Long distance AV debugging
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*ringtone* *ringtone* *ringtone*
"Hello?"
"Mason, this is Leader Guy, from church."
"Hi."
"Yeah, I'm here with Maintenance Guy, we're setting up for that broadcast that's coming up, and trying to figure out why the projector won't work."
"Well what's wrong?"
"We don't know. Maintenance Guy plugged the projector into the HDMI port the same as always, and it says it's got no signal."
"Well, what's on the other end of the HDMI cable?"
"The projector."
"No, what's on the other end of the HDMI cable?"
"The HDMI port on the pulpit."
"So where's the pulpit getting its signal from?"
"The communications box."
"How's it getting there?"
"It's hard wired."
"OK. Have you verified that the communications box has the signal?"
"Yes."
"Have you verified that your HDMI cable is good, like by using it to plug a computer in to the projector?"
"Yes." (This one surprised me. I knew Leader Guy was somewhat tech savvy but I wouldn't have thought he'd think of this one.)
"Well, at this point there's not much I can do to help. I'll drop by after work and have a look, unless you get it figured out before then. If so, call me and let me know."
"Sure."
"Bye."
Half an hour later:
*ringtone* *ringtone* *ringtone*
"Hello?"
"Mason, it's Leader Guy. We got it working."
"Oh? That's great! What was it?"
"Maintenance Guy shut down the whole satellite feed and restarted it, and now the HDMI is working."
"*groan* Yeah, that should have been my first suggestion, actually."
"So it's working now."
"Great. Bye."
Not sure why I didn't think of that right away.
I guess this is what I get, though, for letting people who don't know the difference between "computer programmer" and "AV technician" know that I'm a computer programmer...
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sometimes...
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*ringtone* *ringtone* *ringtone*
"Hello?"
"Mason, where would I find a 50-foot HDMI cable?"
"Uhh... you really wouldn't. They don't make them anywhere near that large."
"Really?"
"Well, you could try calling Best Buy to double-check, but yeah, pretty much. Why?"
"Because we're trying to set up a TV in the overflow now..."
There has to be a better way. I just wish I knew what it was. (See above, re: not an AV tech.)
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@masonwheeler said in Long distance AV debugging:
"Mason, where would I find a 50-foot HDMI cable?"
"Uhh... you really wouldn't. They don't make them anywhere near that large."
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@masonwheeler said in Long distance AV debugging:
There has to be a better way. I just wish I knew what it was. (See above, re: not an AV tech.)
They do make them up to 50', but more than that and you'll want a converter box that can translate the signal.
I use one like this:
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@masonwheeler said in Long distance AV debugging:
I guess this is what I get, though, for letting people who don't know the difference between "computer programmer" and "AV technician" know that I'm a computer programmer...
"I think my computer might have gotten a virus, what do I do?? Heeeeelp"
"Uh.......... install Linux? Take it to an expert?"
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@masonwheeler
Also, never ever ever shop Best Buy for A/V cabling. Unless you're flat out "need it 5 minutes ago" desperate and really good at cutting open plastic shell cases so that you can put it back together and return it.Monoprice.com or Amazon cables are better quality and 5-10% of the price (no joke)
HDMI spec is max length of 15 feet for low grade (28 AWG) cable and 50 feet for the thicker ones like Monoprice/Amazon use (24 AWG). Beyond that, you'll need a converter in the middle, which usually means Ethernet wiring.
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@masonwheeler said in Long distance AV debugging:
I guess this is what I get, though, for letting people who don't know the difference between "computer programmer" and "AV technician" know that I'm a computer programmer...
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@ben_lubar said in Long distance AV debugging:
can you make me a website
A perfectly cromulent question.
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@loose said in Long distance AV debugging:
@ben_lubar said in Long distance AV debugging:
can you make me a website
A perfectly cromulent question.
*poof* there, you're a website now.
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@Maciejasjmj Reminds me of a supposedly actual conversation between a guy and his girlfriend:
: Hey, you want to see a magic trick?
: Sure.
: *poof*, you're single.
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@ben_lubar said in Long distance AV debugging:
can you make me a website
The usual response to that is โYes, provided it's uglier than assโ.
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@Vault_Dweller Step forward everyone with a boyfriend. Not so fast
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@ben_lubar said in Long distance AV debugging:
can you make me a website
I can do
<html />
. That's a valid webpage, no?
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@Vault_Dweller said in Long distance AV debugging:
@Maciejasjmj Reminds me of a supposedly actual conversation between a guy and his girlfriend:
: Hey, you want to see a magic trick?
: Sure.
: *poof*, you're single.: , you are an asshole. is better off without you.
and then there's the perennial favorite
(to after knocking politely on her door): I'll bet you twenty bucks you are the widow Smith.
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@accalia As a side note, I love how your big avatar changed, yet the little one in your post isnt:
https://imgur.com/qbeeEFH
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@Erufael Okay, it worked there...
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@Erufael said in Long distance AV debugging:
@accalia As a side note, I love how your big avatar changed, yet the little one in your post isnt:
https://imgur.com/qbeeEFH-shrug-
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@accalia You're special I guess!