Quality When Passing DVD SCART Through Sky+

[RogueWolf]

Apologies in advance if I've posted this in the wrong section

I have a new LCD TV with two SCART sockets, only one of which is RGB. Both my Sky+ box and DVD player output RGB signals so I've passed the DVD player through the Sky+ box to the RGB SCART input on the TV. Does anyone know if I am losing any DVD quality by doing this?

 

[Andy98765]

The simple answer is yes. Does your DVD player have component output?
Simply get an upscaling DVD player, they are so cheap these days.

 

[RogueWolf]

Yes, but why? Does the Sky+ input not pass through an RGB signal?

The DVD player does have component output but I'm using the TV's component input for an Xbox 360 and I want to avoid having to swap cables.

I am planing on buying an upscaling player but as I've only just paid out for the TV I'm going to have to wait a while and was looking for an option which would tide me over until then.

 

[mjcairney]

Yes, but why? Does the Sky+ input not pass through an RGB signal?

Simple - because only scart 1 on the Sky+ box is RGB enabled, scart 2 being composite only.

Cheers,

Martin.

 

[RogueWolf]

That's what I suspected, thanks for the confirmation Martin. It looks like I'll have to put up with a lower quality picture on one of the devices until I get an upscaling player.

 

[Tesla]

Martin, you are wrong.

The VCR scart socket on the Sky box can accept an RGB input and pass this straight through to the TV scart socket and then up to the TV. The VCR scart socket cannot output RGB though.

So your DVD picture will be in RGB assuming you have set the DVD player to output RGB in it's settings.

As for quality difference, you're the best judge of that. Plug it directly into the TV and then also via the Sky box and see what you think.

 

[Kevo]

Or a 'component swith box' for your Xbox 360 and DVD.

 

[mjcairney]

Martin, you are wrong.

The VCR scart socket on the Sky box can accept an RGB input and pass this straight through to the TV scart socket and then up to the TV. The VCR scart socket cannot output RGB though.

So your DVD picture will be in RGB assuming you have set the DVD player to output RGB in it's settings.

As for quality difference, you're the best judge of that. Plug it directly into the TV and then also via the Sky box and see what you think.

If I'm wrong, and you do sound very positive on the point, then I apologise for dishing out false information, but must admit that this is the first time I have ever heard that the Sky box can accept an RGB input signal on scart 2.

Cheers,

Martin.

 

[Andrew_arkless]

Martin, you are wrong.

The VCR scart socket on the Sky box can accept an RGB input and pass this straight through to the TV scart socket and then up to the TV. The VCR scart socket cannot output RGB though.

So your DVD picture will be in RGB assuming you have set the DVD player to output RGB in it's settings.

As for quality difference, you're the best judge of that. Plug it directly into the TV and then also via the Sky box and see what you think.

This is correct, the box can pass through RGB but only outputs RGB on the main SCART1.

 

[Kevo]

Wouldn't there be a problem if you wanted watch a DVD and use the Sky+ box (say for recording) at the same time? i.e. you wouldn't be able watch a DVD? Or does the last device (DVD) in the chain have priority?

Because of this I never liked daisy chaining as somewhere down the line there would be a conflict.

It's quite common for the 'vcr scart' on any digital stb, Sky, cable or Freeview to have RGB in. Even my Panasonic VCRs from the early 90s had RGB passthru via SCART

 

[JayCee]

Wouldn't there be a problem if you wanted watch a DVD and use the Sky+ box (say for recording) at the same time? i.e. you wouldn't be able watch a DVD? Or does the last device (DVD) in the chain have priority?

The Sky+ is recording from its tuner input...this has no bearing on its scart output so there is no conflict...the DVD playing at the same time is not a problem.

 

[Kevo]

Right

I assume if you want to watch Sky then you have to turn the DVD player off(?)

I know a mate of mine had problems when he tried a similar set up, but as his DVD player would always stay in standby mode which was enough to override his digibox. In the end he had to fit an in-line mains switch on the DVD to cut it's power completely he could watch from his digi box (NTL cable in this case).

 

[Andrew_arkless]

Right

I assume if you want to watch Sky then you have to turn the DVD player off(?)

I know a mate of mine had problems when he tried a similar set up, but as his DVD player would always stay in standby mode which was enough to override his digibox. In the end he had to fit an in-line mains switch on the DVD to cut it's power completely he could watch from his digi box (NTL cable in this case).

Yes this is the case with mine, the source connected to Scart2 overrides SKY+

 

[JayCee]

Yes this is the case with mine, the source connected to Scart2 overrides SKY+

That's normal behaviour and the way it's supposed to work.