Sun Mar 22, 2009 2:49 pm

Re: Output to Composite

Post by yogev_ezra »

The converter on the link you provided seems suitable, but it will output only video of course, since HDMI connector on Fit-PC2 is video only.

rbalara
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:22 am

Re: Output to Composite

Post by rbalara »

Thanks much! I understand the HDMI port is actually DVI, and therefore does not contain an audio signal. I will use the Line-Out port with a 1/8" to RCA adapter for the audio. This is actually a replacement of an existing PC that is failing, so the wires for those are already in-place and out of the way.

Thanks again - time to figure out which version to purchase...

Ryan

halestorm
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:43 am

Re: Output to Composite

Post by halestorm »

This is an old post so your link is dead. I'm looking to connect my FitPC2 to a monitor with only composite input. I don't need audio, only video.

There are HDMI to composite adapters such as these,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Composite-1080p ... SwCQNWfgPS

but they only transmit the signal, they don't do any conversion. In case my link doesn't work, I've attached a photograph.

The question is, would something like this work on the Fit-PC2 or would I also need a signal converter? I guess the bottom line is whether or not embedded in the HDMI connector of the Fit is also composite video.
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Dave
http://evalbum.com/2500
almost no reason to burn gasoline anymore

rbalara
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:22 am

Re: Output to Composite

Post by rbalara »

halestorm wrote:This is an old post so your link is dead. I'm looking to connect my FitPC2 to a monitor with only composite input. I don't need audio, only video.

There are HDMI to composite adapters such as these,

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Composite-1080p ... SwCQNWfgPS

but they only transmit the signal, they don't do any conversion. In case my link doesn't work, I've attached a photograph.

The question is, would something like this work on the Fit-PC2 or would I also need a signal converter? I guess the bottom line is whether or not embedded in the HDMI connector of the Fit is also composite video.
Ah yes, the link is no longer valid. See below for a similar type of device as was originally posted:

http://www.gefen.com/kvm/gtv-hdmi-2-com ... d_id=11402

The link you provided, as you noted, only transmits the signal to composite cables. The only way that actually works is if the signal being transmitted is actually a composite signal. With an HDMI output device, that's almost never the case, and I can confirm is not the case with the fit-pc series of devices. They only output digital signals over HDMI.

What you need is called an HDMI scaler or signal processor. It reads in the image, converts it, and then outputs it over composite. That said, my experience has been to be sure to carefully read the supported configurations of the scaler. For us, we had to jump through several hoops to output the "right"/acceptable resolutions, frequency, and color bit depth in order for the video to be interpreted correctly. Anything slightly off would have no video or turn grayscale. I remember having to install the IEGD tools and make a custom driver that forced all those expected settings in order to make it work, albeit it could have been due to the particular scaler we purchased having limited resolution/frequency/color depth support. We were using the convert to broadcast from a fit-pc to a CATV system using dedicated hardware, which by itself is kinda strict with requirements already.

The one in the link I provided appears to support a fairly wide arrangement of resolutions and frequencies, but note that I have not tested it myself and cannot personally vouch for it. I'm just describing the type of device you need.

halestorm
Posts: 19
Joined: Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:43 am

Re: Output to Composite

Post by halestorm »

How about the VGA output on the original FitPC? I still have one of those laying around. Is that easier to convert to composite video?
Dave
http://evalbum.com/2500
almost no reason to burn gasoline anymore

rbalara
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:22 am

Re: Output to Composite

Post by rbalara »

halestorm wrote:How about the VGA output on the original FitPC? I still have one of those laying around. Is that easier to convert to composite video?
Simpler? Sure. VGA is an analog signal like Composite, so conversion is usually much simpler (and none even needed sometimes!). However, VGA has separate signals for each color and therefore combining them into the one video wire used in composite does require a conversion still. But usually the resolutions, color depth, etc. are much less restrictive than an HDMI scaler.

This is the type of devices you would be looking for:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... Submit=ENE

It's also sometimes called a PC to TV converter, but that's so generic (moderns TVs support all kinds of inputs now) so be sure it actually has VGA input and Composite output.

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