Need external, self functional, VGA capture device

penelopeb

Member
Mar 14, 2004
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I have to set up some training manuals for software installers, and part of this involves working with a product that I have no access to the OS for. So I need some sort of inline, external, non-software dependent, device that I can stick into the VGA path and push a button to snap a screenshot, then dump into my PC later for documentation purposes.

I really have no clue what to even google for -- external screen capture isn't getting me anywhere.

Suggestions, thoughts, and even search term suggestions, appreciated. I know these things exist...

Thanks much!
 

penelopeb

Member
Mar 14, 2004
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Thank you... I found those too.

The problem is that I can't have ANY software that needs to touch the originating system. I have no access to the OS layer at all -- it's a very specific Linux distribution in the form of an appliance.

I was hoping I could find something that went like:

PC-->Monitor Cable-->Frame Grabber with a camera style 'snapshot button'-->monitor cable--->Monitor.

And then the frame grabbing device could attach to a PC later for download a la a digicam...

The Epiphan looks like it might do something like that, but whooo spendy!
 

Viper GTS

Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
38,107
433
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Do you have access to another PC?

Simplest answer to me seems to be a decent quality VGA splitter with one output connected to the monitor and the other going to your capture device.

Demanding that the device be stand-alone is what's really limiting your options here, if you have a laptop, or any other PC that you can use to capture images you can do this easily with either of the devices I posted.

I would imagine a simple physical splitter would be sufficient unless you need a long cable run, but worst case something like THIS should eliminate your need to have an inline device.

Viper GTS
 

Peter

Elite Member
Oct 15, 1999
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The cards shown are internal to the system you're doing the grabbing WITH.

An (expensive) alternative would be a "remote KVM switch" that passes screen image and keyboard/mouse input through a network connection. These do screenshots too.
 

penelopeb

Member
Mar 14, 2004
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I could rig something up on the bench probably to do splitting, but how do I get the capture onto the other PC since the VGA splitter is technically running off the PC-Appliance I have no access to?

The KVM switch isn't a bad idea...that would work. Any solution other than taking photos of my monitor and that requires no software is really what I'm looking for. :p