What's the cheapest way to convert S-Video to Component?

[Brian Kendig]

The formatter board on my projector is failing. S-Video develops terrible wavy lines, but Component video is perfectly sharp (for now).

What's the cheapest converter I can get get to connect my S-Video stuff to Component inputs?

I don't need high-quality; anything would be better than what I've got now, and the repairs to my projector as well as the cost of a new projector are both around $1200-1300.

So far I've found this for $140; is there anything cheaper out there?

[Liam @ Prog AV]

In the UK Lektropaks.co.uk do one which I've used fine to convert CCTV output (CVBS or S-VIDEO I can't remember) to component to fit onto a component distribution system. Was about £80 or so

[Brian Kendig]

Thanks! I'll look into that, but I'm definitely looking for something available in the US, and which can handle NTSC.

[Brian Kendig]

I think I've found an answer. Walmart sells DVD recorders for as cheap as $50 which can accept an S-Video input and provide Component outputs to the TV. I'm assuming that it can upscale the signal (it wouldn't make sense to not be able to view an S-Video signal it's recording).

I figure the quality on these units is probably dirt, but it would tide me over as a cheap upscaler for now!

[Liam @ Prog AV]

Test this first - some cheapo recorders I have seen add in a big lump of delay between getting the signal in and passing it back out again!!!

[Brian Kendig]

Never mind this - turns out all of the el cheapo upconverting DVD players and recorders I see on Target.com and Walmart.com will only upconvert to the HDMI output!

D'oh!