Confusion: Digicrystal Video Outputs

[Mudhoney]

Hello

I have a Digicrystal SDT-9000PVR. I have just upgraded TVs and am looking to get the best quality output. The manual is not too clear to me, but it seems the Digicrystal supports composite, RGB and S-Video out, along with SPDIF for audio. Some questions;

1. is RGB better than S-video?

2. how would I connect RGB? I have just hooked up the standard L and R analogue audio plugs and the yellow composite video plug and can tell the STB to use composite, RGB or Y/V. THe manual says Y/V is to be used for S-video. I can set the STB to RGB and the picture looks fine, but this confuses me as I would have thought RGB would require separate colour leads similar to component..?

Edit: I should mention the PVR comes with a SCART output that has a s-video lead and yellow red and white RCA leads.

Any hints appreciated.

Mud

[Mr Flibble]

Hi Mud,

STB's can generally ouput composite (one yellow cable) + component or RGB (read, green & blue cables) at the same time... or just s-video by itself.

By setting the output to rgb & connecting via a composite cable, you're just getting a composite signal.

In theory RGB is better than s-video but it depends on what STB, what TV, what cables etc, etc. So basically you need to try each & see what looks best to you. S-video typically gives a 'softer' picture and some people actually prefer this look.

To connect via RGB, your TV needs to be able to accept an RGB input (many don't) via three RCA connectors, VGA or SCART.

Your other alternative (if your TV has a component input) is to use a powered RGB to component converter.

[jokiin]

Hello

I have a Digicrystal SDT-9000PVR. I have just upgraded TVs and am looking to get the best quality output. The manual is not too clear to me, but it seems the Digicrystal supports composite, RGB and S-Video out, along with SPDIF for audio. Some questions;

1. is RGB better than S-video?

2. how would I connect RGB? I have just hooked up the standard L and R analogue audio plugs and the yellow composite video plug and can tell the STB to use composite, RGB or Y/V. THe manual says Y/V is to be used for S-video. I can set the STB to RGB and the picture looks fine, but this confuses me as I would have thought RGB would require separate colour leads similar to component..?

Edit: I should mention the PVR comes with a SCART output that has a s-video lead and yellow red and white RCA leads.

Any hints appreciated.

Mud

The RGB output is via the Scart connector, you would need an adapter for most TV's unless your TV has a Scart input that supports RGB in which case you would just need a straight through Scart to Scart lead

[Mudhoney]

Thanks, my TV does not have RGB, dammit. Looks like I'm back to s-video. Thanks for help.

[uhf 2]

Hello

I have a Digicrystal SDT-9000PVR. I have just upgraded TVs and am looking to get the best quality output. The manual is not too clear to me, but it seems the Digicrystal supports composite, RGB and S-Video out, along with SPDIF for audio. Some questions;

1. is RGB better than S-video?

2. how would I connect RGB? I have just hooked up the standard L and R analogue audio plugs and the yellow composite video plug and can tell the STB to use composite, RGB or Y/V. THe manual says Y/V is to be used for S-video. I can set the STB to RGB and the picture looks fine, but this confuses me as I would have thought RGB would require separate colour leads similar to component..?

Edit: I should mention the PVR comes with a SCART output that has a s-video lead and yellow red and white RCA leads.

Any hints appreciated.

Mud

Hello I have this same box & have tried all possible combinations & can see very little difference,

At presant I have it connected via S-video & Av for audio to amp.

I hope this helps

[Anton-P.]

The RGB output is via the Scart connector, you would need an adapter for most TV's unless your TV has a Scart input that supports RGB in which case you would just need a straight through Scart to Scart lead

EDITED: I think it's unfortunate & confusing that plasma/LCD's component use red-green-blue plugs but don't accept RGB.

I assume it's not possible to convert SCART output to component Y/V to feed plasma/LCD using just cable converter without any electronics. Is that correct?

[Mr Flibble]

Yes, conversion from RGB to component (YPbPr) needs powered electronics.

The same pinouts in the SCART socket can carry component but obviously that needs to be an option on the device its coming from. (eg the Toppys can output RGB or component over SCART but the Digicrystal 9000 can only do RGB - not component)

[Mudhoney]

thanks. Unless the converter is cheap i'll skip it for now and just stick with s-video, and wait until i can get a hd pvr a lot cheaper than they are currently.

[Big-Al]

I've got 2 converters. One for Foxtel (though I've just upgraded to IQ which uses component output via Scart) and one for my Digicrystal set. Got both off ebay for around $50 (though they are $120 new). The picture is definately better than s-video.

[Nevyn72]

I assume it's not possible to convert SCART output to component Y/V to feed plasma/LCD using just cable converter without any electronics. Is that correct?

That is correct.

Component is carried over 3 channels of information

SCART RGB (RGBs) is carried over 4 channels

There is also a 3rd common variety carried over 5 channels called RGBHV or VGA

You would recognise this from computer monitors and is normally connected using a Dsub connector.

Many LCDs/plasmas and STBs, PVRs and DVD players also have this type of connection.

Each of these 3 types of RGB connection carry essentially the same information, just in a different format.

[Mudhoney]

what does this little beastie do? apparently not powered so I assume it is just some sort of pin connector which doesn't do the RGB to component conversion correctly..?

Tricky Dicky adaptor thingy

I assume it's just breaking out the RGB pins, but the wording suggests component (CrCbY) - probably an error?

[Anton-P.]

what does this little beastie do? apparently not powered so I assume it is just some sort of pin connector which doesn't do the RGB to component conversion correctly..?

My guess is you get what the SCART gives out.

So it could be RGB only, or RGB/component switchable in the SCART settings if so provided.

[Black Rat]

I have a Digicrystal SDT-9000PVR.

It says that it has RGB (not Y,Pb,Pr) output from the SCART socket. I have tried a SCART-RGB adaptor (3 RCA sockets) but I can't get it to work with my Sony HDTV which has RGB - component sync (5 RCA sockets).

Can anyone tell me which format is used in the SDT-9000PVR for RGB output :-

RGB - sync on green (3 leads)

RGB - composite sync (4 leads)

RGB - component sync (V + H) (5 leads)

and what do I have to do to get it to work with my Sony TV with RGBVH inputs?

Thanks