X10 VGA to TV video sender for $30!

bigbop · 05-30-06, 09:50 AM

OK, I'm on X10's spam list - but it normally gets filtered. This time, I decided to look at the 'toys' they had on 'sale' and to my amazement, they had a VGA to TV wireless video sender kit for $30. You get a sender, receiver, cables and universal remote that can control your PC.
[url]http://www.x10.com/promotions/treasure_chest_lola1_p.html[/url]

This 'should' work with the X50v and x51V vga cables to give you TV output at the receiver.

The X10 site is a maze of advertisements and it's a real pain to navigate through it but I was able to find only minimal information on the actual VGA sender unit (model VT37A) at: [url]http://www.x10.com/products/lola_vgavideotransmitter.htm[/url]
With setup instructions at: [url]http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Lola_Wireless_VGA_Kit_Setup[/url]

At $30 plus shipping, I ordered one. Of course, they state there are 'only 212' units available (yeah, right). X10 are the kings of spam and popups and many people hate them, but once in a while, they have items at reasonable prices that are useful.

Disclaimer - I have no affiliation with X10. A number of Aximsite users want a VGA to TV converter for a resonable price and I found this item. NO, I don't know 100% for sure that it will work, but it looks good and for $30......

jmcphie · 05-30-06, 03:08 PM

Sounds cool! Do let us know how it work (or doesn't work). This looks like it could be a lot cleaner than the effective, but messy VGA scan box solution.

[QUOTE=bigbop]OK, I'm on X10's spam list - but it normally gets filtered. This time, I decided to look at the 'toys' they had on 'sale' and to my amazement, they had a VGA to TV wireless video sender kit for $30. You get a sender, receiver, cables and universal remote that can control your PC.
[url]http://www.x10.com/promotions/treasure_chest_lola1_p.html[/url]

This 'should' work with the X50v and x51V vga cables to give you TV output at the receiver.

The X10 site is a maze of advertisements and it's a real pain to navigate through it but I was able to find only minimal information on the actual VGA sender unit (model VT37A) at: [url]http://www.x10.com/products/lola_vgavideotransmitter.htm[/url]
With setup instructions at: [url]http://kbase.x10.com/wiki/Lola_Wireless_VGA_Kit_Setup[/url]

At $30 plus shipping, I ordered one. Of course, they state there are 'only 212' units available (yeah, right). X10 are the kings of spam and popups and many people hate them, but once in a while, they have items at reasonable prices that are useful.

Disclaimer - I have no affiliation with X10. A number of Aximsite users want a VGA to TV converter for a resonable price and I found this item. NO, I don't know 100% for sure that it will work, but it looks good and for $30......[/QUOTE]

bigbop · 05-31-06, 08:33 AM

[QUOTE=jmcphie]Sounds cool! Do let us know how it work (or doesn't work). This looks like it could be a lot cleaner than the effective, but messy VGA scan box solution.[/QUOTE]
I'm trying to squeeze some tech specs for the unit from X10 but their support staff are clueless - maybe they work for Dell?:laugh:
I'm having it shipped to work where it will immediately be opened and examined.

Gigi · 05-31-06, 08:40 AM

I too, would be interested to see how well this works! Have you ordered from X10 before? Any customs charges to Canada?

bigbop · 05-31-06, 01:20 PM

[QUOTE=Gigi]I too, would be interested to see how well this works! Have you ordered from X10 before? Any customs charges to Canada?[/QUOTE]
WOW:approve: :approve:
I ordered from X10 via their web interface at 9:30am Tuesday and just received the stuff at noon Wednesday. I wish other companies would have service like this.
Since their Canadian warehouse is at Mississauga Rd and the 401, they can ship quickly. As for customs - NONE. They have a flat $10 S&H and only charge GST on the total. I've ordered many times from X10 and all but once was a good experience - actually, the only bad experience was good too - they told me to keep the wrong item (it was less than the shipping costs) they shipped in error and finally shipped the right one.

OK - I've opened the case on the transmitter and the VGA to TV converter module is built like the perverbial brick sh... house! I cut open the top of the shield and WOW - this thing uses a Focus Semiconductor FS401 scan converter chip!!!
[url]http://www.focussemi.com/products/fs401.html[/url]

Here's a cut-n-paste of the chips features:

Frame rate Conversion
Programmable 2D scaling
Pan and Zoom
Advanced 2-D flicker filter
Frame-store memory controller
Supports Multiple Progressive Input Resolutions
- Minimum 640x 400
- Maximum 2560 x 2048
Supports Interlaced Input
- XGA and above
Input refresh rates up to 150Hz
Multiple Output Standards
- NTSC, NTSC-EIAJ, PAL-B/G/H/I
- Composite, S-Video, SCART
- RGB, YUV
Standard NTSC and PAL
VGA Progressive
SVGA Progressive
NTSC Progressive
PAL 100Hz Interlaced
Automatically selects the best output and scaling for any input resolution
Automatically detects input active video area
Exceeds all PC97 and PC98 requirements
Programmable sharpness, brightness, contrast and color saturation
C, H, and V Sync tri-state outputs
2 General Purpose Output Pins
8-bit A/D converters
10-bit output D/A converters
I2C‡compatible port controls (serial port)
100 pin MQFP
3.3V operation

:exc: NOTE:exc:
I can't test it at work so y'alls gonna hav'ta wait 'til I get home an play with it.
No, I don't know if it will work with the X50/51v just yet but I have a good hunch at this point that it should.

