This is a guide to the main areas to consider when configuring a multiple screen video wall controller.  Following the steps below will give an indication of the hardware necessary to provide your video wall solution.  This is only a guide and does not cover all possible combinations, such as additional video switching or expansion chassis.  If you have specific requirements not listed here please contact sales@datapath.co.uk.

Step 1 - Determine how many graphics cards are required?

Datapath graphics cards have 4 x VGA/DVI outputs per card, although not all outputs have to be utilised in the system.  The number of displays you require determines how many graphics cards are required.  For example; if you require 18 displays in a 6 x 3 set up you would need five graphics cards.

Step 2 - Which multi screen graphics card?

If video capture windows are not required, choose either the standard iH4 or Vantage4 cards, then go straight to Step 4.  If video capture windows are required on all channels, continue to Step 3.  Standard cards and video capture cards can also be combined in the same system.

• All iH4 and Vantage4  options expand the Windows® desktop across the entire display wall.  Any Windows® application can be positioned and sized on the wall.
• The Vantage4 range produces a more versatile and higher quality display than the iH4, supporting higher resolutions.

Step 3 - Choose video capture input option

To display video capture windows you will need to choose one of the following video capture card options:

Option 1 - iH4-PRO or Vantage4-PRO

• All PRO cards support one video capture per display channel
• A separate video input card is required with options for 4, 16 or 32 video inputs.  See VIM, VIM16, VisionSwitch and VisionSwitch32

Option 2 - Vantage4-SIP and Mosaic-SQ16

• Supports up to 16 Standard Definition inputs per display channel
• High speed 5Gb/s SIP digital video bus
• Mosaic-SQ16 allows up to 16 video windows per screen with overlapping windows
• Maximum of 128 Standard Definition video windows per system, using mulitple cards
• Built in Video switch

Option 3 - Vantage4-SIP and Mosaic-HQ

• Four High Definition and four Standard Definition inputs per Mosaic-HQ card
• High speed 5Gb/s SIP digital video bus
• Mosaic-HQ allows up to 16 video windows per screen with overlapping windows
• Maximum of 128 Standard Definition video windows per system, using multiple cards
• Built in Video switch

Mosaic-SQ16 and Mosaic-HQ can also be utilised in the same system to provide a mixture of High and Standard Definition quality windows.

Step 4 - Add RGB/VGA/DVI capture inputs if required

For RGB/VGA/DVI capture Datapath have options for single and dual channel capture, supporting either RGB/VGA or RGB/VGA/DVI  inputs, compatible with all Datapath multi-screen graphics cards and can also be used as standalone capture cards.

Option 1   - VisionRGB-PRO supports RGB/VGA

• Single and dual channel versions available
• Up to 64 capture channels per system

Option 2 - VisionRGB-X2, VisionRGB-E2 and VisionRGB-E1 support RGB/VGA/DVI

• Single and dual channel versions available
• Up to 64 capture channels per system

Step 5 - Choose wall controller chassis option

Datapath have various options for Industrial PC's and wall controller chassis.  For larger systems, expansion chassis are available.  Currently, our main options are:

Option 1 - Vision100

• Wall controller chassis with eight PCI-X slots

Option 2 - Vision200

• Wall controller and expansion chassis providing eight PCI and eight PCI-X slots

Option 3 - IPC1-PRO

• Dual Quad-Core Industrial PC providing PCI, PCI-X and PCI-e slots

Option 4 - Expansion Chassis

• IPC-X13
• IPC-X13S
• IPC-X16

The cards can also be used in your own machine with the considerations of space, cooling and power taken into account.  We can recommend compatible motherboards and supply bare cases and expansion backplanes if required.  For larger systems which require more than eight cards and those involving expansion chassis, please contact sales@datapath.co.uk

Step 6 - Choose Wall Control software

Wall Control software is an application to control the layout of display windows on the wall, locally or on a remotely networked machine.  It is available to download free here with most of its functionality available.  The full PRO version supplied with a USB hardware key allows remote network access and the saving of user defined layouts.

By following this configuration guide and the associated product links it will give you an indication of which type of hardware you require to run a video/datawall.  For further information on prices and how to order please call Datapath UK on +44(0) 1332 294441 or email sales@datapath.co.uk