DVDO iSCAN VP30

[seiko]

I've been mulling over the idea of purchasing a scaler for a while and have posted a few times before. Unfortunately I'm really coming at it from the wrong angle in terms of current equipment and cant decide. I have a Sony KF42SX300 RP LCD tv capable of accepting RGB scart, Svideo or VGA. My Sony Dav SR1 DVD player can output in RGB Scart as can my NTL pace box. Logic would dictate for me to swap the TV first but with the wife ever present I can't justify swapping my TV or DVD yet so I was thinking this could be the first step in improving my picture quality.

In short, is it possible to feed the VP30 feeds from my current hardware and more importantly feed a signal to the Sony RP albeit SD? If so what cables/connections and scaler output would I need?

Any advice to a new comer would be very welcome.

[binbag]

With your current setup I'd look at picking up a used Iscan HD. 2 went for about £300 in the classifieds last week. A good intro to scalers they are (relatively) easy to learn and give a great image over VGA. The main drawback is that there is no route to progress when you eventually go to a HDCP digital display.

[linkster]

As someone who recently bought an HD (and am very happy with the result!) could I please just pick up on your point and ask what I am losing by having my HD feed a Z4 projector via VGA? (Z4 only has HDMI as digital input). I thought HDCP was all about copy protection, why does it mean a better picture than component?

[ansallar]

Your right, dont worry about picture quality the HDCP has no effect
on it .. other than the rather drastic you wont get any picture at all
if your viewing device attached your Iscan doesnt do HDCP decryption
and you try to feed it a HDCP flagged source.

[binbag]

Originally Posted by linkster

As someone who recently bought an HD (and am very happy with the result!) could I please just pick up on your point and ask what I am losing by having my HD feed a Z4 projector via VGA? (Z4 only has HDMI as digital input). I thought HDCP was all about copy protection, why does it mean a better picture than component?

When I went from DVI to VGA between my HD and Screenplay 4805 I traded image clarity and a wide choice of resolution choices to an image that looked more like my old CRT pj's and I'm pretty much stuck with 800x600 @ 49Hz as a working resolution - if it didn't look so darn good I'd get the DVI sorted out

VGA in has to be output as VGA out on the HD too.

I think the assumption that a digital connection is always better than an analogue has been laid to rest by now - even though its largely true on the cheaper kit. FWIW I use SDI for DVD and RGBs for Sky (even though I have a modded Sky+) so I've a foot in both camps and remain HDCP free.

[norge]

Does the DVDO iScan VP30 SDi has an input for scart RGB? I think not...that is the best output with which I can feed the scaler...else I have to choose composite. Any reccommadations....may be first feeding the video the signal through a QED scart to component converter?

Thanks

[ailean]

Originally Posted by norge

Does the DVDO iScan VP30 SDi has an input for scart RGB? I think not...that is the best output with which I can feed the scaler...else I have to choose composite. Any reccommadations....may be first feeding the video the signal through a QED scart to component converter?

Thanks

You need a Scart to RGBs cable (seperate phono plugs for Red Green Blue and Sync), then plug that into one of the two Component inputs on the Vp30 using the seperate Sync socket next to it for the forth plug.

QED do one with analogue audio L/R (AV19) and Profigold, Keene and others do them with just the RBGs plugs.

[norge]

Thanks so the cable you are refering to is simply to make the connection...not the qed box that converts scart to component....as they say it...'RGB' scart video signal output from these devices and converting it into high quality 'Y/U/V' component video signal.

[ansallar]

Thats right its the cable .. no need for a convertor box .. as long as the source device does output of RGB on the scart socket.

This is a man speaking from bitter experience when trying to hookup Sky+ to my VP30 and using a scart to vga convertor box before feeding to the VP30 .. a bit of a wasted effort .. though with some nice help from the suppliers things got sorted.

[ailean]

Originally Posted by norge

Thanks so the cable you are refering to is simply to make the connection...not the qed box that converts scart to component....as they say it...'RGB' scart video signal output from these devices and converting it into high quality 'Y/U/V' component video signal.

The VP30 is already capable of high quality RGB convertion so no need for a seperate box, all you need is to connect the Red Green Blue and composite Sync pins from the source box Scart output to the correct inputs on the VP30(the two component inputs will except a number of different formats including RGBs which is what Scart uses).

If you need the Analogue sound L/R from the Scart too then the only cable I've found is the QED AV19 (shop around as it's expensive).

If the source has seperate digital audio output then get one of the cheaper 4 phone (video only) cables like the Profigold PGV7405 . There are others doing these cables you just need to make sure it has 4 phono plugs (not 3) and mentions "SCART to RGB plus Composite Sync" as there are lots of variations that won't work.

[norge]

Thanks for all the info....when you mention composite synch is this what we refer by composite video of which it is marked yellow?

[ailean]

Originally Posted by norge

Thanks for all the info....when you mention composite synch is this what we refer by composite video of which it is marked yellow?

It's the same pins on the Scart socket yes. There are many ways of providing a sync signal when using RGB video, in the UK when you talk about RGB Scart you're actually talking about RGBs (RGB + Sync) where the sync signal is carried on seperate pins from the RGB signal and the pins used are the same as Composite video (normally the single yellow phono plug/socket) hence it's referred to as Composite Sync.

I believe in some parts of Europe they use RGsB with Scart, where the sync signal is actually mixed in with the Green signal, this only requires 3 phonos (PC VGA use RGBHV which has separate sync signal for Horz and Vert so is five plugs, normally BNC rather then phono).

On some equipment you would actually use the normal Composite Video socket to feed in the Sync when connecting RGBs but on the VP30 they actually provide a separate socket next to each Component input so you don't loose a Video input.

It's all very confusing and I picked most of the above up the hard way (i.e. buying the wrong cables ).

[welwynnick]

Originally Posted by ailean

It's all very confusing and I picked most of the above up the hard way (i.e. buying the wrong cables ).

Going back in time I did it the wrong way by buying the wrong video processor!

Nick

[Joe Fernand]

Hello all

linkster - the only 'potential' drawback with the all analogue route is where some of the content you want to view is only available via an HDMI (HDCP) source signal - then you can only output the processed signal on HDMI.

norge - as others have said there are Two RGB SCART compatible Inputs on a VP30 and you definitely want to avoid any form of signal 'pre processing' before you get the signal to the VP30.

You should also consider now or later the ABT102D 'upgrade' as it makes a big old difference with your 576i and 480i source signals.

Best regards

Joe

[tommo2]

Hello all
Just to get this straight...
Does a normal sky sd box output RGBs via scart???
I always thought it outputted composite video via scart...
If this is true... (and i hope it is).... then input this directly to vp30 should work wonders...
Interseting... hmmm