Question:
My Dad has a TV with only 2 scart sockets, but already has a video and sky connected. Is there any way of connecting a dvd player, without having to use an adapter that you have to switch manually between devices?
Many thanks
PJ
Get a DVD player with twin scarts and RGB passthrough. Then connect the DVD to the TV and the sky box to the DVD player :)
connect sky to the tv, video to sky... auto-switching will still work fine.
connect your dvd directly to the tv in the now available scart socket.
only flaw is you might have to run the sky box in composite (not RGB mode) on some TVs with only one RGB capable scart.
nice and simple for your Dad to use though.
Thanks, I'll give it a go.:)
Ever thought about buying a scart switch? Only cost around a tenner and are on sale in most electrical stores eg. Currys, Dixons, etc...
Originally posted by MartinC
connect sky to the tv, video to sky... auto-switching will still work fine.
connect your dvd directly to the tv in the now available scart socket.
only flaw is you might have to run the sky box in composite (not RGB mode) on some TVs with only one RGB capable scart.
nice and simple for your Dad to use though.
This is something which I have toyed with myself. My JVC TV has two scarts (one of which is RGB) and an S-Video socket.
I currently run my sky box from AV1, the VCR from AV2 and my Pioneer 525 DVD from the S-Video connection.
While I am more than happy with the picture quality, my only bug-bear is that the S-Video socket is at the front of the TV, meaning that I have to trail the S-Video cable around the TV set.
When I see solutions (like the one above) I understand the connectivity side of the solution, but I am unsure of exactly how it all works.
If I were to use this soluton (connect DVD to AV1, Sky to AV2 and VCR to Sky) what do I "see" when I switch the TV to AV2? Does one device take presidence over the other? (i.e. to watch Sky I have to switch the VCR off) or am I over-complicating the whole thing? ;)
Originally posted by gobstopper
If I were to use this soluton (connect DVD to AV1, Sky to AV2 and VCR to Sky) what do I "see" when I switch the TV to AV2? Does one device take presidence over the other? (i.e. to watch Sky I have to switch the VCR off) or am I over-complicating the whole thing? ;)
inherently, you dont need to "switch" to AV2.., it should just all work.
scarts all support auto-switching, so if you switch sky on then the TV will go to that on AV2. if you press play on the vcr, it will over-ride sky if already on, and switch to that on the TV as you would expect. press stop on the vcr and sky would come back if switched on previously.
basically a direct connection is not necessary, especially if you have a limited no of scart sockets, or the restrictions you mention.
in addition for your setup, its very likely that AV2 on your TV supports svideo (which you can use to plug the dvd player into).
so you maybe able to go something like:-
digibox to tv av1
digibox 2nd scart to vcr input.
dvd to tv av2.
that would give you the best of both worlds, RGB from the digibox to the TV, a standard feed to the video, and svideo from the dvd player.
if there are two scarts on your VCR, try both and also check if there any options for av1 being a decoder (or similar).
this kind of setup works perfectly for me, with the addition of the 2nd vcr scart routing both the video and sky to my projector.
scarts may get regularly slated for being c**p, but hey... with a bit of work, they actually can do a fair bit.
just noticed, its my 1000th post!
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
quality not quantity I say.
Originally posted by MartinC
...if you press play on the vcr, it will over-ride sky if already on, and switch to that on the TV as you would expect. press stop on the vcr and sky would come back if switched on previously.I can't be sure, because I've not got Sky - but isn't it normally the case that passthrough works only when the 'middle' item is switched off? In other words, if the connection goes:
VCR > Sky > TV
then if Sky is on, the TV will see Sky, irrespective of what the VCR is doing.
if Sky is off, the TV will see the VCR when it is switched on.
If the TV is seeing the VCR and you switch Sky on, the TV will see Sky in preference to the VCR
N'est-ce-pas?
nope, not true.
I can have sky either off or on, and the video plays through regardless.. all the standard features work perfectly.
in reverse (vcr scart 2 goes to my projector remember), I can have the vcr off and sky plays through fine as well.
there are cases when a device will lock and not allow you to auto-switch... for example the vcr playing.
a bit of trial and error, and some differences for other people but basically it works...
Originally posted by MartinC
inherently, you dont need to "switch" to AV2.., it should just all work.
scarts all support auto-switching, so if you switch sky on then the TV will go to that on AV2. if you press play on the vcr, it will over-ride sky if already on, and switch to that on the TV as you would expect. press stop on the vcr and sky would come back if switched on previously.
In this configuration, would this prevent me from watching a Sky channel while recording something on the VCR (a terrestrial channel for the sake of argument) ?
no.
sky is directly into your TV on say, av1 or whatever.
the video will only send the auto-switch bit down the scart when playing, not recording.
Originally posted by LV426
I can't be sure, because I've not got Sky - but isn't it normally the case that passthrough works only when the 'middle' item is switched off? In other words, if the connection goes:
VCR > Sky > TV
then if Sky is on, the TV will see Sky, irrespective of what the VCR is doing.
if Sky is off, the TV will see the VCR when it is switched on.
If the TV is seeing the VCR and you switch Sky on, the TV will see Sky in preference to the VCR
N'est-ce-pas?
Sorry to butt in guys, especially as I'm far from an expert in all this.....
I think that this pass-thru becomes an issue with the old RF style connectors, and not SCART - correct?
Irf.
i've got a similar problem.
TV has 1 scart (oh the shame :o)
but i've got my dreamcast and DVD to put in.
can someone recommend a (budget friendly) scart switch/splitter/whatever ?
wonderfibre you can get this scart switcher from beyondhifi (http://www.beyondhifi.net/shopping/moreinfo.asp?ProductID=278). I've got one and it works a treat, handles RGB and s-vid and is only about £8 with P&P.
