Component driving me crazy

Hello everyone this is my first thread and I could really use your expertise.

My current setup is that I have a scart box with a Sky digi box, Xbox and Playstation plugged in; finally a scart cable connects this box up to my tv. I now have a projector and want the best picture but also a setup that is as hassle free as possible. With this in mind I bought the following cable:

Scart to RGBS http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/PGV7410.html

I thought that if I has this I would simply replace the scart cable connecting the scart box to the tv with this one connecting the scart box to the projector. However this was bought before my projector arrived and this turned out to be a huge mistake, the projector did not have the required rca sockets for the cable (stupid I know).

Dismayed I then looked through forums and heard that a component connection could be made through a vga connector and so I bought the following:

Hama RGB Scart to 15 Pin HD VGA found near the bottom of this page:
http://www.beststuff.co.uk/specialist_rgb_leads.htm

When this arrived I tried it on a friends projector (an Epson) I connected it up to his digi box (not sky some other type) and it said that the signal was not supported. Confused I contacted the web site for advice and was told that this cable is only of any use when progressive scan is enabled; and as sky and my consoles cannot do this the cable is useless.

I could really use your advice, can I make use of a conponent connection that does not require progressive scan or am I doomed to s-video?

Can no one offer any advice??

[Ivojo]

Which projector are you using?

[Joe Fernand]

Hello jonbest

01. Stop buying random cables - it gets expensive

02. Component Video - S-Video, YUV and RGB (Various Flavours) are all component video signals; they all split a video signal into constituent parts and deliver the signal over a multi core cable.

03. 'Component' video in Home Theatre land - as RGB is not used often in the US then YUV has been adopted as meaning 'Component' by most Home Theatre manufacturers.

04. YUV into VGA(HD15) - not all HD15(VGA) sockets are YUV compatible - the majority are not and only accept RGBHV 'PC' signals.

05. SKY, X-Box, PS2 - all of these devices output RGB on SCART as standard. The X-Box and PS2 can Output YUV with suitable adapter cables.

You have two choices if you want to connect your kit via YUV to your Projector - both options require that you employ at least one RGB2YUV converter box in your system; JS Technology provide a very high quality converter at £145.00.

If you stick with all three sources outputting RGB on SCART into a suitable SCART switcher (B-tech Quintro) you can add the RGB2YUV converter to the Output of the SCART switcher and then a single 3RCA to 3RCA 'Component' Video cable up to the projector.

or

Add the relevant YUV 'Component' Video cable packs to the X-Box and PS2 plus add the RGB2YUV converter to the output of the SKY Box and then use a suitable 'YUV' Switcher - many AV Receivers have multiple YUV Inputs - if you don't have that facility you can add the likes of a Zektor HDS4 programmable switcher to your set-up.

The second option may be beneficial as the YUV kits for the X-Box and PS2 offer you a higher quality signal than the SCART RGB signal normally outputs.

Either way its going to cost a few quid and you also need to ensure your projector is YUV compatible.

On top of the above if you also want to integrate a TV its going to get slightly trickier (unless your TV is also YUV compatible).

As Ken says What Projector? - though also What TV? and What AV Receiver?.

Best regards

Joe

The projector is a BenQ PB2250 DLP Projector XGA. I understand now that I have been naive to think that it would be a simple cable. I mean i'm not looking to spend lots of money I thought that getting an rgb picture to a projector would be relatively simple. Maybe a scart to s-video cable would be the cheapest/simplest soloution. Still any more imput or suggestions from anyone is very welcome

[ZippyCat]

A Scart to S-Video cable would not work because Sky Digiboxes do not output S Video via SCART, you would need to convert the signal first.

Really? Whats the point of a scart to s-video cable then? I thought the cable would convert the signal somehow. This is really confusing, I can't believe the amount of hassle this has been. What chance do noobs like me have if this cable can't do what its name suggests

[Maff et1]

You need to member there are 2 things going on, there is the shape of the connector and the type of signal.

Some boxes will output an s-video signal on their scart socket (connector). This cable will take that s-video signal and present it as an s-video connector. It doesn't create the s-video signal, only change the physical connector. Sky boxes don't output that s-video signal so this cable will not work.

The cheapest solution is to use composite. It's also the worst picture quality, however your PJ will support it and each of your sources will handle it.

