StarTech MXT101MMHQ 6-Foot VGA Monitor Cable

Overview

The StarTech MXT101MMHQ is a 6.0 ft (1.8 m) VGA cable built to the tighter tolerances you need when connecting a monitor or display at resolutions up to 1920x1200 — the ceiling for analog VGA before the signal starts working against you. This isn't a commodity cable. The 75-ohm impedance-controlled coaxial construction, aluminum-mylar foil plus braid dual-layer shielding, and a single ferrite bead on the connector end collectively suppress the EMI interference and signal reflections that cause ghosting, color fringing, and soft focus at higher VGA resolutions. If you've swapped out a cheap VGA cable and watched image quality jump, you understand why these construction details matter. The MXT101MMHQ carries a lifetime hardware warranty, which is the signal StarTech is confident in the build quality here.

Key Features

• 1920x1200 Maximum Resolution: Supports WUXGA — the highest practical resolution over analog VGA. If your monitor tops out at 1920x1200 and your cable can't cleanly carry that signal bandwidth, you'll see blurring and color noise. The impedance-matched construction here keeps signal integrity at that upper limit.
• 75-Ohm Performance Impedance: Coaxial cable impedance that matches VGA signaling requirements. Mismatched impedance causes signal reflections that appear as ghost images or edge halos on screen — especially visible on white text against dark backgrounds. The 75-ohm spec eliminates that source of degradation.
• Dual-Layer Shield — Aluminum-Mylar Foil + Braid: The foil layer provides 100% coverage against high-frequency EMI; the braid adds structural integrity and low-frequency noise rejection. Together they protect the video signal in electrically noisy environments — control rooms, industrial panels, server rooms — where a single-layer shield cable would show noise artifacts.
• Single Ferrite Bead: Ferrites suppress high-frequency common-mode noise on the cable before it reaches the display. In practice this matters most when the cable runs near power cables or switching power supplies, which are common in rack-mounted AV and security monitoring environments.
• 14-Conductor Construction, 28 AWG: All 14 conductors are carried — including the DDC/EDID data lines and ground returns — so your monitor's EDID handshake completes reliably and the display auto-detects the correct resolution. Cheaper cables drop conductors, which breaks plug-and-play detection on some monitor/GPU combinations.
• CMG-Rated PVC Jacket (UL2919): CMG (Communications Multipurpose Cable, General) fire rating means the cable meets code requirements for in-wall and plenum-adjacent runs in most commercial installations. UL2919 listing is the verification. This matters if you're routing cables inside a finished wall or above a drop ceiling where fire codes apply.
• Nickel-Plated Connectors: Nickel resists oxidation better than bare copper. On a permanent install where the cable won't be unplugged frequently, this keeps contact resistance stable over years of use.
• 6.0 ft (1.8 m) Cable Length, 0.4 in (9 mm) OD: Long enough to comfortably reach from a desktop tower or rack-mounted KVM to a monitor without excess slack. The 9mm OD is narrow enough to route cleanly through cable management without bulk.
• Operating Temperature 0°C to 60°C: Covers typical indoor commercial and control room environments. Not rated for outdoor or sub-zero use — if this cable is going into a space that drops below freezing, verify your ambient conditions first.
• Lifetime Hardware Warranty: StarTech backs the MXT101MMHQ with a lifetime warranty, which makes total cost of ownership straightforward — no planned replacement cycle for the cable itself.

Integration and Compatibility

The MXT101MMHQ terminates in standard HD-15 (15-pin high-density D-Sub) VGA connectors on both ends, making it compatible with any VGA-equipped source or display: desktop PCs, laptops with VGA output, security DVRs with VGA monitor outputs, KVM switches, projectors, and analog monitors. The maximum connector dimension of 1.3 in (34 mm) fits standard VGA ports without clearance issues in normal equipment chassis. The EDID/DDC conductor support means it works correctly with monitors that require the full 14-conductor wiring for resolution detection — not just the three RGB coax lines.

