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[eatit]

Hi Guys,

Google has not helped me with this…
Is there any feasible way to run 2 large screens (at aprrox 40m apart) to show the same Excel Spreadsheet?

Screen 1 will be directly hooked into main PC that holds said spreadsheet (I will VNC into this to update cells etc) but how the hell do I get Screen 2 to show a duplicate of screen 1 without buying an additional PC?

Thanks

[keasy]

All you need is a video/vga splitter and a long VGA cable.

I have one in my log cabin.


http://www.lindy.co.uk/2-port-vga-splitter-pro-450mhz/32571.html

You can even just get a simple Y style VGA cable coming out from your main PC that will branch off in two directions but display just the same and is configured within desktop as one display.

40 metres is quite long though, a dedicated splitter would be best to stop signal degradation.

[Condor]

IIRC when I did mine, the setup I had was VGA cable into monitor(or tv) and another cable into my big tv. There was a setting somewhere in which I could display the same thing on both screens without having a fancy shmancy cable.

[Wooster]

+1 on the splitter box

You have to be careful how you run the cable though since it can pick up a bit of interference from electrical cables.
But you have options here.
20M is the usual limit on these cables, but I found one @ 50M
http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/cables/10m-svga-monitor-cable-15hd-male-to-male-15hd-premium.html

If that doesn't work, then you could use 2x20M cables with the splitter in the middle (hopefully cleaning and boosting the signal from the halfway point).

If that doesn't work then you'll be looking at media converters, which will allow you to use Cat5/6 to cover the distance.
http://www.cableuniverse.co.uk/catalog/cables/1-dual-vga-extender-150m.html

[keasy]

I'll sell you a 4 port VGA splitter 

[eatit]

Wow thanks guys 

[Wooster]

There are wireless solutions as well, but 40M is probably way beyond their range...even if you have Line Of Sight and are only sending spreadsheets.

[Thermalsig]

These may get you there depending on the resolution for a whole lot less money, but you still need to boost the signal at that distance. I've used these on RV's converted to a promotional gig where they needed to run many screens off of what amounts to a media server. It saves a lot of money over buying the monitor cables. Of course now, all that stuff would be obsolete for that purpose if I had to do it again, but for what you are using it for, it may work well and cheaper. VGA extender kit

[Wooster]

For the price it's worth a try.
Maybe with Cat 6 STP cable..

[Thermalsig]

Maybe with Cat 6 STP cable..

Possibly, but I don't know if the adapter connections are of high enough quality to not choke out the advantage of the fatter pipes in cat6. Maybe if they were high gain, low loss connections they wouldn't just bleed out the signal. I propose that you conduct a test Woosty. I perfectly willing to spend you're money testing the theory.

[Wooster]

I was thinking more for the shielding along the the main run.
In saying that, you could save some cash by using either Cat 5 or Cat 6 FTP, the solid core in STP probably wouldn't offer you much of a benefit.

[Thermalsig]

In Cat 6 of any stripe, the wiring has to be larger to handle to handle higher bandwidth. Kind of like the HDMI 1.3 to 1.4 spec. That's what I meant, fatter pipes may not give you any better bandwidth using that connector. The twisted, shielded pairs(foiled or not) would definitely protect the signal better, putting the EMI at a 180 degree phase, but I'm guessing you know all this though. So why the hell are you poking me, you peckerhead. I assumed anyone would use the higher quality cabling if they had half a nugget in their head. Maybe I assumed wrong?

[keasy]

Shut up ya pair a boring poofs !


 

[eatit]

OK that is the screen business sorted - will try the CAT5 cable option first.

Next one to sort is access to the PC itself...
I will need at least 3 people to access the Main PC remotely and sometimes this will require multiple connections (ie more than 1 person remotely viewing).

Obviously only 1 user can control the mouse etc (which is fine) but I want other users to be able to view the document using a programme like VNC/Remote Desktop.

Can this be done?

Really should say what it is for...
The excel sheet will display Jobs in and their progress through its various stages. EG; Artwork received ---> Job Dispatched so multiple users will need to alter the document during the day and multiple users (ie me/my assistant) will need to have a constant view and also be able to make changes. The screens themselves will be in the factory itself so that the Printers and Finishers can see the priorities etc.

Thanks again for all your very useful help thus far!

[Wooster]

Stacking Virtual Machines is possible on VMware (giving each Remote Desktop user individual access), so it must be possible to give each of them full control over an extended monitor display.

Off the top of my head I'm thinking it would be better if the distant display is set up as an extended display.
If it was a cloned display then people would be able to see what's going on on the desktop.

There's also this product that seems to have been created for it.
http://www.splitview.com/using-remote-desktop-with-dual-monitors-in-span-mode