VGA Video Extender over Cat5 (ST121 Series)

There are a few things you'll want to take care of before you deploy your new video extender in your setup.

It’s important to make sure you have everything you will need ahead of time. These items are listed below.

• Transmitter
• Receiver
• Video source
• Display
• Video cables
• (Optional) Ethernet or fiber cables
• (Optional) Power adapter(s)

It’s also important to test everything in a simplified setup ahead of time to make sure everything works and that you understand how it works. 

In order to set up your video extender, complete the following:

1. Position your video transmitter near your video source.
2. Connect the video output from your video source to the video transmitter.
3. (Optional) Connect the power adapter to the video transmitter.

Note: Not all video extenders require external power, or require external power on both ends.  Refer to the manual for more information.

4. Position your video receiver near your display.
5. Connect the video output from your video receiver to your display.
6. (Optional) Connect the power adapter to the video receiver.
7. If using a wired video extender, connect your network cabling between the video transmitter and the video receiver.
8. (Optional) If you are extending anything else supported by your video extender connect those devices to the transmitter and receiver.
9. (Optional) If you are using a wireless extender, there may be a sync button you need to press to pair the transmitter and receiver.

Now that you have set up your video extender, you can check that everything is working.  You should be able to see your video source's output on the display connected to the video receiver.

If at this point you have further questions regarding a Startech.com video extender, contact our technical support team for further assistance. 

1. The power adapter may not be connected at the correct unit or may not be connected at all.  Please check your product manual to see where your power adapter has to be positioned.
2. An adapter to another video signal may be connected to the Transmitter or Receiver unit.  Please avoid any converters for the initial setup.
3. The Cat 5 or 6 cable coming from the transmitter or receiver unit may be connected to a network switch.  Some of our video extenders will work in this configuration, but others will not. Please check your product manual to see if your model can be used connected to an IP network. For the initial setup, avoid connecting the Cat 5 or 6 cables to any network switch, hub, or router.
4. The category of Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP) cables may not meet StarTech.com’s requirements. Ensure at least Cat 5, 5e, or six cables are used, and they have eight wires. Some Cat 5 cables only have four wires. If using Cat 6 cables, be aware they have more twists per foot, so you may have to use shorter cable lengths if using Cat 6 cabling between your video extenders.
5. Bundling up the UTP cabling connected to the extenders can cause crosstalk, which will prevent the video signal from showing on the display.  Unwrapping the cable should resolve this issue.

1. Please check to see if your model has an adjustable Gain dial on the remote unit.
2. If it does, use it to adjust the color until it is acceptable.
3. Replace the VGA cable with a higher quality cable like StarTech.com’s MXT101MMHQ.

The problem is usually a bad quality or damaged VGA cable on either end of the extender set. Try replacing the VGA cable with a higher quality cable like StarTech.com’s MXT101MMHQ.

When you troubleshoot issues with a video extender, there are some quick tests that you can complete to rule out potential problems. You can test to make sure that the following components are working correctly and are not the source of the issue:

• Video and Ethernet cables

• Video extender

• Video source (such as a DVD player or computer)

• Video destination (such as a monitor or projector)

Note: When you are testing setup components, you should avoid using video adapters. For example, if you are converting a VGA source to HDMI for use with an HDMI extender, you should use an HDMI source when you test the components.

To test your setup components, try the following:

• Use the cable, video extender, video source, and video destination in another setup to see if the problem is with the components or the setup.

• Use a different cable, video extender, video source, and video destination in your setup to see if the problem persists. Ideally, you should test a component that you know works in another setup.

When you test your cables, it is recommended that you do the following:

• Test each cable individually.

• Use short cables when you are testing.

When you test the video source and video destination, it is recommended that you do the following:

• Remove the video extender from your setup and test to make sure that the video source and video destination work together without the video extender.

• Test to make sure that the video source and video destination work together at the resolution that you want to use.

Note: In order for your setup to work properly, the video source, extender, and destination all need to support the resolution that you are using.

You should only use video converters and extenders if it is absolutely necessary to do so. In many cases, most video converters and extenders are not necessary if you purchase the correct cable.

The following table lists the maximum length of cable for common video standards.

Note: StarTech.com offers cables longer than what is listed above, including active cables, which typically include built-in active signal boosters that allow for longer cables. Active cables are specifically designed to exceed the suggested maximum lengths and are tested at the listed specifications (for example, the maximum listed resolution).

Video adapters

Video adapters passively adapt a cable from one connector type to another. Video adapters do not change the signal type, or change the video standard.

Examples of common applications for adapters include the following:

• DVI-I to VGA

• RCA to BNC

• Mini DisplayPort to DisplayPort

• Couplers (female to female, or male to male)

Note: You can use a coupler to extend a cable for a short distance. However, each coupler that you use can introduce signal loss, which degrades the signal quality.

Video converters

Video converters actively process and change the signal type from one video standard and convert it to another standard. They are typically used to convert digital to analog and vice versa, but can be used to convert a digital signal to another digital video standard (for example, HDMI to DisplayPort).

Video converters work over short distances from the source to the destination: up to 15 feet or 3 meters.

Video extenders

Video extenders convert an input signal to a higher voltage for transmission over longer distances and then convert the input signal back to the original video standard. The input and the output signal will match on a video extender, as the same video standard is maintained end-to-end. If a cable is extended with adapters or converters, the signal quality degrades.

Note: For more information on using a video adapter or converter with a video extender, see the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/video_signal_converters_convert_then_extend.

If you need to use a video extender with a video adapter or converter, you should position the adapter or converter as close to the video source as possible. For example, if you need to take a VGA signal from a computer and send it 200 feet to an HDMI® projector, you should convert the signal from VGA to HDMI and use an HDMI extender.

Note: For more information on when to use cables or extenders, see the following FAQ: http://www.startech.com/faq/video_signal_converters_when_to_convert.

No, this device is designed to be a point-to-point solution using networking cabling only. 

This device outputs a VGA signal. If you have a display or video destination that uses another type of video connection, there are ways that you can convert the video signal or connection. These options are outlined below and organized by the target connection.

Note: You might need to use more than one converter as part of your solution; however, you should try to use the least number of converters and cables to connect your source and destination. If you have the option to convert to multiple target video connections, choose the option that requires the fewest number of conversions.

DVI-I and DVI-D

When you convert from VGA to DVI, you need to know if you are converting to a DVI-I or a DVI-D connection. For more information about how to identify the type of connection that you need, refer to the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/faq/video_signal_converters_dvi_interface.

You also need to know which form of DVI that you are using, because DVI-I supports both analog (VGA) and digital (HDMI) signals, while DVI-D only supports digital (HDMI) signals.  

Note: Certain devices may have a DVI-I connection but only support DVI-D signaling. It is important to verify that your DVI-I device supports DVI-I signaling.

This device has a VGA input port.  If you have a video source that uses another video connection, there are options available to convert the video signal or connection. These options will be outlined below for each video source connection.

DVI-I and DVI-D

When you convert from DVI to VGA, you need to know if you are converting from a DVI-I or a DVI-D connection. For more information about how to identify the type of connection that you have, refer to the following FAQ: https://www.startech.com/faq/video_signal_converters_dvi_interface.

You also need to know which form of DVI that you are using, because DVI-I supports both analog (VGA) and digital (HDMI) signals, while DVI-D only supports digital (HDMI) signals.  Some DVI-I connections only support DVI-D signaling.  In this case, you must use a DVI-D to VGA converter.