For surveillance camera monitoring stations and NVR installations where the recorder provides a VGA output to a local display, the MXT101MMHQ is a practical choice when HDMI isn't available on the recording unit. For larger AV and video surveillance deployments, pair this with a quality KVM switch to manage multiple display sources from a single monitor. If you're planning a multi-monitor control room, review your cables and connectivity needs across the board before ordering individual runs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the maximum resolution supported by the MXT101MMHQ?

A: The MXT101MMHQ supports up to 1920x1200 (WUXGA). This is the maximum practical analog VGA resolution — it covers 1080p (1920x1080) and full WUXGA monitors.

Q: What fire rating does the MXT101MMHQ carry?

A: The cable is CMG-rated (Communications Multipurpose Cable, General) and UL2919-listed. This satisfies commercial in-wall and general-use fire code requirements in most installations. Verify your local code if routing in a plenum air-handling space, as that requires a higher CMP rating.

Q: Does the MXT101MMHQ carry all 14 conductors including DDC/EDID lines?

A: Yes. The MXT101MMHQ is a 14-conductor cable, which includes the DDC/EDID data lines required for monitor plug-and-play auto-detection. This ensures your display correctly reports its native resolution to the connected source device.

Q: What shielding does the MXT101MMHQ use and why does it matter?

A: The cable uses a dual-layer shield: aluminum-mylar foil (100% EMI coverage) plus a braided outer shield. The foil blocks high-frequency interference; the braid handles lower-frequency noise and mechanical durability. In electrically noisy environments — server rooms, control rooms near power equipment — this dual-layer construction prevents noise artifacts on the display.

Q: What is the warranty on the MXT101MMHQ?

A: StarTech provides a lifetime hardware warranty on the MXT101MMHQ.

Q: Is the MXT101MMHQ suitable for permanent in-wall installation?

A: The CMG fire rating and UL2919 listing make it appropriate for general commercial in-wall runs. The 28 AWG, 14-conductor construction and PVC jacket are designed for permanent installation rather than frequent plug/unplug cycling. Confirm your local electrical code requirements before any in-wall run.

Jerry Tildsen

The detail that separates the MXT101MMHQ from generic VGA cables is the dual-layer shield — aluminum-mylar foil backed by a braid — combined with a ferrite bead on the connector end. I specify this cable for control room and monitoring station builds where VGA runs are near UPS units, switching power supplies, or bundled power cabling, because those are exactly the conditions where a single-foil cable starts showing noise artifacts at 1920x1200. The 75-ohm impedance spec keeps signal reflections in check at that resolution, which matters more than most buyers realize until they've seen ghosting on a sharp-contrast UI.

Technical Highlights:

• 75-Ohm Coaxial Impedance: Matched to VGA signaling requirements — prevents signal reflections that appear as edge halos or ghost images at 1920x1200, the cable's rated maximum.
• 14-Conductor, 28 AWG Wiring: Full conductor count including DDC/EDID lines means monitors auto-detect native resolution reliably — dropping conductors is the most common failure point in budget VGA cables.
• CMG/UL2919 Fire Rating: Qualifies for commercial in-wall routing under general fire code. Saves a cable swap if the install later requires the run to go inside a finished wall.

Deployment Considerations:

• The 6.0 ft (1.8 m) length fits most desktop-to-monitor and rack-KVM-to-display runs cleanly, but measure your rack-to-monitor distance before ordering if the display is wall-mounted at any height — 6 ft goes quickly with routing through cable management.
• Operating temperature tops out at 60°C — suitable for standard control rooms and server rooms with normal HVAC, but not for equipment closets that run hot. Storage down to -20°C means shipping and warehousing in cold climates won't damage the cable before installation.

For NVR monitoring stations and security control rooms where the recorder provides VGA output to a local operator display, the MXT101MMHQ is the right cable when HDMI isn't an option — the shielding construction and full conductor count keep the display connection reliable without revisiting it after commissioning.