[Joe Fernand]

Hello all

jonbest - STOP! Your doing it again (as others have pointed out); unless you want to add to your 'not required' cable collection

SCART sockets can output Composite, S-Video, YUV and RGB video signals - its down to your hardware manufacturer to choose to implement one some or all of these signals.

A SKY box only outputs Composite and RGB on SCART.

A SKY+ box additionally Outputs S-Video on a separate 4 pin mini din S-Video socket.

A SCART to S-Video cable only works if S-Video is actually being output on the source devices SCART socket - if not you require an RGB2S-Video converter (£75.00 + cables); again JS Technology provide this type of converter.

I'll have a look this evening at the spec of your projector and come back to you with options - unless someone else fancy's doing it sooner

Best regards

Joe

Thanks for the info, I didn't know about manufacturers deciding which signals to use. That explains a lot. Do you know if the playstation or xbox allow s video signals.

Also is there some sort of device that can convert signals into higher definition formats? I don't suppose this is possible but I thought i'd ask.

Thanks for the continued help people, I really appreciate it.

Theres one thing that is really confusing me though. As I said in the first post I have my sky/consoles connected to the tv through a scart box. The scart cable conecting the box to the tv is just a standard rgb scart to scart cable.

This means that the sky and the consoles can all use an rgb signal. So why is there no cable that is scart to 15 pin sub (vga) that will carry that same rgb signal and does not require progressive scan or any hd signal in order to use it?

If such a cable existed that would solve all my problems. A simple scart to vga that will carry an rgb signal.

Thats why I bought the second cable (see earlier post) but sadly that needed progressive scan to be active. All I need is the same type of cable that does not require progressive scan to be on.

Hope all that made sense. Does anyone know if such a cable is available?

[Joe Fernand]

jonbest

The reason the SCART to HD15(VGA) cable failed is nothing to do with Interlaced vs. Progressive (well not entirely).

Your SCART equipped sources are Outputting RGB+ Composite sync at 15.6Khz - a video signal.

The majority of HD15(VGA) sockets are designed to accept an RGBHV (separate Horizontal and Vertical sync) signal from a PC at 30Khz and above.

Some HD15(VGA) Input sockets will accept an RGBHV signal at 15.6Khz and some HD15(VGA) sockets will accept an RGB+Composite sync signal - again its down to individual manufacturers to decided what signals they want to work with or not.

Assuming you have a SCART equipped source and an HD15(VGA) equipped Display that's designed to accept RGB+Composite sync at 15.6Khz the cable you purchase will work!

Best regards

Joe

Hope this info helps:

According to the manual this is the vga input:

RGB input D-sub 15-pin (female)

Unfortunatly I cannot list the frequencies but I can direct you to the manual.
It has all the frequencies and such listed there.

http://www.benq-eu.com/ServiceAndSup...uct=657&type=M

I hope this helps as I don't understand what it all means. Once again thanks for the great help your giving me. Also the website that I bought the second cable from has next to it:

DVD players or any other source device connected to screens using this lead need to be set to output in progressive scan, otherwise the lead will not work. Signal is directional from the Scart to the VGA plug.

Joe fernand do you think that this item would help me out with my problem? Or is it not suitable?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QED-Q-SYNC-RGB...QQcmdZViewItem

[Joe Fernand]

Hello jonbest

Your Projector is compatible with a range of YUV Interlaced and Progressive signals - both Standard and High Definition on its HD15(VGA) socket.

What you require to make you SCART RGB equipped sources work with the Projector is an RGB2YUV converter plus a 3RCA to HD15(VGA) cable.

For the converter I'd recommend a JS Technology unit - see http://www.js-technology.com/product...47df497d99a5a5

For the 3RCA to HD15 cable I'd recommend a VanDamme Mini Red Series cable at whatever length you require - you can go up to 15m with this cable without problems.

The above solution assumes all of your sources are set to Output RGB on SCART and your SCART switcher is RGB compliant on all of its Inputs.

Your connectivity will be as follows:

Source(s) > SCART switcher > RGB2YUV converter > Projector HD15 (VGA) Input.

As per a previous message there is an alternative connectivity plan you can use that will include a YUV switcher plus suitable YUV cable sets for some or all of your games consoles.

Best regards

Joe