Splitting the composite video to two composite displays

[Mad_Duke]

Hi guys!

My first real post/question here so bear with me

I'm short on cash atm so would be really grateful for anyone who has two displays to try this if at all possible.

Anyhow.. I'm looking for a way to just simply use the composite video out and then split it in two and send to two different screens. Does anyone know how strong the signal is (seeing it is only 320x240 resolution and going a small distance).

Why do I want to do this?

Well. The idea is like this. I'm building my own gameboy zero (all original buttons on front plus 4 in the back). I wish to have two functionalities. One is, being able to connect two wireless joysticks and connect the whole thing to an HDMI TV and play games.

Second one (why I'm writing this) is to have a small "port" on the side. From there I will run two cables (made into one). One would be an USB cable going to a second Gameboy unit and connecting to Teensy. While the other would be the video signal. So basically. I would have a second unit for the second player to play with.


I did found some splitters, but with no less than 4 outputs which are too bulky though...

[crispy_tofu]

Sorry, I feel like I'm missing something here: why do you need a composite video splitter for playing on two screens? Can't you just connect it to the HDMI port?

[Mad_Duke]

I want to have two scenarios

#1 - Just connect to the HDMI and play on a "big screen". This is not a problem. I just connect it and it works

#2 - Drive another cable with composite outside the gameboy, to another gameboy unit and show the same exact picture as on the first one so two players can play the same game. So, I need the same picture from the primary screen to be shown (mirrored) also on the second screen. As composite signal is analogue I'm trying to figure out how to either boost the signal (or if it could maybe work out-of-the box without much sacrifice).

So, if somebody with two screens could maybe just connect them both to the same raspberry pi output I would be grateful to see the result.


Other unit would also be connected via USB for controls via teensy.

[Kilren]

I want to have two scenarios

#1 - Just connect to the HDMI and play on a "big screen". This is not a problem. I just connect it and it works

#2 - Drive another cable with composite outside the gameboy, to another gameboy unit and show the same exact picture as on the first one so two players can play the same game. So, I need the same picture from the primary screen to be shown (mirrored) also on the second screen. As composite signal is analogue I'm trying to figure out how to either boost the signal (or if it could maybe work out-of-the box without much sacrifice).

So, if somebody with two screens could maybe just connect them both to the same raspberry pi output I would be grateful to see the result.


Other unit would also be connected via USB for controls via teensy.

I think I am missing something here. The second GBZ is going to interfere with the video (it's trying to run it's own OS on it's own screen). Have you thought about a bluetooth dongle/usb hub that would allow you to add additional controllers to play over the HDMI connection?

[crispy_tofu]

So from what I gather, you want to use another GBZ as a second controller and mirror the screens such that they're showing the same thing?

[Mad_Duke]

So from what I gather, you want to use another GBZ as a second controller and mirror the screens such that they're showing the same thing?

Exactly. The other unit would only have

Buttons -> Teensy -> USB cable
Screen -> Composite Cable
Speaker -> Audio cable

Maybe a batery also for charging the primary unit just to fill the space also.

Keypads, audio are easy to make work (would just use the two channels stereo and keep one mono for the original unit and the other mono to the seperate unit.

I'm trying to have a really low tech solution here and I just can't make my mind what to do with the screen.