[skidu]

I recently brought a new projector that lacks any scart inputs therefore it seems I can't hook up my sd skybox with the need of a pricey converter?(scart>component)

I was therfore looking to purchase a Freesat box w/hdmi instead. I was intinally drawn to the Humax HD model for £119 but after reading reports of poor SD performance just wondering if there's any better alternatives (possibly the technisat or even the cheaper bush HD model)

The box will be primary used for watching the F1, hence upscaling performance is important.

Thanks.

[grahamlthompson]

Can you clarify what inputs the projector has and if as presumably it's a HD model what the native resolution is ?. Like any HD TV the projector will have it's own scaler which will scale any input that is not at the native resolution. It's more than likely the projector will have a better scaler than most boxes anyway. Freesat HD boxes will output SD TV at it's native 576i over hdmi anyway.

[skidu]

2xHDMI, Component, S-Video and VGA iirc. Btw is it possible to just buy a scart>component cable for hooking up the skybox? I just remember reading a thread saying it wouldn't be possible as the signal would need to be converted to RGB?

[grahamlthompson]

Originally Posted by skidu

2xHDMI, Component, S-Video and VGA iirc. Btw is it possible to just buy a scart>component cable for hooking up the skybox? I just remember reading a thread saying it wouldn't be possible as the signal would need to be converted to RGB?

You don't say what the resolution is. A Foxsat-HD will give you 576i, 576p, 720p and 1080i over hdmi. Using component in freesat mode you get 576i but in non-freesat mode you can get 1080i from BBC HD. Generic fta HD sat boxes will normally output 1080i from a HD source over component. You can't convert RGB to component without an active converter. A few stb's will output component using the RGB connections from a scart socket (The Topfield 5800 for instance).

[elliotskywalker]

dont forget your sound...is it going to a seperate av reciever or to the tv direct....you may need an optical and or rca audio leads

as the hdmi connection carries both video/audio you will need a av amplifier/reciever

[skidu]

All sorted, ended up buying a S350 DVB-S PCI card in the end (Only £25 and doubles up as a nice PVR). Was actually really impressed with the picture quality - noticeably better then my old skybox when A-Bing them on my LCD.