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Help with composite cable selector/receiver?

post #1 of 11
5/1/08 at 12:03pm
Thread Starter 
Not sure if this is the right place to post this (I bet you haven't heard that one before), but I have an HDTV with only one set of composite-cable inputs (the red, blue, green). I'm using this currently for my HD box, but want to hook up an Xbox 360 similarly. The TV also does not have an HDMI port (it's old).

My question is--do you folks recommend any particular composite switcher/selector that hopefully doesn't degrade HD quality? I'm wondering if that might just be a given.

Alternatively, should I look into HD receivers? I have no idea where to start and some of the price tags are a little scary ($400 plus, etc.).

Thanks in advance, and feel free to point me in the right direction if this query has been answered before. I did not notice it in the stickies or search.
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post #2 of 11
5/1/08 at 12:21pm
I believe you mean to refer to ''Component'' video if your indication of those three colors and three RCA jacks are accurate.

Composite (Baseband) video is the single yellow RCA jack with the chorma and luma from the s-video jack combined into a ''Composite'' signal.

Please confirm jacks so others can help advise.
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post #3 of 11
5/1/08 at 1:03pm
Thread Starter 
Oh no, yes, I mean component.
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post #4 of 11
5/1/08 at 4:35pm
FWIW, I have a component video/stereo audio switch from Wallyworld for ~$30, that works just fine. I think its a Philips brand. It has push button switches that select from four inputs. A mechanical contact switch, such as this should not degrade the signal by any discernable amount. However, IMHO, cheaper, powered, electronic switches may degrade video due to low bandwidth switching components.
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post #5 of 11
5/1/08 at 4:45pm
By "component" - you mean 3 cable Red, Green , Blue ? Then there would be audio red / white cables.

I GUARANTEE you will not find component video outputs on a CECB.
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post #6 of 11
5/1/08 at 5:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Scooper View Post

By "component" - you mean 3 cable Red, Green , Blue ? Then there would be audio red / white cables.

I GUARANTEE you will not find component video outputs on a CECB.

Yes, I mean there is only one Y/Pb/Pr component input (with left and right audio connections) on the back of the TV (RCA F38310).

I purchased a cheap-o Pelican System Selector from Circuit City for $20, but don't even feel like opening it as I've already convinced myself there'll be an image loss.

Raouliii, I'm not sure I followed your advice. What do you mean by mechanical vs. electronic switches, do you mean going with the un-powered ones might be more effective than relatively inexpensive powered ones? I was thinking about changing out the unpowered Pelican System Selector for something in the $50-$80 range, and the latter would be powered w/ a remote.
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post #7 of 11
5/1/08 at 5:32pm
I have not been able to find a single remote controlled component video switch that I like. They have all introduced problems into my system. I have tried the Psyclone, Joytech, and the Pelican System Selector Pro 2.0. The only component video switch I have found that has not caused issues is my original Pelican System Selector Pro (the PL-957). It does not have a remote though (which is why I tried all the others).
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post #8 of 11
5/1/08 at 9:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SirGrotius View Post

......Raouliii, I'm not sure I followed your advice. What do you mean by mechanical vs. electronic switches, do you mean going with the un-powered ones might be more effective than relatively inexpensive powered ones? I was thinking about changing out the unpowered Pelican System Selector for something in the $50-$80 range, and the latter would be powered w/ a remote.

A mechanical switch is essentially, a set of contacts that routes the signals through the box and are closed/opened with the physical push of a button or switch. They don't introduce much, if any, degradation of the signal.

A powered switch can generally be two different types. One type has mechanical relays, (again, sets of contacts) that are electrically controlled. They should perform as good as the mechanical switches. The second type of powered switch has integrated circuit switches that are controlled electronically and these components very often have bandpass limitations that can degrade the quality of component video.

IMHO, mechanical switches are generally better than cheap electronic switches at passing the full bandwidth video signal.
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post #9 of 11
5/3/08 at 7:57am
Thread Starter 
So I purchased a Pelican System Selector for around $20 as I mentioned, but I also got a good quality monster component cable to connect that output to my TV. Long story short, the HD quality was severely depressed, and now I am, too.

I saw someone mentioned a "plain-old A/V switchblock" from RadioShack as an effective solution, but I don't even know what that is and am skeptical as he cited as $10 price.
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post #10 of 11
5/3/08 at 9:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SirGrotius View Post

I saw someone mentioned a "plain-old A/V switchblock" from RadioShack as an effective solution, but I don't even know what that is and am skeptical as he cited as $10 price.

I think that person was thrown off by your typo in the thread title.  A "plain-old A/V switchblock" is for composite, not for component.

Either that, or (s)he meant that you could use its three connections (intended for composite video, left audio, right audio) for Y, Pb, and Pr instead.  However, you'd still need another switch for the audio cabling.
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post #11 of 11
5/3/08 at 1:06pm
Nice trick.
Only people that know a switch is just a switch would realize the audio jacks are fair game too.
As long as the internal wiring is consistant for all jacks
(Not coax for vid / bare wire for audio ... I'VE SEEN THAT ).

But people reading this, two minutes with a screwdriver and a simple glance to see if reasonably identical materials are used for both the audio and video paths would mean an inexpensive RCAx3 Basband Composite switch would be just fine for Y/Pb/Pr Component video switching.

nice catch dattier
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