TM

USING COMPUTER VIDEO AND

VIDEO SPLITTERS IN SECURITY

APPLICATIONS

MARKET: Security

DOC. NUMBER: T-10

Computer video splitters (sometimes called “dis-

tribution amplifiers”) can play a valuable role in ex-

panding the use of computers in security and sur-

veillance operations. Increasingly, PCs of all types

are being used for monitoring purposes and to per-

form access control and camera control functions.

This TECHniques will describe how the line of

splitter products from Communications Specialties

can be employed to facilitate remote and multi-point

monitoring of PC-based operations.

multiplexer’s VGA output. In addition, the TwinSplit

allows for the continued operation of the original

monitor located next to the PC or multiplexer. Com-

munications Specialties offers five VGA-compatible

splitter models that provide up to 10 simultaneous

outputs, with each output driving a monitor at dis-

tances of up to 250 each. CSI also provides the nec-

essary VGA extension cable, CAB-19, in both stan-

dard and custom lengths.

The diagram below shows how to connect the VGA

splitter to a PC or multiplexer. The additional outputs

provided by the splitter can be used to simultaneously

send video to multiple monitoring locations, such as

guard desks, security rooms and supervisory loca-

tions. Splitters may also be cascaded to extend the

monitoring locations beyond ten and to create the

most optimum topology for a given installation.

CSI also manufactures a line of splitters for stan-

dard video and S-video signals. One example of how

these may be used is for distributing the video out-

put from a fiber optic video transmission system. After

the video signal has been sent from transmitter to

receiver, the receiver’s output may be fed to a split-

ter for video, for distribution to multiple monitors or

VCRs located up to 250 feet away. In addition, a split-

ter might be used at the input to the fiber optic trans-

The VGA (or SVGA) output of a PC is designed to

drive only one monitor, which may be located a maxi-

mum distance of 10 to 15 feet from the PC. Video

multiplexers, which allow for the split screen pre-

sentation of multiple cameras on a single monitor,

often have high-resolution VGA compatible outputs

and are therefore subject to the same distance and

single monitor restrictions.

VGA splitters enable the user to overcome these

limitations. For example, using a TwinSplit

®

for VGA,

two computer monitors, located up to 250 feet away

from the source, may be connected to the PC’s or

TwinSplit, QuadSplit, HexiSplit, OctoSplit, DeciSplit and Scan Do are registered trademarks of

Communications Specialties, Inc.

© 1999, Communications Specialties, Inc.



Page 2:

USING COMPUTER VIDEO AND VIDEO SPLITTERS IN

SECURITY APPLICATIONS

mitter to allow for the simultaneous transmission and

local viewing or routing of the video at the source.

Always locate the splitter as close to the video

input source (PC, multiplexer, fiber optic receiver,

etc…) as possible. Communications Specialties in-

cludes a 6-foot input cable with all its Splitters for

VGA.

Single and double-unit rackmount kits are avail-

able for use with all splitter models.

For distances beyond 250 feet, a long-distance

version of TwinSplit for VGA is available. TwinSplit

E.D. (model 1067) can drive two monitors up to 700

feet each.

In some situations, it may be desirable to route

one of the VGA outputs from a splitter to a VCR or

DVR for recording purposes. In this case, a com-

puter-to-video scan converter, such as Scan Do

®

Select, may be connected to a splitter output in place

of a VGA monitor. Scan Do Select will convert the

VGA signal to standard NTSC or PAL, so that it may

be fed to the VCR or DVR device.

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TwinSplit

®

for VGA ...................................... 1302

QuadSplit

®

for VGA .................................... 1302

HexiSplit

®

for VGA ...................................... 1306

OctoSplit

®

for VGA ..................................... 1308

DeciSplit

®

for VGA ...................................... 1310

HexiSplit for Video ...................................... 1706

TwinSplit for S-Video .................................. 1802

HexiSplit for S-Video .................................. 1806

Scan Do Select .......................................... 1290

CAB-19 VGA Extension Cable ................... 1119

CAB-27 Long-Distance VGA Ext. Cable ...... 1290

•

T-03 Using Computer Video Scan Converters in

Security Applications

© 1999, Communications Specialties, Inc.