Hi

Does the Scart cable also work for the Xpress 200 which is onboard on some new mainboards right now?

best, SpaceProtector

[MikeTV]

Originally Posted by SpaceProtector

Does the Scart cable also work for the Xpress 200 which is onboard on some new mainboards right now?

I'd like to know too. I think it will come down to whether powerstrip supports the Xpress 200, and thus whether the Xpress 200 supports custom resolutions.

I am using powerstrip ok with an xpress200...custom resolution 720x576 50hz.

[MikeTV]

Originally Posted by Werner

I am using powerstrip ok with an xpress200...custom resolution 720x576 50hz.

Cool. Thanks!

So I take that as a "Yes it works!" ?

[MuFu]

Man, can't believe I didn't make one of these earlier; it's made a ridiculous difference to our HTPC setup for £0 outlay.

I'd say go for it even if you are not that experienced with a soldering iron. A pair of "helping hands" makes things a hell of a lot easier though.

TV is a Toshiba 28ZD26P (in prog scan mode) hooked up to a 9700 Pro. I started with the EnTech 1024x576 settings provided in this thread and ended up with these after a bit of tweaking:

PowerStrip timing parameters:
1024x576=1024,109,48,147,576,5,5,39,20846,41

Generic timing details for 1024x576:
HFP=109 HSW=48 HBP=147 kHz=16 VFP=5 VSW=5 VBP=39 Hz=25

VESA detailed timing details:
PClk=20846.00 H.Active=1024 H.Blank=304 H.Offset=93 HSW=48 V.Active=576 V.Blank=49 V.Offset=5 VSW=5

Linux modeline parameters:
"1024x576" 20.846 1024 1133 1181 1328 576 581 586 625 interlace +hsync +vsync

It looks absolutely stunning (was running 848x480 or 720x576 via s-vid before) and there's just about enough overscan on all four sides to take care of the wobblies. I pretty much followed http://ryoandr.free.fr/english.html to the letter, so thanks to Ryoandr and everybody else that's contributed to this excellent resource.

My TVs , a Loewe Articos and a Widescreen Sony got fried !! Loewe signal board went to bin !! Did I mention repair price ? - 500 Euros I believe culprid was a mismatced solder.

Regards

[MuFu]

Jeez, that sucks. How did you fry two TVs?

I really don´t know how did I fried them !! I double checked the schematics and the solder work and everything was OK. I use powerstrip with an interlaced 1024X742 resolution and only get a scrolling image with a vertical black bar in the middle. At the end the Sony tv was working OK and I tought to tried at the Loewe TV. I get the same scramble picture and some days later ... both TV showed an instable flickering image with white bars. The Sony went to a unoficial repair service and they found it was a faulty resistence but the Loewe did went to the official Loewe repair service and they had to chance all the signal board, where lies the video circuit. The Loewe repair was 400 EUROS and the Sony repair service 30 EUROS !!

I will have to see what happens and triple checked the homemade cable. This all thread gave me the inspiration to try again - this time only with the Sony TV


Note: Pay atention with the desclaimer notice !!

[MuFu]

Well, good luck with that. You've scared me a bit with the "some days later..." talk.

A continuity tester might be a good idea too; even better if it's part of a multimeter that can be used to check pin=>pin resistance.

[MikeTV]

Originally Posted by vascovaz

I double checked the schematics and the solder work and everything was OK. I use powerstrip with an interlaced 1024X742 resolution

You didn't actually use a 742 line resolution, did you? That may fry a TV. It should be 1024x576, of course.

It is probably worth reiterating, there is a real danger of damaging a TV, by supplying it an incorrect signal. As it happens, the regular PC BIOS/boot-up screens supply the wrong signal (which you can do nothing about), and which may, or may not, harm a particularly TV. Caveat emptor.

Cable is OK, just saw it. I use 1024X576 powerstrip resolution:

1024X576=1024,84,104,228,576,17,3,22,44496,272

My tv as also a vga input but I used a RGB enable scart input. At te vga input tese powerstip parameters work very well.


Vasco

My pc card is a Matrox G550

[stlic]

vascovaz your dedication to the Scart RBG cause is admirable!!

I am using a Nebula tv card and Zoomplayer to watch tv and dvd. I am currently using s-video on a 28inch Philips. Both the Nebula card and Zoomplayer have an option to adjust aspect ratio for widescreen viewing.

I will be getting a new Loewe Aventos 28inch 100Hz this Friday. I will be making a vga to scart lead and I was wondering whether to bother with 1024 x 576. I am currently using 720x576 which I thought was PAL DVB and DVD resolution? Will this higher resolution improve the image quality of video media or does it just correct the aspect ratio of the windows desktop?

I am very nervous about inputting a higher resolution through the video circuitry of my Aventos which is really only designed for 720x576.

Thanks.

BTW, Vascovaz sorry to hear about your Loewe!?!

vascovaz your dedication to the Scart RBG cause is admirable!!

Just don´t tell to my wife .

Te "official" reason was tat a electrical surge damaged bot TV.

BTW. Did I mention tat te " " (te keystroke between G and J) of my keyboard doesn´t work !!!


My PC moterboard is an ASRock.

Olly


Be cautious about your Aventos, if you damage te video circuit you must replace all te signalboard. Te reason tat I didn´t use te VGA input is tat you can´t asign a digital (AC3) input to te VGA input. Can do tat to AV1-AV3 but not to te VGA. Tis is possible if your TV as already
a DIS (Digital Input Selector) upgrade (not possible wit Cassis 2500).

Vasco

[MikeTV]

Originally Posted by 0lly

I will be getting a new Loewe Aventos 28inch 100Hz this Friday. I will be making a vga to scart lead and I was wondering whether to bother with 1024 x 576. I am currently using 720x576 which I thought was PAL DVB and DVD resolution?

Correct - PAL resolution.

Originally Posted by 0lly

Will this higher resolution improve the image quality of video media or does it just correct the aspect ratio of the windows desktop?

I wouldn't expect much improvement in picture quality for PAL sources. Mainly it just helps with the aspect ratio (eg. when using the nebula).

TV's seems to support different horizontal resolutions much more readily than different vertical resolutions and refresh rates. So I think it is probably less likely to cause a problem to the video circuitry than say, a resolution such as 800x600@60hz (which just won't work at all). But I'm not an expert on video circuitry - just an observation with my TV.

So I'd be tempted to try 1024x576, and I would hit the escape key quickly in powerstrip if it looks like it is not going to sync to the signal (so that it reverts back to the previous resolution immediately).

I'm not familiar with the TV model, but another option you may have is to supply a 576 progressive signal via component inputs (instead of scart) - which would improve picture quality. This would require a VGA to Component cable.

"another option you may have is to supply a 576 progressive signal via component "


MikeTv


Loewe CRT TV don´t accept a progressive signal trought Scart input, they accept a component signal but not progressive. The only way to fed a progressive signal is by means of the VGA input, and bypassing the progressive circuitry of the TV.


Olly

As for the chosen resolution I opt for the 1024X576 because it was the best suggestion from members of Powerstrip forum. At the Powestrip forum you can find a specific resolution /timing for the Aventos. It is an interlaced 1024X576.

As for the problem that I encountered , and the malfunction of the video circuitry I believe that the problem was that I fed a progressive signal. What I noticed from the begining was that the picture could not be steady, as if it was flickering rappidly and scrolling.


Once again be caution.


Best regards


Vasco

[MikeTV]

Originally Posted by vascovaz

Loewe CRT TV don´t accept a progressive signal trought Scart input, they accept a component signal but not progressive. The only way to fed a progressive signal is by means of the VGA input, and bypassing the progressive circuitry of the TV.

Agreed - you can't use SCART for progressive. Some TV's have separate inputs for component video - ie. not a scart connector or a VGA connector, but three inputs for Y, Pb, Pr (usually "phono" connectors), and it's these inputs that you would use for connecting progressive devices (such as DVD players, or an HTPC outputting a progressive signal from the VGA port. Hence the need for a VGA->Component cable).

Hi both of you. Thanks for the advice. The 32inch Aventos can accept progressive through the 3rd scart. It is a rare feature only avaliable on Loewe TV's.

The 28inch Loewes don't.

Vasco I am still worried as to why your Loewe blew up. Did you view your PC on your Loewe at start-up before Powerstrip starts? Before Powerstrip start, it feeds the TV all sorts of nasty signals.

Olly

You sould be worry

As for te progressive scan on te AV3, I trully believe you CAN´T do it, te AV3 input accepts component signal BUT not progressive; for instance,I ave a Loewe Centros DVD recorder and it output interlaced component signal to te AV3.

As for your question, wen I switc te PC I started to see - imediattly - te flickered image tat I mention. Te problem was also visible in te Sony tv, I believe I must ave messed wit a Powerstrip resolution, and I recall te signal fed was a progressive one (remember te TV only accepts interlaced). I ave an Articos 32 (at te moment in Loewe repair service )


Regards

Vasco

So you viewed your PC on your TV right from boot up. That is bad and that is what I think ruined your TV, your PC was sending it progressive signals(like you said) and god knows what are incompatible signals! I blew up a Philips this way through s-video! with a ATI Rage 128.