Gigi · 05-31-06, 02:36 PM

Thanks for the follow-up, bigbop!

I'm anxiously awaiting your results! ;)

bigbop · 05-31-06, 03:32 PM

[QUOTE=Gigi]Thanks for the follow-up, bigbop!

I'm anxiously awaiting your results! ;)[/QUOTE]
Well, it gets even better - The FCC website has the SCHEMATICS for the unit:exc: :approve:
[url]https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=101631&fcc_id='B4SVT37A' [/url]

I just LOVE the FCC website - you can get all sorts of great information by just looking up the FCC-ID of any device that has a transmitter.

The Focus Semiconductor website has the FS400 series spec sheets located here:
[url]http://www.focussemi.com/downloads/public_downloads/fs400_databrief.pdf[/url]
and here: [url]http://www.focussemi.com/downloads/private_downloads/datasheets/ds_video/FS400v15.pdf[/url]

bigbop · 05-31-06, 06:16 PM

Well, I got home, kissed my wife and set up the transmitter/receiver pair by my TV. Hooked up my trusty Toshiba laptop and proceeded to watch my PC boot on the TV.:approve:

At 640X480, there was a border around what was displayed, somewhat what users already see when they connect the X50v to a hi res display.
800X600 had small bars at the top and bottom of the screen but filled it to the sides.
1024X768 and 1280X1024 filled the entire screen but was almost impossible to read.
You do NOT have to install any software or drivers for this. The VGA to TV interface automatically resizes the TV image if the VGA resolution changes.

So, I would say that this deal is a real steal - IF you can still get it. I checked the link in my first post at 6:30pm EDT and it was still working. So if you want a cheap VGA to TV wireless(!) converter - this is the deal. If you're in Canada, order two or more and the shipping is still only $10.:approve: (and US shipping is FREE if you order 2 or more!)

Now that I have the schematics for the transmitter, I will be modifying it to add two additional connectors: One for baseband video in and the other for baseband video out.

Oh, I forgot to state that the unit is good for stereo sound as well to your TV and comes with all the cables, including the VGA and 3.5mm stereo audio cable! All you need to hook up the X50v is the short video out adapter that a few members are selling through eBay.

Cheers!:laugh:

[QUOTE=bigbop]Well, it gets even better - The FCC website has the SCHEMATICS for the unit:exc: :approve:
https://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/oet/cf/eas/reports/ViewExhibitReport.cfm?mode=Exhibits&RequestTimeout=500&calledFromFrame=N&application_id=101631&fcc_id='B4SVT37A'

I just LOVE the FCC website - you can get all sorts of great information by just looking up the FCC-ID of any device that has a transmitter.

The Focus Semiconductor website has the FS400 series spec sheets located here:
[url]http://www.focussemi.com/downloads/public_downloads/fs400_databrief.pdf[/url]
and here: [url]http://www.focussemi.com/downloads/private_downloads/datasheets/ds_video/FS400v15.pdf[/url][/QUOTE]

**PocketBrain** · 05-31-06, 06:48 PM

Sweet! Now I want a V.

(X)

Enragin_Angel · 05-31-06, 07:22 PM

I just ordered one. Coupled with my VGA connector set that I got from chrismax, I've got the ultimate suite! One question though, bigbop, is it line of sight only?

bigbop · 05-31-06, 07:33 PM

[QUOTE=Enragin_Angel]I just ordered one. Coupled with my VGA connector set that I got from chrismax, I've got the ultimate suite! One question though, bigbop, is it line of sight only?[/QUOTE]
It depends. The unit transmits an analog signal at 2.4GHz so whatever blocks or interferes with 2.4GHz (microwave ovens, WiFi, BT, cordless phones, etc) will affect the received signal somewhat.
I had my WiFi dongle about a foot away from the receiver and I could see the beacon signal show up as noise bursts on the TV (only because I was testing the VGA to TV conversion at the time). In real life, the receiver should be away from any noise sources. It would be great if X10 was to go to digital RF links, but then the price of their wireless stuff would triple.

Gigi · 05-31-06, 07:45 PM

OOO...thanks for the update, bigbop. :approve:

I don't know anything about the FCC stuff you've mentioned, but would this thing be difficult for a "wanna be geek" like myself to set up? :p

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