Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Document Cameras/Desktops/Projectors

Apr 9, 2018 8:15AM PDT

Hello!

I am in need of help. I started a project here at my work and I am stumped as to how to fix the final results. My last place I worked, when the document camera was set up, you were able to switch inputs and could still use your desktop even when you had the document camera projecting to the screen. When I got here, I was asked by a couple of people , how we could do that here. Their desktop was always projecting to the screen and they had to open a program to use the document camera. I knew how to do it, even know the setup for the projector was quite different than my last building. So, I did it. Wahla! I am a hero! HOWEVER, now when the document camera is in use on the projector(switching the input button) The monitor projects a very hard to read fuzzy screen of the desktop. If switch it to a lower resolution, well to be exact 800x600, it is fine, but too big to use on that setting. Can someone please help me get to my endgame? I have been researching, I have some ideas andI would normally keep digging until I find the answer, but my co-worker really can't use it like that , and I don't really want to switch it all back. Plus, I also have a couple more people that would like theirs switched. Thanks in advance!!!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Answer
The clue here might be the 800x600 works fine statement.
Apr 9, 2018 10:09AM PDT

Here's an article about "native resolution." Read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Native_resolution

The example of what happens when you use non-native resolution fits your complaint to a T.

So what is going on here? It sounds like you have a different camera from before and are rediscovering native resolution issues.

- Collapse -
Document Cameras/Desktops/Projectors
Apr 9, 2018 11:24AM PDT

Thanks for answering me so quickly!

That does sounds like what is going on.

It is a different brand of camera, but basically the same thing that I had in my old building. I am at a loss! If I get a different monitor will it help? I just... my brain is fried. So you have any advice on how to fix the situation?

- Collapse -
Iffy.
Apr 9, 2018 11:33AM PDT

I rarely find changing monitors to help. I'd find specs on old and new camera to see what the native resolutions are.

By the way I rarely see document cameras any more. Smart phone cameras have decimated the market for these devices.

- Collapse -
Camera Specs
Apr 10, 2018 9:18AM PDT

I am looking at the specs and from what I see the camera I am working with now is better than the previous one. What am I looking for specifically?

I am from a poor district. We will most likely use what we have until it dies.

- Collapse -
I think that would be
Apr 10, 2018 9:23AM PDT

Native resolution. But as you have the specs and results you have to figure it out.

Here the symptom is what I noted up top.

As to your comment about working with what you have til it dies, I have encountered such and they were aghast over tossing out such gear when a smart phone camera did the job so well.

Still not sure what they ended up with or if they paid the thousand US bucks to fix the machine that I showed my cheap smart phone doing the same thing.