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Long VGA (or Component)Cable from CAT5

The basic idea behind the cable is to use a CAT5 or CAT5e computer cableto carry the video signal. The cable is pretty easy to make if you have some

basic soldering skills. Works for distances up to 50'. Full credit for this ideagoes to MrWigggles on AVSforum, in this thread.

A couple of assumptions here, the projector has a 15 pin VGA style videoport on it. If it has 5 BNC connectors instead, then the recipe changes a bit.You must use three pairs for R, G & B, and split the fourth pair for H&V, eachconnected to a BNC.

I've attached a picture of a VGA connector. You will need two maleconnectors with hoods. I recommend the metal hoods. You can get them atRadio Shack or any decent electronics parts store. You will also need alength of CAT5 or CAT5e cable. The shielded variety (STP) is supposed towork better than the unshielded (UTP) but the UTP is much more common. Iused UTP and got good results.

Here are the pin outs. A CAT5 cable has 8 conductors in 4 color codedpairs. The ground connections are all common and the DDC DAT is for plugand play detection and likely won't work with your projector any way. I'veadded what CAT5 conductors I used for what pins in the table below. Thesame connections on both ends.

VGA Video connector pinouts:Pin # - Signal Name - CAT 5 Conductor

1 - Red - Orange2 - Green - Green3 - Blue - Blue4 - No Connection5 - Ground - No Connection6 - Ground - Orange/White7 - Ground - Green/White8 - Ground - Blue/White9 - No Connection10 - Ground - No Connection -11 - No Connect12 - DDC DAT - No Connection

13 - Horizontal Synchronization - Brown14 - Vertical Synchronization - Brown White15 - DDC Clock - No Connection

I recommend checking all of your connections, from pin to pin, for continuitywith a multimeter. You may need to use a short piece of wire (a strand fromthe CAT 5 cable will work) to reach into the pin sockets.

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Component adapter for 15 pin VGA/Component input, see diagram below.

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VGA (HD15) Connection Pins

This method can also be used to make a good component cable can be madefrom CAT5. I had someone ask me if it would work. I thought is should workgreat, so I made a 50 foot cable and it did! The person who asked about it is nowusing the 50 CAT5 Component cable with his Infocus X1 DLP projector. Just usethree of the four pairs, one each, for Y, Pr, and Pb. Untwist the pairs as little aspossible and solder on an RCA connector to each end, one conductor to the centerpin and the other to the shell. I added some shrink tubing to the pairs to give itsome extra strength, but this is not required. Total cost was about $10, with thecable from Lowes and the RCA connectors from Radio Shack.

Useful link: Video over UTP from Extron.

To interface to the 9-pin RGB Port 3 on a Barco CRT projector, use these pin-outs.

The diagram below shows the how to use this method to make a VGA (HD-15connector) to component breakout cable. This cable is used to connect acomponent video source such as a DVD player or Satellite/Cable receiver to a

projector, RPTV, LCD or Plasma that accepts componet video via an HD-15 port.In some models, you will have to set this input to "component" via the menusystem, others will auto-sense the input.

Click image for a larger version.

Upat es ( last upda te 10 /17/07):

Here's some commonly asked questions regarding these cables and adapters:

What parts should I use to build the adapter/cable?

I used parts from Radio Shack, although these parts should be available at most anyelectronics supply house. The cable is available from most home improvement storesThe Radio Shack part numbers I used are:276-1508 Metal Hood,276-1502 15 Pin D-Sub, Female,276-1501 15 Pin D-Sub, male274-319 RCA Plug, 4-Pack

http://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/crttheater2.jpghttp://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/crttheater2.jpghttp://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/crttheater2.jpghttp://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/crttheater2.jpghttp://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/crttheater2.jpghttp://www.extron.com/technology/archive.asp?id=utptechnologyhttp://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/barcoport3.jpghttp://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/vga-component.jpghttp://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/barcoport3.jpghttp://www.extron.com/technology/archive.asp?id=utptechnologyhttp://www.dpbolvw.net/click-1260782-10496494http://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/vga-component.jpghttp://myhometheater.homestead.com/files/crttheater2.jpg

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Will I be able to use the VGA to component adapter to watch DVD's from my DVplayer on my computer monitor?

Probably not, the adapter just "adapts" it doesn't convert. Nearly all computer monitoneed an RGB signal, as compared to the component (Y, Pr, Pb) signal that a DVD plaoutputs. To view a component signal on an RGB monitor requires a transcoder, whicconverts the component to an RGB signal. Many projectors and some rare monitors waccept a compent signal via their HD-15 (VGA or RGB) port. This is the intended usethis adapter. Bottom line: For the adapter to work your display device must acceptcomponent inputs.

Will I be able to use the VGA to component adapter to watch my computer on mscreen TV?

You can connect your PC to your wide screen TV if either the TV has an RGB (HD-15RCA) input or if your computer can output its signal in component. Some video cardsdo this natively (some ATI) or via a "dongle" (most Radeon cards), some NVIDIA cardhave component output also. Bottom line: you'll have to check the specs of your videcard. If there is no RGB input on the TC or component output from the video card, yoneed to get an RGB to Component transcoder, or scan converter (really two names fosame thing).

What types of cables can be built using these techniques:

I have personally successfully built the following cables:- VGA to VGA; a cable with HD-15 connections using VGA pin outs on each end.- Component Video to Component Video; 3 RCA connectors on each end. Uses onlythree of the four CAT5 pairs. Connect as shown in the adapter picture, above, on botends. Useful for long runs from a DVD player to an RPTV or similar display.- HD-15 to Component: The adapter detailed above and pictured below.- Analog audio; Build like component to component, can carry up to two stereo pairs.RCA connectors on each end. Useful for connectiing remote powered subwoofers orpowered speakers to a receiver's line level outputs.-1/8 inch stereo audio to RCA audio; useful for connecting PC sound card analog audoutputs to a stereo or A/V receiver's inputs.

What exactly should I do with the Brown/Brown-White cables on the VGA toComponent adapter?

These unused pairs could be used for mono analog audio or possibly coaxial digital aby attaching more RCA connectors, otherwise you can just leave them, cut them off, otape them back.

Can I use these techniques to build a long S-Video Cable?

Sure. you just need some connectors like these: S-Video Connectors

Use one pair of the CAT5 for Y and the other for C. Here are the pinouts:

Pin 1 = Y gnd (Use Green/White)Pin 2 = C gnd (Use Orange/White)Pin 3 = Y (Use Green)Pin 4 = C (Use Orange)

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=090-615http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=090-615

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Blue & Blue/White, Brown & Brown/White are not used These unused pairs could be for left and right audio or possibly coaxial digital audio by attaching more RCA connec

Can I use these techniques to build a SCART to VGA Cable?

Not exactly. SCART connections use RGBS (Red, Green , Blue and Composite Syncwhich has horizontal and vertical sync signals on the same pin. VGA uses separate slines. To accomplish this your display must accept RGBS signals, or you must use a separator. If anyone has successfully done this, I'd love to know what you did. I don't

any SCART devices to test with.

Short Component to VGA adapter being tested forcontinuity, Built by Cory.

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