A DVI (Digital Visual Interface) is a video connector designed to transport uncompressed digital video data to a digital display device, like an LCD screen or monitor. A DVI extender is used to extend the distance between a DVI display and a DVI-based computer.
Background to DVI Extenders
Older computer monitors were CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) displays. A CRT is an analog device dependent on an analog signal sent from computers through an internal graphics card to the monitor. The graphics card translated the data sent from the computer into an analog signal which was then displayed on the CRT monitor screen. Eventually, these CRT monitors were replaced by a new technology in video presentation, the LCD digital monitor. That's when DVI connectors came into the picture eventually followed by the DVI extender.
Older computer monitors were CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) displays. A CRT is an analog device dependent on an analog signal sent from computers through an internal graphics card to the monitor. The graphics card translated the data sent from the computer into an analog signal which was then displayed on the CRT monitor screen. Eventually, these CRT monitors were replaced by a new technology in video presentation, the LCD digital monitor. That's when DVI connectors came into the picture eventually followed by the DVI extender.
The early representation of the digital monitor was the Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Consumers loved these monitors as they were much thinner and lighter than the CRT displays. However, when LCD screens were first introduced there needed to be some way to accept and adapt the analog signal to ensure backward compatibility with the majority of available computers setting on desktops. In order for the data to properly be presented on the LCD screen, the analog signal had to be converted into a digital format.
A group of computer industry leaders called the Digital Display Working Group (DDWG) developed a specification to provide this backwards compatibility. This specification defined that the DVI connector should accommodate both analog and digital interfaces. The initial implementation was the DVI-I (DVI-Integrated) connector. As computers transitioned away from the analog graphic conversion cards, a different connector DVI-D (DVI-Digital) was specified and it handles only digital signals.
DVI Over CAT5 - Distancing the Monitor
In most cases, a computer is within a few feet of a monitor. However, there are many scenarios where there is added benefit keeping the computer a distance away from the monitor, for example in computer rooms, testing environments, classrooms, hospitals, airports, shopping venues, or any area where it's better to keep the computer away from the general public. A DVI extender makes this possible by extending the distance of the DVI display from the computer. A type of network cable, called Cat5/Cat5e/Cat6, connects the two devices.
In most cases, a computer is within a few feet of a monitor. However, there are many scenarios where there is added benefit keeping the computer a distance away from the monitor, for example in computer rooms, testing environments, classrooms, hospitals, airports, shopping venues, or any area where it's better to keep the computer away from the general public. A DVI extender makes this possible by extending the distance of the DVI display from the computer. A type of network cable, called Cat5/Cat5e/Cat6, connects the two devices.
Using DVI over CAT5 extender, the monitor can be as much as 300 feet away from the computer. The picture delivered by the DVI over CAT5 is clear and without loss of signal or degradation. In fact, screen resolutions as high as 1920x1200 are supported using the DVI extender. CAT5 DVI extender units are delivered as a paired product with a transmitter and receiver. The transmitter connects to the source and the receiver connects to the DVI monitor.
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