I'm trying to connect a PS2 and Nintendo Wii to my XG, but the output is in composite and the XG only has an S-Video input. I have a few adapters in my giant bin of cables, but they all output to the 9pin S-video connector. Would something like this (http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat%5Fid=123&sku=13043) work okay or is there a better solution (besides a 1,500$ scaler :D).

My Fusion5 HDTV has a 8 pin S-video input, so if there's a way to input into the tv tuner and then output to through the videocard, that would be quite amazing :). I'll have to look into that unless someone knows by any chance.

Radio shack has those adapters as well. Depending on the projector, combining the two lines of the Svideo adapter won't work, it doesn't work on Ampros, haven't tried it with the NEC.


WHat XG model do you have? Some have transcoders built in, so you could get the component cables for the games and get a LOT better pix than the Svideo input.

I agree, component cables would be best.

The Fusion card in your PC might be worth a try, since you already have it. The manual (ftp://ftp.dvico.com/Manual/FusionHDTV/FusionHDTVManualEng3.5_hard.pdf) is very clear on using it:
Support analog Video Signal Capture

You can Captures analog video signal (Composite and SVHS) and convert it to VCD/ SVCD/ DVD format. This feature cannot be supported depending on product.

< FusionHDTV 5 PCI, 5 Express >
S-Video IN, Composite IN (Lite/Home model is not supported)

VIDEO-IN: For external video sources. (5 RT gold only)
FusionHDTV 5 RT Lite is not supporting the external input like s-video or composite.But I don't know if the capture preview window can be viewed full screen, or if it would be scaled by your PC.

Its the XG1100, so no component input.

Curt what do you mean by combining the two lines of the S-Video adapter? Are you referring to the composite to S-video adapter I linked? Would the adapter work? (I kind of have a craving to play some racing games on a huge screen right now).

I would try the HDTV card, but for some reason the S-video in has only 8 pins whereas all the outputs have 9 pins??? Sorry, I don't know too much about composite and S-Video. Such antiquated technology was only widely used when I
was in diapers :p.

I've been trying to avoid getting a transcoder, but it looks like I might as well get something that will take component and output to RGB. I absolutely hate not being able to use something just because of a cable :mad:.

Thanks guys

THe adapter in your link is literally the same (more or less) as an audio Y cord. you're combining the base b/w signal with the chroma signal which runs on a separate cable in an Svideo cable. As I said, the Ampros won't lock to that combined signal, the BArcos will, not sure about the NECs. Try it, you won't hurt anything.

Since your NEC doesn't have a transcoder in it, get a cheapie transcoder, the AA 9A65 works well, and run 480p component into it, then 480p out to the projector.

And correction, an Svideo cable only has 4 pins, 2 grounds, the chroma pin and the b/w signal pin.

Does the 9A65 only output to 480p? I see the 1365 outputs up to 1080p.

I've had it running up to 720p with most sources. I figgered you didn't want to spend a lot given the Svideo input adapter, so I didn't recommend the 1365..;)

Well my cable box outputs in component, so I could use that with a transcoder and be able to get the encrypted channels. Then I could sell the Fusion HDTV5 to balance the cost. I'll have to discuss it with my parents :rolleyes:. (only 16...)

The composite to S-video adapter from radioshack worked for future reference. However, the image was really bad...bad enough that I crashed my motorcycle into the river in GTA:Vice City :). Even text that was 2" tall was hard to read.

I think I'm going to end up buying a Moome DVI/Component input card for the XG since thats about the same price as a transcoder and I think it will have a better picture since its digital? I shouldn't have problems installing it since I've built countless computers. I imagine its the same concept as a PCI/AGP slot.

No, I ab'ed RGBHV vs DVI at 1080p, 72Hz and saw no difference. Much to my surprise. BUt that Moome card is nice to have, so I agree, go with it. Might be a while before he ships, so check with him..

The moome component/dvi card will really open up your connectivity options, but it doesn't scale, so your wii will still be 480p. You'll also have to buy a component cable for your wii, and I get the feeling that your toy budget is already tight.

So I'll recommend another option...
Try something like the XGA Theater. I have one of these from back when I had an ECP... it does a nice job upscaling composite and s-video up to 800x600 and 1024x768. And the output is HD15 (VGA), so you can use your current RGBHV input. It also has a TV/cable tuner and remote. It does not do component transcoding. I think I paid $109 for a new one 3 years ago. For example, there's one on ebay (110081281917) for $49. You'd get 768p (which is a great resolution for your XG) without having to buy overpriced component connectors for the wii.

