best PS2 display? costs of import tax?

[killing_floor]

Two main areas of advice sought -

what cost of import taxes get whacked on a PS2 ordered from outside the EC (of course, or it wouldn't cost anything) ?

what is best for the visual display (Japanese or Asian PS2)? My TV has both types of NTSC, so I should be able to use a regular PS2 SCART lead (RGB scart connector) ?
One of my scart sockets takes S-video ; should I use that instead ?

Is composite anything like the AV inputs? These are three jack-plugs, I used them for my PAL PS2 until I got a region-free disc for DVDmovies - then I plugged those 3 AVs into the provided scart converter (cause it said region 1 disks needed the RGB scart to display properly, or the screen goes green).

[Saurian]

Use an RGB cable such as this one from Logic 3:

http://www.gamesplanet.co.uk/Video-Games/PlayStation-2-Games/PlayStation+2/Logic+3+PlayStation+2+Scart+Cable/_/CLASS/Product/DBID/15b1408d8f9f1deb0a82681e8ca2c251/FORMAT/PS2

This cable has a switch to toggle composite (for DVD) and RGB (for game) as well as audio/video out.

One of my scart sockets takes S-video ; should I use that instead ?

S-Video is a step up from composite AV but not on the same league as an RGB display.

[C']

Is composite anything like the AV inputs? These are three jack-plugs, I used them for my PAL PS2 until I got a region-free disc for DVDmovies - then I plugged those 3 AVs into the provided scart converter (cause it said region 1 disks needed the RGB scart to display properly, or the screen goes green).

Plugging a composite (AV) cable into the SCART adaptor does not make the signal RGB.

[Naiera]

Get an official PS2 RGB Cable and get a Datel DVD Region X if you insist on using the PS2 to watch DVD's.

[Ginger Tosser]

what cost of import taxes get whacked on a PS2 ordered from outside the EC (of course, or it wouldn't cost anything) ?

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showpost.php?p=310756&postcount=28

Around ?40 so it seems

[killing_floor]

(for about the zillionth time this stupid thing logged me out while I was writing a post and claimed this thread wasn't a valid thread)


Thanks, but I don't need the DVD option for the import machine (if I can afford to import one, which I'll find out if someone posts what the tax costs are) - so the switches on the connector ain't something I need to pay extra for.

As for that stuff contradicting what the Region Free discs instructions have on them - I'm just trying to find out if the AV jack leads are the same as composite. If you buy a region free disk for the PS2 to play DVDs other than region 2 (UK and Japan standard) and region 0 (plays on any region) then it tells you to use a scart-rgb to connect up your console to the TV or it will play in green screen. I'd also seen various amazon reviews that moaned about the green screen thing. So, if you are right and region 1 disks play fine without the need to use scart-rgb then you should e-mail the people that make the region-free disks and tell them they know nothing, don't tell me, I don't make the disks.

example of a version (not the one I have) from amazon.co.uk -

" Product Description
Datel's DVD Region X lets you play import DVDs from any region on your PlayStation 2. No modifications to your console are needed--just load up the DVD Region X disc, select the region you require on screen, then sit back and watch your movie. DVD Region X also removes the "green screen" effect that normally occurs when you try to watch any DVD on a PlayStation 2 via SCART or RGB. Note: you will need a dedicated, formatted memory card to use this product; if you use an existing one your game-saves will be erased."

So maybe some of the related info. is wrong and what it meant to say was 'if you are already using scart-rgb THEN the screen will be green when you watch a DVD, but if you are using the AV inputs it's normal' - I haven't tried it.


So - composite leads, are the the same as AV leads? I never heard of 'composite' b4 I started looking into getting import consoles this year. The pictures of them aren't clear enough for me to see if the plugs are the same.


[since being logged-out - thankyou! ?40.00 is not that much considering what I was expecting it might be]

[Saurian]

So - composite leads, are the the same as AV leads? I never heard of 'composite' b4 I started looking into getting import consoles this year. The pictures of them aren't clear enough for me to see if the plugs are the same.

Composite AV on consoles is either via 3 phono cables or via SCART. SCART is not a signal or television standard as they make out in the confusing instructions you get, it's simply the name of the 21 pin connector.

This connector is very varsatile, it allows RGB, S video or composite AV -

Composite video is the video signal mixed into a single line which is then decoded by your TV, you lose clarity and colour definition, nothing has sharp edges - you also get a "dot-crawl" effect.

S Video is video split into chrominance and luminance, you get sharper edges and is a step up from composite video.

RGB is the raw components your TV needs to make an image supplied as separate lines, this way your image is very, very clear (similar to what your are looking at on your VGA monitor but at a lower res)

RGB cables are very cheap and for the increase in quality they provide they should be your first purchase.

[killing_floor]

PAL-60 must be best then, since you get faster scan rate plus the 625 lines. There are some advantages to being in the UK. Then HDTV takes over...

thanks for information.

[Saurian]

The PS2 will display PAL or NTSC depending on the software it's running (but never PAL60).

Back to display solutions - only component + progressive scan gives a better image than RGB on a TV, standard component is just about the same.

[killing_floor]

not again

I'm fed up with this ****. Just the other day on one of these import forums someone was all at me saying PAL-60 is what consoles are running, if they are NTSC but are playing on a PAL TV with NTSC capabilities. Now, going by what you're saying, I was right, so they were getting at me as if I was wrong.

I saw a mention of progressive scan in the import-faq section here, didn't read it, so I'll do that rather than ask what it is.

[killing_floor]

That gamesplanet link says it's a cable for PAL PS2 only (I went there 'cause I can't find an aracde-style-controller selling in the UK....) - is that just a standard advert comment? I am needing a connector for an Asian or Japanese PS2 console to plug into a UK TV, by one or more of means mentioned above.

[Saurian]

No you dont man - all PS2s have the same pinout on their video port.

Get yourself a PS2 RGB lead, the one I mentioned will be perfect for you - and do this test: Flick the switch on the cable between RGB and composite while you are playing a game on the machine and you will NEVER look back.

Come to NTSC-UK for advice and ignore the rest of the **** that you hear elsewhere, there is so much confusion do to a) Poor instructions written by ill-informed people and b) Idiots.

[anephric]

Prog-scan gives you a "cleaner" image (i.e. "no" scan lines) because it constructs and displays a complete raster with each refresh, not alternating lines (so you won't be able to see those annoying flickery scan-lines if playing in 60hz).

You'll need component-out for this tho (and a tv capable of component input: this is where it starts getting expensive).

I can't speak for PS2 prog-scan cos I've never tried it (and so can't be bothered) but Xbox prog-scan is lovely (if given to making some games' graphics tear-y).

Don't bother with 50hz (or PAL) prog scan: it's horrible...

[killing_floor]

I can't - I don't have a plasma or HDTV. I won't - faq says it's only X-Box and GC that do progressive-scan. So it doesn't affect me anyway.

[Firsty]

PAL60 isn't 625 lines, that's PAL50.
PAL is a method of coding the video. Using and RGB connection eliminates this coding, so the only variable is then a 50Hz or 60Hz signal. 60Hz updates faster, but has lower resolution. 50Hz conversely updates slower, but has higher resolution.