HPX-170 on SD external monitor - it's not happening...

H

hotchkiss

Well-known member
I can't a get my 170 to show a picture on my standard def. monitor.... what am I doing wrong?

I've had the camera set accordingly:

Camera- DVCPRO 50/ squeeze mode
Using SDI output
Using a standard BNC cable, but not a SDI

RECORDING SETUP:
480I/30P
DVCPRO 50

AV IN/OUT Setup:
CMPNT/SDI SEL- 480 i
SDI OUT- On

Any ideas on what I may be missing? Grrr.... can't figure it out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
What model of monitor? Are you sure that the monitor is switched to the proper input? I don't think there is such a thing as an SDI cable, SDI does specify a higher ohm than analog but all of the analog BNC cables I have here work fine for SDI. Defective cable?

Dan
 
How long is the BNC cable thats not at 75 Ohm, what brand/model is the Standard Def SDI monitor? If its a SONY Broadcast CRT is the Tally light on?
 
Thanks for the response guys.

The monitor is a JVC TM-910SU, a $700.00-ish CRT monitor. I've tried a brand new cable and an older one as well, the cables are 12 and 15 feet respectively.

Of course, the signal from the composite port works fine, but nothing from the SDI output. I suspect that I have something mis-configured in the cameras menu.

Any other ideas?
 
As with any troubleshooting, you must logically and methodically eliminate variables. Your first variable is the camera. Try outputting HD with the SDI. Your monitor won't display it correctly but the picture shoulod get all weird and perhaps roll if the monitor is receiving a valid HD signal.

I have never used DVC Pro 50 and don't shoot 30p so I have not tried those settings. SDI usually auto conforms between HD and SD but perhaps not for the 170. If you receive no signal to the monitor after switching over to HD, you know that the camera is still not sending a signal.

Also, try component in on the monitor, see if you get a picture that way. If you do, then you know that the camera is outputting SD fine and that the monitor is displaying SD fine.

See what I mean? You have to eliminate the variables until you narrow down where the problem is.

Dan
 
I could be wrong, but I believe that monitor does "not" have SDI in. If that's the case, going from the SDI out on the camera will not work.

Correct me if I'm wrong on this.
Jim
 
According to the specs on B&H's page, Jim is correct, no SDI input.

Perhaps the confusion is the BNC connector? BNC does not equal SDI. BNC connectors are used for composite and component connections as well as for SDI connections on professional gear.
 
Aha! When in doubt, most problems are user error, not gear.

Good pickup guys, it briefly crossed my mind but I figured that he MUST have had an SDI monitor to be attempting to use SDI. Never overlook the obvious.

Dan
 
Barry_Green said:
According to the specs on B&H's page, Jim is correct, no SDI input.

Perhaps the confusion is the BNC connector? BNC does not equal SDI. BNC connectors are used for composite and component connections as well as for SDI connections on professional gear.
Click to expand...

There's the issue.

My Nebtek works (has SDI) , but not this one. I wasn't entirely sure what the difference between the two kinds of signals is. More importantly, is there a way to adapt the SDI signal to this monitor for this monitor to work, as in some adapter do-hicky piece?.... That's not prohibitively expensive?

I use this monitor (JVC) with my HPX-300 and it works fine. Of course that's via the regular video out tap on the side of the camera. So... SDI is a whole new deal from ye' olde video out....



Thanks again.
 
SDI is digital video. SDI = Serial Digital Interface. You've got an analog monitor there. You'd need a digital-to-analog conversion box, which would probably cost more than the monitor is worth.
 
Barry_Green said:
SDI is digital video. SDI = Serial Digital Interface. You've got an analog monitor there. You'd need a digital-to-analog conversion box, which would probably cost more than the monitor is worth.
Click to expand...

Yeah... just thought that the shared BNC connector might allow compatibility. Looks like I'll be using composite out with this camera then, unless it's possible to cost effectively adapt and dumb down a component signal into the monitors analog BNC connector.

The composite set-up is so kludgy, knowing what the camera is otherwise capable of sending out. Not to mention the lack of clearance with the XLR cables....
 
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But that monitor is so sub-par compared to what the 170 can do, I think you're worried about things that are far out of your control.

That monitor can only input standard-def composite signals. It doesn't have a component input. It has Y/C, but that's it. And the monitor is only capable of resolving 280 lines of resolution.

The composite output of the HPX170 is probably higher quality than the monitor can even resolve.

Don't worry about component or SDI or anything like that until you have a better monitor, that can take advantage of it.
 
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