The other low end device that works OK if you're on a tight budget...
Something like 320072958607 for $33.
It does composite, s-video, and component transcoding to HD15 (VGA), but only to 720x480p.

The vdigi is another cheap (~$50) transcoder. But it doesn't doesn't scale, nor does it do composite or s-video.

I think I'm still going to get the moome card since the net cost would be just a little more than the XGA theater (I plan on selling my HDTV tuner). I should have been more clear about the sources though; the main component/DVI source will be my HD cable box. The Wii and Xbox 360 are my friend's so they'll probably only be hooked up just a few times a month. Thanks for the info though.

Now just to check with moome...maybe it will only take 3 months :).

I had the same problem with my Sony 1000 Just go to Kmart, Walmart where ever and get a S video out for the Playstation.

I had the same problem and the 14 dollar adapter from radio shack worked great to hook up my ATARI. And yes I am careful not to leave PAC MAN up to long.

But anyway I bought a xbox/ play station adapter that replaces the composite out of the PS with a S video or Comp signal. Works great the picture isn't perfect but a heck of a lot better than comp.

Just a thought: I don’t suppose you have an Svid video recorder kicking around? On my Panny video I can achieve what you want.
A bit of a kludge but cheaper than new input cards, probably.

This looks promising (at least as a cheap HD transcoder and s-video upscaler with analog outputs)
http://images.tigerdirect.com/itemDetails/O38-2002/O38-2002-out3-hl.jpg

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/15-260-001-08.JPG

Video Inputs:
- Composite video input (RCA)
- S Video input (4PIN)
- YPbPr input (RCA)
- VGA input

AV/S-VIDEO/YPbPr input interface can be extended by using Mini cable so that the product can be connected with DVD, PS2 game machine etc. The product supports standard-definition and high-definition signal input (480I/ 480P/ 576I/ 576P/ 720P/ 1080I).

Video Output: D-SUB output (analog HD15 VGA)

VGA Output Resolutions:
- 800x600
- 1024x768
- 1280x1024
- 1440x900

Refresh rate up to 60Hz or 75Hz

Supports 4:3/16:9 picture aspect ratio

Special PIP function: window size and position are adjustable

http://www.kworldcomputer.com/product/analog/012/TVBOX1440.htm

http://www.kworldcomputer.com/product/analog/012/images/001.pdf

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2825463&CatId=0

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815260001&ATT=15-260-001&CMP=OTC-Froogle

For $12 :eek: (buy.com after rebates), I ordered one...
http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=203947748&adid=17653&dcaid=17653
http://ak.buy.com/buy_assets/retail/pdfs/07Q1/0120-0129jk_30kworld.pdf
http://ak.buy.com/buy_assets/retail/pdfs/07Q1/0122-0126jk_15kworld.pdf

it might be perfect for the ECPs I gave to my neighbors.

Wow thanks Clarence! I think I'll get one too to hold me out while waiting for the moome card.

edit: Reseller ratings look a bit scary, but it looks like all the negative reviews are from paypal users so I'll just use a CC. The rebates are from the manufacturer of the transcoder so that eliminates some risk as well. I think you can use google checkout so the end cost will be $2.99 :eek:.

reseller ratings for buy.com look scary?! I've ordered probably 50 times from them... well over $1000... probably $2500 over the last 5 years. Never a single glitch or complaint.

I used google checkout about a dozen times in December (when it was $10 off $30 or $20 off $50), but now they've change it to $10 off your first order. I like it a lot... much better than having to type in your mailing info and CC# for every po-dunk online seller. Hopefully they become a serious competitor to paypal.

Yep, scary...the six-month rating is a 2.3!

Yep...
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Buy
Maybe they've gotten too big and too powerful and have lost interest in the individual buyer? Or maybe people only submit a rating when they've got a complaint.

NewEgg gets a 9.82
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Newegg
They're one of my favorites.

Amazon.com gets a 5.66
http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Newegg
I've had mixed results with them... but in probably 50 orders, they've disappointed me 2-3 times.

I always check all 3 of those stores when buying anything... HDDVD, video games, videocard, RAM, etc.

Newegg is probably my top...they get most of my hard earned allowance :p.