Many thanks
PJ
Answers:
Get a DVD player with twin scarts and RGB passthrough. Then connect the DVD to the TV and the sky box to the DVD player :)
Answers:
connect sky to the tv, video to sky... auto-switching will still work fine.
connect your dvd directly to the tv in the now available scart socket.
only flaw is you might have to run the sky box in composite (not RGB mode) on some TVs with only one RGB capable scart.
nice and simple for your Dad to use though.
Answers:
Thanks, I'll give it a go.:)
Answers:
Ever thought about buying a scart switch? Only cost around a tenner and are on sale in most electrical stores eg. Currys, Dixons, etc...
Answers:
Originally posted by MartinC
connect sky to the tv, video to sky... auto-switching will still work fine.
connect your dvd directly to the tv in the now available scart socket.
only flaw is you might have to run the sky box in composite (not RGB mode) on some TVs with only one RGB capable scart.
nice and simple for your Dad to use though.
This is something which I have toyed with myself. My JVC TV has two scarts (one of which is RGB) and an S-Video socket.
I currently run my sky box from AV1, the VCR from AV2 and my Pioneer 525 DVD from the S-Video connection.
While I am more than happy with the picture quality, my only bug-bear is that the S-Video socket is at the front of the TV, meaning that I have to trail the S-Video cable around the TV set.
When I see solutions (like the one above) I understand the connectivity side of the solution, but I am unsure of exactly how it all works.
If I were to use this soluton (connect DVD to AV1, Sky to AV2 and VCR to Sky) what do I "see" when I switch the TV to AV2? Does one device take presidence over the other? (i.e. to watch Sky I have to switch the VCR off) or am I over-complicating the whole thing? ;)
Answers:
Originally posted by gobstopper
If I were to use this soluton (connect DVD to AV1, Sky to AV2 and VCR to Sky) what do I "see" when I switch the TV to AV2? Does one device take presidence over the other? (i.e. to watch Sky I have to switch the VCR off) or am I over-complicating the whole thing? ;)
inherently, you dont need to "switch" to AV2.., it should just all work.
scarts all support auto-switching, so if you switch sky on then the TV will go to that on AV2. if you press play on the vcr, it will over-ride sky if already on, and switch to that on the TV as you would expect. press stop on the vcr and sky would come back if switched on previously.
basically a direct connection is not necessary, especially if you have a limited no of scart sockets, or the restrictions you mention.
in addition for your setup, its very likely that AV2 on your TV supports svideo (which you can use to plug the dvd player into).
so you maybe able to go something like:-
digibox to tv av1
digibox 2nd scart to vcr input.
dvd to tv av2.
that would give you the best of both worlds, RGB from the digibox to the TV, a standard feed to the video, and svideo from the dvd player.
if there are two scarts on your VCR, try both and also check if there any options for av1 being a decoder (or similar).
this kind of setup works perfectly for me, with the addition of the 2nd vcr scart routing both the video and sky to my projector.
scarts may get regularly slated for being c**p, but hey... with a bit of work, they actually can do a fair bit.
just noticed, its my 1000th post!
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
quality not quantity I say.
Answers:
Originally posted by MartinC
...if you press play on the vcr, it will over-ride sky if already on, and switch to that on the TV as you would expect. press stop on the vcr and sky would come back if switched on previously.I can't be sure, because I've not got Sky - but isn't it normally the case that passthrough works only when the 'middle' item is switched off? In other words, if the connection goes:
VCR > Sky > TV
then if Sky is on, the TV will see Sky, irrespective of what the VCR is doing.
if Sky is off, the TV will see the VCR when it is switched on.
If the TV is seeing the VCR and you switch Sky on, the TV will see Sky in preference to the VCR
N'est-ce-pas?
Answers:
nope, not true.
I can have sky either off or on, and the video plays through regardless.. all the standard features work perfectly.
in reverse (vcr scart 2 goes to my projector remember), I can have the vcr off and sky plays through fine as well.
there are cases when a device will lock and not allow you to auto-switch... for example the vcr playing.
a bit of trial and error, and some differences for other people but basically it works...
Answers:
Originally posted by MartinC
inherently, you dont need to "switch" to AV2.., it should just all work.
scarts all support auto-switching, so if you switch sky on then the TV will go to that on AV2. if you press play on the vcr, it will over-ride sky if already on, and switch to that on the TV as you would expect. press stop on the vcr and sky would come back if switched on previously.
In this configuration, would this prevent me from watching a Sky channel while recording something on the VCR (a terrestrial channel for the sake of argument) ?
Answers:
no.
sky is directly into your TV on say, av1 or whatever.
the video will only send the auto-switch bit down the scart when playing, not recording.
Answers:
Originally posted by LV426
I can't be sure, because I've not got Sky - but isn't it normally the case that passthrough works only when the 'middle' item is switched off? In other words, if the connection goes:
VCR > Sky > TV
then if Sky is on, the TV will see Sky, irrespective of what the VCR is doing.
if Sky is off, the TV will see the VCR when it is switched on.
If the TV is seeing the VCR and you switch Sky on, the TV will see Sky in preference to the VCR
N'est-ce-pas?
Sorry to butt in guys, especially as I'm far from an expert in all this.....
I think that this pass-thru becomes an issue with the old RF style connectors, and not SCART - correct?
Irf.
Answers:
i've got a similar problem.
TV has 1 scart (oh the shame :o)
but i've got my dreamcast and DVD to put in.
can someone recommend a (budget friendly) scart switch/splitter/whatever ?
Answers:
wonderfibre you can get this scart switcher from beyondhifi (http://www.beyondhifi.net/shopping/moreinfo.asp?ProductID=278). I've got one and it works a treat, handles RGB and s-vid and is only about £8 with P&P.
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