which component to vga transcoder do you use? - Page 3  

Brian,

Thanks for the update. Have you tried this program that has some good 64 step scales, good for studying contrast and brightness?
http://www.milori.com/products/testpatterns/default.asp
This could be certainly true since the discussion concentrates on how the HD synch signal has some sort of spike that effects the black level.

I would not assume because you can see IRE0, there are no crushed blacks. My understanding is crushed blacks occur due to a non linear output response in the low IRE range, say 0 to 20. So, you may see 0 to 100 but that low range may meld into black with no visible gradation. I am no video engineer by any means so I am explaining in layman terms.

I've got family too but no excuse for me. I've had my 1271 since 1996 and first surround system since 1988 and these days, just too lazy to twiddle as a HTPC/video pioneer; just too busy in the DVD software end of things. :)

Well, better do some shopping with less than an hour to go on the next transcoder sale on ebay.

thx don

kr- thanks for your comments. enough votes for the unit. Woowee, just won the auction - unit on it's way :)

I hope they ship it today. I think they shipped mine about 3 or 4 days after the sale... good luck getting it in time. If you read through thier feedback (which is 99.x% positive) almost all the negitives involve long times before shipping. Still if they wait until wednesday you may still get it in time. Wonder if you can just go pick it up in person?

-Brian

Just a quick note:

I ordered the transcoder from Cybershop and chose "Xpress post" for shipping. It arrived yesterday, shipped only in the product box (standard flimsy coated cardboard) slipped into a plastic mailing bag. Amazingly, it survived the trip.

Bottom line: it works, with a JVC 30K and a Marquee 8500 PJ. Just had to turn the brightness control down a bit to get the blacks close to right. - Pat

That's odd tubesguy. I ordered from Cybershop and recieved mine packaged in a carboard shipping box (about 4 months ago.) It was well packaged. I didn't choose Xpress post though. Maybe that has something to do with it.

When I purchased they neglected to notify me that the product was backordered until they actually shipped a week and a half later, which put me off a bit. However, all other aspects of the purchase were fine.

They state no local pickup which does not help much since they are in SoCal. I received a note yesterday with a UPS tracking number stating it is ready to go out the next business day (today), so it should arrive in plenty of time. Comcast is coming out Thursday to do the HD digital install. I asked for what discounts they can give me for making the switchover. 3 months @ $19.99. Yeehaa! Five bucks more for HD. Such a deal :)

Where is this Cybershop?

Ontario, Canada.... Waterloo to be exact.

Benareena, you've got a PM...

I got the import component - vga transcoder today. When I hooked it up between the 1271 projector and the transcoder, I realized I had a four, not five, wire RGB cable. It used to run my doubler output on that line just fine.

Now with it being used to pass the component signal from the 5100 into the transcoder then onto the projector, can I get by with a 4 wire RGB cable or is there a signal that requires the 5th wire?

thx don

If your korean knockoff is the same as mine, there is a dip switch to select RGsB, RGBHV or RGBS output. I have never played with a 1271, but my 800 and the 1208 I have at work will both sync on any of the above. I set my knockoff to RGsB and ran 3 wires, just cause I already had 3 run to the projector. (note that just because your cable has 4 wires doesn't mean you have to use them all - just don't connect the 4th wire if you run RGsB).

Good luck
kb

It's true but still a little confusing if you ask me. You can set jumper 4 ( I think) to on to turn on "H-Drive" which I think gives you RGBs.

Thanks guys. That makes sense to set it to RGBs. I've got to pull out the soldering iron and convert one end with BNCs to fit into a HD15 plug.

I'll report back in a few.

thx

I have Time Warner cable in San Antonio and just got the PaceMicro HD box. I also got a free RGB adapter with it. No one I talked to at TWC knew anything about the adapter box but after showing them a picture of it on their website somebody dug one up. I think the picture is exellent on my Sony 1251 and haven't noticed any crushed blacks.

The Pace box also has component feedthrough when it's off so I was able to connect my Apex progressive DVD player to it. The DVD picture through the RGB adapter was much better than using the iScan as I had been previously.

If you have Time Warner I suggest checking out this option.

jr

Cut off the 4 BNCs and got the HD plug wired up. Transcoder fired right up without touching a thing. Had to converge the projector but so far looks good.

