Getting audio to an amp from an NTL digital STB

[Mikeb_78]

Hi,

I've just had NTL digital installed, and I'm far more impressed than I thought I'd be.

However, the STB does not have phono sockets on the back allowing me to connect the digital box to my amp.

I *think* I've got a solution, but wanted to check if it would work before I bought the cable.

I've got the box daisy chained through my DVD player which is connected to the scart one on the TV.

So, the NTL box has a free scart socket on the back intended for the VCR.

Could I use a scart ->2x phono lead to hook the box up to my amp?

So, I'd have cable box->DVD player->TV

then. second scart on cable box going to two phonos in amp...

[sharkey0903]

Sounds like it would work to me.

In my case I dont use an amp but have tv audio signal / dvd player audio and ntl box audio to connect to my hifi. however the hifi only has one set of left and right inputs, instead of the three required.

I can hear you saying, so by an amp! It'll be worth it in the end! but for the time being is there any way of connecting all three audio outs into a selector type device and then having the selector plugged into my hifi, enabling me to simply flick a switch depending on if I want dvd / tv / ntl sound.


Also would like to add my pc into the equation making it a four way splitter however I think this will probably just complicate things a little too far!

has anyone done, heard of what i would like to do and if so what advice can you offer?

[Mikeb_78]

Originally posted by sharkey0903
is there any way of connecting all three audio outs into a selector type device and then having the selector plugged into my hifi,

Yes, there is. I got a switch box from maplin a while ago. On the back are four sets of phono sockets. One set goes to the hi-fi and you plug DVD, vcr etc into the other inputs.

It had four buttons to select which input you wanted.

It worked well.

However, in my case when I was using my hi-fi, I managed to get everything going through one set of phono leads to my hifi. I think it worked like this.

I have sky box->VCR and DVD->sky box.

Then VCR to TV.

I had the phono leads going from VCR to stereo. And whatever device I used, it seemed to route the sound to the vcr phonos and out to the hi-fi.

I'm not sure how this worked, but it did. So, I could use the DVD player, and because it was all interlinked with the vcr, I got the audio from the vcr phono sockets.

[sharkey0903]

Hmm interesting, sounds like my setup is similar so might give that a try later on, only downside is that my vcr is old and knackered, infact it used to be my parents one before they upgraded, its a mono player so possibly my best bet would be to get one of those switcher boxes, any ideas where i might find them online??

[Mikeb_78]

Could anyone else confirm what Sharkey and I think about hooking up the NTL stb to an amp?

See first post.

[sharkey0903]

Just tried using the spare scart socket on my ntl box with a scart to phono lead, plugged the phono end into my hifi and the scart end to the spare socket, and zip nada, no sound no joy my friend........... however then I unplugged the other scart connection that goes from ntl to tv, put the scart end of the scart phono lead into that socket and still nothing?



Either my scart to phono lead is knackered or you cant split the signal using one of these leads........

[Mikeb_78]

Damn... That's not good. Why NTL decided to use boxes with no phono sockets is beyond me.

I appriciate you trying that though.

Thanks. :)

[sharkey0903]

Any ideas as to what these are:

IR blaster out +5v DC
500mA max

and

Ir blaster remote +5v DC
50mA max


to little sockets on the back of the ntl box one above the other???


I'm sure there must be a way of splitting the audio and video signal that the box outputs, although knowing ntl i wondered be surprised if they just overlooked the fact that people are going to want to use them with an amp.

Ive got a mate who has his box linked up to his yamaha amp, i'll ask him how exactly he did it........

[blauchlan]

I use a Scart converter to RCA plug o/p (also has S/VHS skt) from the back of my box and it gives audio from both the vcr and tv skts (A lead should do the same trick). The only thing i can think that may be stopping you from getting yours to work is that you are using the i/p audio to tha STB instead of the o/p or if it has an ip/op switch like mine it is in the ip position. I hope this helps, if not post again and i will check out your problem further and do my best to help.
Also, are you in an ex-C&W NTL area or just NTL and do you know what box model you have. (Model number should be on a sticker underneath the STB)

:D

[sharkey0903]

:( Still no joy, just tried as you mentioned, with a scart to rca converter, scart in back of ntl box, either scart socket and still wont send sound to hifi.

Ntl box model number is DI4001NC and i'm in newport south wales which i think is an ex cable and wireless area.

Whats i/p and o/p, my box has no such switch..........

[blauchlan]

sharkey,

Newport is an NTL franchise/area and your box definately should work with the right leads or convertor.

In my last post i/p refers to input and o/p is output.

Most convertors have a switch to change between i/p and o/p (as the 2 audio skts along with the video will only function as one or the other).

If you use a scart to audio leads you should have a left and right i/p lead, and a left and right o/p lead to your RCA skts (Usually along with a video i/p and video o/p lead) That is what i use from my dvd to tv set and if connected to the wrong leads it wouldn't work.

Try swapping all your available leads one by one into your audio skt and see if thats the problem. If they're not marked up don't worry about damage to your kit just turn the volume down and if you connect the video lead (usually yellow) to audio you'll just get a humming sound.

Let me know how you get on, if it doesnt work give me more info on the exact bits of kit you're trying to connect up with.

[daveo]

Are these the new NTL Digital boxes then? My NTL Digital Pace box which is 6 months old has the phono outs for the sound.

Do you have the scart output selected in the menu settings maybe?

[Greenstead]

Are these the new NTL Digital boxes then? My NTL Digital Pace box which is 6 months old has the phono outs for the sound.

Ditto - my NTL digital STB has stero phono outs.

Don't you have phono outs on your telly - take those to your amp - thats what I do.
:cool:

[Phill]

Sharkey,

Scart sockets are bi-directional That is the audio in and audio outs are on different pins. My guess is that you've got a stereo phono to scart lead, not a scart to stereo phono lead.

There should be no problem with using a scart to phono lead. it should work fine.

All manner of switch boxes can be got from Maplins and beyond hi-fi.

[Squirtle]

Originally posted by Mikeb_78
Damn... That's not good. Why NTL decided to use boxes with no phono sockets is beyond me.

I appriciate you trying that though.

Thanks. :)

Cost cutting.

[sharkey0903]

Originally posted by Phill
Sharkey,

Scart sockets are bi-directional That is the audio in and audio outs are on different pins. My guess is that you've got a stereo phono to scart lead, not a scart to stereo phono lead.

There should be no problem with using a scart to phono lead. it should work fine.

All manner of switch boxes can be got from Maplins and beyond hi-fi.

I think you are probably right, my lead has an svideo, and left and right phono at the one end, going into a scart at the other.

Gonna pop down to maplins and pick me up a switch box, so that I can connect tv, ntl, dvd, and pc sound to my hifi. Cheers for the advice guys ;)


And my ntl box doesnt have any phono sockets, we've had two boxes for about 5 months.


O and Greenstead, I've tried using the two phono outs on my telly to go to the hifi, but then I get sound from my tv and a very small amount of sound from my hifi which is effected when you turn the tv volume up. Almost like the sound is leeking through, think it has something to do with the ntl box but cant be sure

[w_n_s]

This is what i use to output to my amp - on the back of the STB there is a video scart out and a TV-Scart out - the TV goes straight to the TV via scart but in the video out I have plugged in a scart to 3 phono adaptor - i then plug the L+R audio phono's of the scart adaptor into my amp!

simple:nuts: :nuts: