SCART to S-VHS? Is this possible?

[popabawa]

I've just got my loverlee new NAD T751 which is all fabulous and sounds excellent but I'm having a problem with the video switching with my ITV digi box.

The digi box only has a SCART outpit which was previously connected directly to the SCART input on my TV. The amp has a S-VHS input.

I bought a S-VHS to SCART lead but it didn't work. I guess these things are directional? i.e. S-VHS (output) to SCART (input).

Is there such a thing as a SCART (output) to S-VHS (input) lead so I use the video switching? If so, any ideas where to get one?

Many thanks.

[ivj]

Not sure about ITV Digital but Sky Digital doesn't output in S-video only RGB and Composite which could be the problem.

Even if it did output S-video you could use an S-video - scart lead (as I did on my DVD) but it will not provide switching as pin 8 on the scart which is for switching would not be wired.

Why not use RGB scart from digibox to TV as before and phono outputs from digibox to the amplifier for the sound.

Ian

[APPRIA40WR]

www.lektropacks.co.uk sell switching boxes.

There's no s-video (SVHS only applies to VCRs) on the Sky system so you'll have to be satisfied with composite to the amp or -as I do with my DVD- run a cable straight to the TV (RGB SCART if you can) and use the amp as a sound source only.

Not sure exactly what your problem is though so post again and I'll help if I can.

[dochall]

The scart to s-vhs lead is directional but it also depends whether the scart is capable of producing S-video (not all boxes are and I don't know the ITV digibox.

Presuming not but it is capable of supporting RGB you can by a scart (rgb) to s-video connector, there around £60.
I have my tivo running into a 3802 using it.


keene electronics sell them.

[popabawa]

I'm not sure I explained myself particularly well....

The ITV digi box has a SCART output which I want to connect to one of the video inputs of my amp. I'm calling this a S-VHS connection but I'm not sure if that's right! It's the small round connector with 4 pins.

The amp then has an output to the TV S-VHS (small round connector with 4 pins) to SCART.

What I want to happen is that when I press the 'VIDEO 1' button on my amp remote, it switches to the audio and video from the DVD and when I press the 'VIDEO 2' button, it switches to the audio and video from the ITV digi box.

The DVD

[dochall]

Two more questions:

1) What amp?

2) Are you saying the tv does not have a S-video socket?

[popabawa]

Hi Dochall,

Thanks for your help.

The amp is a NAD T751.

The TV doesn't have a S-Video in or out.

I think I might be confusing as I'm maybe not using the right terminolgy! I want the amp to act as a video and audio switching box. So, building on my last post....

The output is from the amp's video out (S-Video) to the TV in (SCART 1), I have my DVD player set up to input to the amps Video 1 input (S-Video OUT from the DVD player to the S-Video IN on the amp).

When I select 'VIDEO 1' on the amp remote, the switching works fine for the DVD player (input to Video 1 on the amp, sound via a digital co-ax), when I switch to 'VIDEO 2', it switches the sound (which goes to the amp via phono leads from the ITV digi box) but no picture (via the lead to Video 2 I described in my first post).

I can (and have at the moment) got the ITV digi box connected to the second SCART input on the TV but this requires using the TV remote to select THAT input for the TV and the amp remote to select the correct audio input, which negates the cool feature on the amp to be able to switch audio AND video with one button.

I've just discovered thisproduct (http://www.hifibitz.co.uk/Warehouse/details.asp?ProductID=QEDAV1120) which is a SCART (out) to S-Video, but is this dependant on the ITV digi box producting an RGB signal? I'm really not sure what an RGB signal is I'm afraid...

[dochall]

No your terminology is fine.

Scart can support three types of video signal. They are in order of preference quality wise:

1) RGB
2) S-video
3) Composite

Like a pipeline could carry gas or oil or milkshake.


Usually you have a configuration option in the setup to change the video standard that is output via the scart. If your digibox was capable of producing S-video you could you the cable you have found.

Having a quick look at the reviews of the digiboxes on home cinema choice suggests that they do support RGB and composite but not s video.

So you need to:

1) Have a read of the digibox manual you should find somewhere in the setup the ability to switch the output on the scart from composite to RGB. (Interestingly the review I read mentioned that the RGB output was far superior)

2) Buy either:

this (http://www.keene.co.uk/pages/cat/13con/131-4.html) or

this (http://www.rgbtosvideo.com)

3) Plug a fully wired scart cable into the digibox and into the converter you bought in step 2

4) Plug a standard svideo lead from the converter to the amp.


You now have s-video going into the amp. The amp will then be able switch from the dvd to the digibox and back.


This is the same setup as I have with my Tivo and it works fine. You will lose the ability to automatically switch aspect ratio's however as s-video doesn't carry the signal

Hope this explains it in enough detail, if not feel free to email me.

Regards
Dave

[yee_har]

If you go this route then consider this "correct direction" option from beyondhifi (http://www.beyondhifi.net/shopping/Products.asp?CatID=103)


About these "Sky Digital can't output S-Video" comments - doesn't it depend on the box?
My recent Grundig has a pukka "S-Video Out" socket
Apologies if I've misinterpreted.

[dochall]

Originally posted by yee_har
About these "Sky Digital can't output S-Video" comments - doesn't it depend on the box?
My recent Grundig has a pukka "S-Video Out" socket
Apologies if I've misinterpreted.

Absolutely but the variation in on whoops ITV digiboxes appears to be far less than Sky.

[Beddie]

To save you any more effort, ITV digital boxes do NOT output SVideo, only composite and RGB.

Unless you know different.... (in Esther Rantzen voice)

[popabawa]

Thanks for all your patient explanation, much appreciated.

I didn't realise that just because a lead fits in all the right holes, that doesn't mean it will work!

I'll review all the above info. when I have a quiet moment, but I think I'm limited to a composite video plus RCA lead.