Product Reviews

Kramer VP-8

Overall rating:  5/5

Rated for value, reliability, and performance.

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The first item I am going to review is a piece used in a recent installation, the Kramer VP-8.  This is a 1 in 8 out VGA distribution amplifier (DA).  This product differs from a VGA splitter because it actually duplicates and amplifies the signal so that it transmit over long distances.  The real trick to this unit is it’s ability to communicate with the source and the channel 1 output.  Most VGA components do not transmit any sort of data to the devices they are connected.  This is usually only a characteristic of DVI I/O.

This characteristic was not listed in their documentation. We actually discovered this on accident when my friend Nathan noticed that the computer was seeing the name brand of the monitor on the computer’s settings after using the MacBook Pro’s auto-detect feature.  The remaining outputs do not offer any communication to the source and are essentially just amplified copies of the original signal.

Specifications from manufacturer’s website  www.kramerelectronics.com

1. High Bandwidth - 400MHz (-3dB).
2. HDTV Compatible.
3. ID Bit Control
4. Advanced Sync Processing - Ensures compatibility with a wide range of computers.
5. Selectable Sync Input Impedance - 75? (video), 510? (Graphics/TTL).
6. Desktop Size - Compact size, 1U. Two units can be rack mounted side-by-side in a 1U rack space with the optional RK-1 adapter.

Cost:

Kramer      VP-8      $476

Kramer      RK-1         $76