Scart to Component?

[Leon Retro]

I'm buying an LCD television - that doesn't have a Scart socket.

What's the cheapest way of converting Scart to Component?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[charlesr]

Only non-stupid price I can find is this: http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tv...converter.html
No idea what it's like. Would be quite interested to know if you end up getting one.

[gunrock]

This is cheaper and personal experience of the build and picture quality of JS Technology converters produce, is very positive.

Ebay (but it's new!)

That's a good price too, because they're usually 115 quid!

What's also nice about JS Tech units is that they don't rely on "wall-warts" for their power as they accept 230V mains via the figure-8 type power lead (the sort that the fat PS2/Xbox/Dreamcast used). Which also means that theres less fluctuation in power than you get with a typical cheap chinese powerbrick.

[Leon Retro]

Only non-stupid price I can find is this: http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tv...converter.html
No idea what it's like. Would be quite interested to know if you end up getting one.

Thanks for the link. I think the JS is the one to go for.

This is cheaper and personal experience of the build and picture quality of JS Technology converters produce, is very positive.

Ebay (but it's new!)

That's a good price too, because they're usually 115 quid!

What's also nice about JS Tech units is that they don't rely on "wall-warts" for their power as they accept 230V mains via the figure-8 type power lead (the sort that the fat PS2/Xbox/Dreamcast used). Which also means that theres less fluctuation in power than you get with a typical cheap chinese powerbrick.

I came across the JS unit yesterday - and it is expensive. ?50 is a great price - so I think I'll buy one.

Thanks for letting me know.

[gunrock]

np. Hope it works out for you.

The only thing I will say is that it won't do composite/svideo to component conversion. That is, any scart that's not a RGB wired or the device, like the PAL N64, only puts out composite (or s-video) then it won't work.

But seeing as you're a long standing member of these fine boards, I doubt that's the case, is it now?

[Leon Retro]

np. Hope it works out for you.

The only thing I will say is that it won't do composite/svideo to component conversion. That is, any scart that's not a RGB wired or the device, like the PAL N64, only puts out composite (or s-video) then it won't work.

But seeing as you're a long standing member of these fine boards, I doubt that's the case, is it now?

Composite all the way .... to the dump

My N64 U.S version is RGB( I'm hardcore )

Can't think of any console I've got that isn't RGB.

Anyway, I will be buying that JS device. Cheers!

[Lyris]

The JS device is supposed to do the trick nicely.
Out of interest, what TV are you buying that doesn't have a SCART socket? I want to send a letter of congratulations to the manufacturer

[charlesr]

My TV didn't have a scart socket. I had to buy one and plug it in

Then again, the only thing it came with was composite/svideo/VGA (panny plasma panel). Had to buy component and hdmi too.

[fallenangle]

On a similar subject: for several years I've been wanting to connect up my DC to my preferred TV by means other than RGB SCART. A design quirk means that it doesn't support PAL60 or RGB at 60Hz through SCART. On top of this with the DC, and only the DC, I get what I think are scaling artifacts at 50Hz with both RGB SCART and S-Video.

So, as I have YPbPr (Component) too I thought about 2 solutions:

1). using a DC VGA lead/box > VGA to Component transcoder.

or

2). using a RGB SCART to Component converter.

Solution (1) is more expensive as there aren't that many alternatives to the costly Audio Authority (rather cheap looking) transcoder. KeyDigital is the only other make I've found. And what about picture quality? I'd get 480p but would it really be that much better than 480I via solution (2) using a converter like the JST one mentioned above.

I suppose what I'm asking is whether anybody here has had experience with any VGA to Component converter?

[Lyris]

I used the Key Digital transcoder (KT-VTCA3 I think?) and the quality was fantastic, I seem to remember it gave a slightly red-tinted picture though. Depending on your TV, that could be calibrated out.

Using VGA for the source would be much better, because it avoids interlacing/deinterlacing.

[fallenangle]

Thanks for the info on the KeyDigital transcoder. I read elsewhere about the red-shift it can give but I'd suspect I could deal with that but it is a definite negative point against that particular solution.

But the second solution, RGB SCART to Component, surely doesn't involved any deinterlacing. at least with the CRT I should have said I'm using. The RGB SCART to Component converter doesn't deinterlace does it? The format changes but it gives the same input/output 480i or 576i.

[Lyris]

But the second solution, RGB SCART to Component, surely doesn't involved any deinterlacing. at least with the CRT I should have said I'm using.

Ah, you're using a CRT

In that case, it will be fine and dandy. No, the transcoder doesn't deinterlace as far as I know.

[gunrock]

Thanks for the info on the KeyDigital transcoder. I read elsewhere about the red-shift it can give but I'd suspect I could deal with that but it is a definite negative point against that particular solution.

But the second solution, RGB SCART to Component, surely doesn't involved any deinterlacing. at least with the CRT I should have said I'm using. The RGB SCART to Component converter doesn't deinterlace does it? The format changes but it gives the same input/output 480i or 576i.

The JST just takes a 480/576i signal RGB signal and converts it to component (a fairly simple equation and easily implemented with little loss). So what you'd get would be a component signal at 480/576i at 60 or 50hz (depending on what was input). So it should do the job.

Your vga based solution won't work unless your TV accepts a progressive signal (which sounds doubtful, what with it being a CRT).

[fallenangle]

It does (JVC HD32P37) one of less than a handful of UK 'HD' CRTs which were available up until about 3 years ago. Can give 480p/576p/1080i through its component inputs but has that annoying design quirk meaning it can't handle a UK DC's PAL60 output at all through RGB SCART as at 60Hz it defaults to composite. Something to do with the trigger voltage on SCART pin 16 so I've been told.

However using DC-X I can force it to 60 Hz through SCART as the TV is NTSC compliant but the result, although very acceptable, is only composite. S-Video doesn't have these problems but PQ is not much better than composite hence my interest in getting the DC running at its highest possible PQ through the component inputs alongside my XBox/GC/PS2.

I suspect the only way of finding out which solution is best is to try both but I can't afford to do that that. The cost involved would also mean it would make more sense to dump the whole idea of using that TV with the DC and buying a cheap used PC 19" CRT monitor for use with a DC VGA lead/box.

Oh the agonies of choice when you're on a limited budget

[gunrock]

Oh the agonies of choice when you'e on a limited budget :-(

Oh tell me about it, brother....