You should only turn on your TV AFTER Powerstrip has enabled(with the right safe settings), which is partly why people use VNC.

You are also right about the Loewe AV3, my mistake.

I have seen various threads regarding using the VGA to Scart cable for connecting PC to TV.

I have a Shuttle SN41G2 V3 with onboard Nvidia nForce2 IGP which I am using to connect via s-video to my Sony KV-28FX20U CRT TV.

Am I able to use the vga to scart cable with the Nvidia Drivers and powerstrip.

Cheers

[MikeTV]

Originally Posted by gozzy27

I have a Shuttle SN41G2 V3 with onboard Nvidia nForce2 IGP which I am using to connect via s-video to my Sony KV-28FX20U CRT TV.

Am I able to use the vga to scart cable with the Nvidia Drivers and powerstrip.

I can't see any reason why not. Just take care.

[stlic]

Originally Posted by MikeTV

I can't see any reason why not. Just take care.

nVidia cards do not support composite sync output meaning the above cable will not work, even with powerstrip. You can make another, more complicated, cable which will sync the signal by itself http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/c...v/circuit.html and that should work with an nVidia card.

nvidia=no composite sync, need circuit
ati=composite sync, need just a cable.

here is an idea....please tell me I am wrong.
I understand items like cable boxes etc output composite sync (needed for rgb scart)
*IF* you were making a chain as in cable box--->htpc tv tuner--->tv via rgb (as per the topic)
could you take the composite sync from the cable box and patch it as THE composite sync your graphics card needs to output? i.e. if you use nvidia, instead of building a circuit to create composite sync, use the composite sync you already have from the cable/sky box...and run that into your tv?
of course, the graphics card would need to be 100% in sync @50hz or whatever the cable box/sky box is outputting, but I would love to hear comments on this....

thoughts?

Thanks for the help do you know if anyone sells the cable you suggested Stlic???

I was also thinking of getting a yamaha RX357 reciever its got optical audio and composite inputs would a dvi to component cable work for connecting my PC to then outputting to a TV via component to scart.

If this does work is the quality a lot better than s-video??????

[SteveL]

Originally Posted by Werner

nvidia=no composite sync, need circuit
ati=composite sync, need just a cable.

here is an idea....please tell me I am wrong.
I understand items like cable boxes etc output composite sync (needed for rgb scart)
*IF* you were making a chain as in cable box--->htpc tv tuner--->tv via rgb (as per the topic)
could you take the composite sync from the cable box and patch it as THE composite sync your graphics card needs to output? i.e. if you use nvidia, instead of building a circuit to create composite sync, use the composite sync you already have from the cable/sky box...and run that into your tv?
of course, the graphics card would need to be 100% in sync @50hz or whatever the cable box/sky box is outputting, but I would love to hear comments on this....

thoughts?

Have definitely read about someone having success with this method, he took the sync signals from the scart output of his set-top box. Thought I'd read it on this thread but can't find it.

Will keep looking and post a link if I find it

Hi all. I just (finally) got around to making a VGA to RGB Scart cable of my own, and am mostly pleased with the results.
With the PC video processing, the picture often looks better than the Sky Digital original - funny how I never used to notice the image artifacts before!

I have had an occasional crash though - the "ATI VPU recovery" error, which then requires a reboot to get back to hardware rendering. I have seen forum posts where this happens on switching between full screen and windowed Media Player Classic, but I haven't been doing that. It has happened when I haven't been using the PC at all (it was simply displaying MediaPortal's front screen with no video playing).
Does anyone have any ideas on this one? I'd appreciate any suggestions - I have a AIW 9000, if it's relevant.

Incidentally, I found the Composite Out from the Sky Box to be very poor quality. The Sky Box doesn't output S-Video of course, but you can get a RGB Scart to S-Video converter (much easier than the other way around), which works out much better than Composite. I got mine from Keene Electronics.
Anyone know if direct RGB input is possible with any TV cards?

Cheers,

Ogadai

[groovyclam]

The SweetSpot card ( mentioned in this forum lots of times ) can take RGB input ( using the lead they supply at extra cost RGB->component )

SweetSpot card is NOT a hardware encoder though, so don't expect file captures at high compression.

Live picture viewing is beautiful though through DScaler4 software ( free ).

[David PluggedIn]

using the lead they supply at extra cost

or for you cable making enthusiasts then we can provide a wiring diagram