Then I'll use amazon if its something newegg doesn't have (like headphones). The best part about amazon is the fact that you can order from some no-name shop through amazon, but with amazon's credibility. For instance, my friend ordered a wireless adapter from one of the stores on amazon and when he didn't receive the item, amazon refunded him the money.

I used to use Zipzoomfly as well because most of their items had free 2nd day shipping, but it seems they've run into some financial trouble lately and service has been lacking.

Anyways...I ordered the tuner so hopefully it will do well until moome has some XG DVI inputs available. It'll end up being 9$ after rebates.

This $12 HD transcoder/scaler arrived today.

I'm feeding 1080i component from my HD cable box.

Better than the vdigi, better than the XGA Theater.

I like the OSD and the remote.

The color seems slightly over-saturated. But there is an interesting button on the remote... toggles between Bright, Standard, Mild, Custom. I'll have to bring up an IRE ramp and see if it's doing gamma curve or just linear brightness and contrast.

If you don't have a transcoder or if you're still watching composite, s-video, or 480p unscaled, this is well worth a try.

This will be PERFECT for the ECPs that I gave my neighbors.

Its pretty soft with the composite to PS2, but I think thats just the limitation of the composite connection. I'm going to borrow my friends component cables, which I think should give a much better picture! I'll let you know how it goes.

I haven't tried composite or s-video upscaling yet, but for giggles, I disconnected the cable feed from my HD cable box and fed it directly into this TV box.

I did a auto channel scan.

FWIW, the basic cable standard definition (SD) channels from this cheap box at 1280x1024 (and then I choose the 16:9 setting for 1280x720) looks 4x better than the same SD cable channels fed from my HD cable box at 1080i, then sent through my Lumagen for 1080p... that's scaling SD twice... 480i to 1080i by the Motorola 6412 HD cable DVR, then again by the Lumagen (which isn't particularly noted for SD upscaling). But to avoid double scaling, I'd have to power down the Motorola cable box, enter the setup menu, change 1080i to 480i, then power up again. Quite frankly, I never watch SDTV, so it's no big deal.

I have a similar issue when watching SD DVDs on my Toshiba HD-A1 HD-DVD player... it looks much (2x?) better if I switch the HD-A1 to output 480i to my Lumagen, instead of 480p. Usually I keep my HD-A1 set to 1080i (for HDDVDs), and when I put in a SD DVD, I get the warning message that the HD-A1 can't upscale DVDs over component :rolleyes:, so it switches to 480p. But then I have to press STOP, and then press the RES button 3 times... 480p->720p->1080i->480i. Which is a pain because each click on the HD-DVD remote takes about 15 seconds to react.

Long story short, SD cable is actually watchable from this box.

Both the PS2 and Wii have S-video cables available. Just buy those as they look worlds better than composite.

Also, the Moome will not transcode 480i inputs, which are most of the games for Wii and PS3. A scaler is what is needed to make these look decent on a data grade projector anyway. However, cheap scalers like those will make the image look pretty crappy, although still better than straight composite.

cheap scalers like those will make the image look pretty crappyWhat "cheap scalers like those" have you tested? Which ones should people avoid? Or more importantly to someone looking for a composite, s-video, component scaler/transcoder (with or without a cable tuner and remote... with or without HD inputs... with or without selectable aspect ratio and refresh rates)... which one do you recommend? Especially to someone looking for a scaler/transcoder that doesn't cost more than their projector.

I'd agree that a $1200 scaler should look better than a $12 scaler, but on a 7" or 8" projector, I'd be interested to see how people would quantify the PQ difference of 1024x768 or 1280x720 from this device versus the same resolution from my Lumagen or HD Leeza. The Lumagen costs 100x more. Is it 10% better? 20% better? Twice as good? 10x as good? 100x better?

Both the PS2 and Wii have S-video cables available. Just buy those as they look worlds better than composite.

Also, the Moome will not transcode 480i inputs, which are most of the games for Wii and PS3. A scaler is what is needed to make these look decent on a data grade projector anyway. However, cheap scalers like those will make the image look pretty crappy, although still better than straight composite.
I'm pretty sure that the PS2 and Wii output at 480p through component. I might go pick up some component cables and test the quality with the PS2. I'm also borrowing my friends PS3 while he's at college so that should be able to output at 720p or 1080i.

edit: Tried it on my friends 360 tonight and it looked really good with the 1440x900 setting and the xbox set to 720p. Racing games on a 110" screen with surround sound are really fun :).