I was not given a 5100 manual so I am groping a bit with how to comfigure the HD and SD settings in the box. Is there an online location where a good ref manual exists?

thx

Here is the least expensive Transcoder I have ever seen and it is actually getting good reviews ;) . Not sure if anybody has used one with Projection just yet but people sure are raging about them for Monitor use .
---- Check it out here :
http://www.vdigi.com/index.php?optio...d=67&Itemid=28
-----
-- I do not work for the company nor do I have anything to gain form anybody buying this unit , just thought somebody might wish to try one .
---- Best Wishes ,
----- Jason

Jason, this is the first I have seen of this unit. FWIW, I scanned the specs and the common transcoder discussed here does support this mode. The SD signal was defaulting to 480i until I changed it to 480p but it was doing a fine job. It seems this unit would have choked on me today.

Don

Don,

Go here for the Moto 5100 information you need.

http://cjhengineering.com/DCTHDFAQ.htm

Bill

Be forewarned - this may be old, ho-hum, rehash babblings and ranting for some of you.

Thanks to you all for the info and support here. In less than two weeks I now have HD in my system. All I can it is the most AWESOME picture I have ever seen in my system. For that matter, it rivals the best picture of ANY high end video projection system.

I got both the transcoder and the 5100 on Thursday. Figured out the RGB cable I had running to the second IFB board on the 1271 was four wire and had BNCs on both ends. That cable was collecting dust and I forgot the details. Had to put a HD15 plug on it on Friday and got it all running and converged last night.

Got a bit late and around midnight, I gave it the final convergence tweaks and flipped onto INHD1 where a Beyonce concert was on. IT BLEW MY MIND! I had no idea that the picture would be THAT much better than DVD. I just can not still believe the picture being thrown up now.

For the tens of thousands I "forgot" I have dumped into this system over the years, the 70 bucks I spent on the transcoder to enable HDTV is exponentially far and beyond anything else I have ever put in, on a bang for buck basis.

THANKS to you all here. I gotta go and change my pants again, just can not seem to keep from poopooing whenever I walk by the screen. :) JUST AWESOME!

and forget that DVD crap - how do I record full fidelity HD material? :) :) :)

Jason, I would jump on that transcoder myself just for the passthrough feature, except that they only accept payment through PayPal. Instead I think I'll wait and see.

Windtrader,

If your a football fan, wear a diaper when you watch the superbowl tomorrow! lol

Jay

Warcher1,

There is no pass through feature. It transcodes component into VGA and gives you 2 VGA outs.

-Brian

Timing of this upgrade with SB probably not a coincidence. :)

Brian,the add for the one that jason gives a link to seems to have a passtrhrough funtion,in the description

It does have VGA ByPass [Pass-Through] .
--- Jason

Ok,

Yes the one that Jason is talking about does have the pass through but the one that windtrader is talking about does not.

Basically there are a few transcoders that take advantage of the way X-Box outputs component and those are the KD-XB and the one Jason mentioned. These both state that they aren't fully compatable with all DVD players and all projectors and these feature pass through. Then there's a newer and more compatable cheap transcoder that Windtrader is talking about that has more options for Sync processing. I think these are based on (clones of) the newer key digital units and they do not have a pass through.

If you're an X-Box guy then maybe you should get one with the pass through but be warned that some HDTV and DVD processors will not work with it.

-Brian

Windtrader,

How did you set up the HD? Are you running 1080i into the transcoder? Is the transcoder changing that into 540p? What type of input board is in the 1271?

When I output 1080i from my DVD player, I'm not sure what the transcoder does with it but the 1271 displays 540p. I use a IFB12 in my 1271 but I don't think there's a way to input 1080i.

Thanks,

Brian

I just got my HD cable box on Friday and took the cheap path until I figure out if I can build my own (DIY thread) or go with the MP5. So for now, I have the cheapo $69 transcoder (the one without passthroug). The picture seems OK. My projector sybced right to the 1080i setting I have for MyHD card. But the image seems to be shifted to the left quite a bit. On 4x3 material the left bar is about 60% the size of the right bar. If I move it with the projector position control I see "wraparound" on the right edge. I have been able to get a clean image using position and blanking, but this is not centered. I've tried the pot on the transcoder as well and it seems to do the same thing (wraparound). Any suggestions? I have an Extron 202 coming that I hope will strip the sync and will also allow position adjustment and switching. Has anyone used this to resolve the crushed black issue by removing the sync.