Run HDMI over 5-wire component video cables

Most of our classrooms have 5-wire component video cables (aka 5 BNC) from the podium (or equipment rack) to the projector. To upgrade the classrooms so they work with digital video we (well, facilities and contractors) had to pull out these cables and replace them with something more modern.

Atlona, Gefen and a few other manufacturers have come out with extenders that let you run digital audio and video over the existing 5-wire component video cables, thus eliminating the need for wiring upgrades. We’ll be testing how well these work, and we hope to find that it will speed-up classroom upgrades!

Solutions:
Atlona
Gefen

Online media storage and encoding appliances (also good for lecture capture)

http://www.sorensonmedia.com/video-delivery-network/
http://www.sonicfoundry.com/mediasite
http://www.tegrity.com/
http://echo360.com/
http://www.ustream.tv/
http://new.livestream.com/home
http://youtube.com
http://www.brightcove.com/en/solutions

Encoders
http://www.telestream.net/pipeline/features.htm
http://www.ncast.com/
http://www.polycom.com/products/uc_infrastructure/realpresence_platform/video_content_management_solutions/enterprise_video_capture/realpresence_capture_station.html
http://www.vbrick.com/products/capture/video-encoder.asp
http://www.myvulkano.com/products.html
http://www.digital-rapids.com/products/individualproducts/touchstream.aspx
http://www.haivision.com/products/makito

All of these can be integrated into some form of lecture recording and capture.

Converting Analog to Digital

Quite a few products on the market:

  1. Extron RGB-HDMI 300 A, http://www.extron.com/product/product.aspx?id=rgbhdmi300a
  2. Aurora ASP-VTH, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/759572-REG/Aurora_Multimedia_ASP_VTH_VGA_Audio_to.html
  3. Atlona AT-HD500, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/814499-REG/Atlona_AT_HD500_PC_Laptop_to.html
  4. Kanex VGARLHD, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/798483-REG/KanexPro_VGARLHD_VGA_to_HDMI_with.html
  5. Aluratek AVH100F, http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/638200-REG/Aluratek_AVH100F_AVH100F_VGA_to_HDMI.html

Wireless projection and wireless tv

Update Aug. 27, 2012: Added another wireless projection/TV option under projectors & TV.

I know we have a blackbox product that does wireless projection (and will work with Tvs as well), but it requires you to load software/drivers onto the computer, and also while connected to it you don’t get any internet on the wireless. So I looked around for any solutions that A) Don’t require any software/drivers and B) Don’t interrupt your internet connection.

Projectors
Both Windows and Mac/iPad/iPhone support wireless projection out of the box but there are some gotchas.

1. Windows
In Windows this is called Windows Network Projector. If there is a compatible projector on the network, a Windows computer can connect to it wirelessly, no drivers required and internet is not interrupted. The problem is that right now there’s only a few compatible projectors, all from NEC (e.g. NP-PA500X from B&H).

2. Mac/iPad/iPhone
In Mac/iPad/iPhone this is called AirPlay and it requires you to connect an AppleTV ($99) to your projector or switcher or TV but will work with any projector/switcher/TV with HDMI. Right now it only displays iTunes content, but this summer Apple is releasing a new version of the OS which will show anything on the computer screen. No software to load, internet is not interrupted.

3. Cross-platform option
Intelix recently released their SkyPlay-HD product [1][2]. It consists of a sender and receiver box. The sender can connect to any PC or Mac with HDMI or DVI output (no drivers or software needed). The receiver can connect to any projector or TV. Similarly, Gefen has a more affordable wireless HDMI extender (GTV-WHD-1080P-LR) that seems more affordable.

Tvs
See my update above about the wireless cross-platform product. This will work with any TV. Also, see my note above about Mac/iPad/iPhone. The AppleTV will work with any HDMI TV. I did not find anything that would work on Windows without having to load special software.

A couple of TV manufacturers (e.g. LG) make boxes that communicates wirelessly with the TV. Using regular wires you plugin the computer or standalone DVD/Blu-ray/VHS to the box and the box sends the a/v signal wirelessly to the TV. Seems to be limited to 45 feet and may be sensitive to other wireless devices in the vicinity. I guess the benefit here is that you don’t have to run any wires to the TV other than power.

Also, some TV manufacturers make Tvs that are “web-enabled”, meaning that they can connect to web sites without a computer. However this seems to be limited to web sites like Netflix, Youtube, Amazon, etc.

Have you heard/seen any other wireless projection/tv solutions?

References:
[1] http://www.smarthome.com/78335/Intelix-SKYPLAY-HD-R-Wireless-HDMI-Distribution-System-Receiver
[2] http://www.cs1.net/products/intelix/SKYPLAY-HD.htm