Cheaper Component to S-Video Converter - Page 9

I hope this question isn't too far off topic for this thread but you fellows are very knowlegeable.

I drug my old (dead burner equipped) Phillips DVDR75 down from the attic to see if the component-in to S-video loop would correct the annoying aspect ratio issue. The unit fired right up and works OK after "resting" for over 5 yrs.

I hooked up a component cable set from my Comcast box to the "Ext 1" jacks on the DVDR75 and hooked up an S-video cable from the ext out jack to the L1 input on my Maggie 2160. The 2160 is hooked to my flat screen via HDMI. The DVDR75 setup menu displays fine but I can't get the cable feed to display. I made sure the DVDR75 input is set to Ext 1 and fiddled with everything I could find but no joy. Any ideas or am I trying something that's impossible?

Did you select Video > Video Input > S-Video on the Mag 2160?

Default is "Video" (composite).

Bingo, I'm guessing this is the case. I wonder if all Comcast boxes will output 480i over component?
This was one of the shortfalls of using the infamous Polaroid for such a use, I would think your Philips would be similar.

I don't know whether this applies to your Comcast box, but with my (Cisco) Time Warner Cable box, the component output is disabled if the HDMI output is connected. I have to unplug the HDMI output if I want to view the component output.

Wow, great responses!

Yes, Master Wajo the S-video input is set properly, thanks.

Dunno how to change to 480i on my cable box but it is indeed a Cisco. I'm off to pull the HDMI cable and see if that works.

For testing sake just hook the component cables directly to your TV. Your TV will tell you if: A, your box is sending out a signal and B what it's resolution is.

What's odd is if you go to MP's site here near the top under "Category Special" (you may need to scroll left or right) it still lists the HDFury2 for $115, but if you click on it, it takes you to a completely different page and no mention of the Fury MP must need to update their website.
Sorry to bring this thread off topic again, but since it was previously mentioned in this thread I thought I'd bring this up.

HDFURY now a member of HDMI org.and HDCP.org hmmm. G.

Being able to buy them anymore from monoprice, or anyone else in the US or Canada, is very likely not going to happen. Due to legal reasons related to the DMCA, as of Dec 15, US vendors including monoprice, along with any Canadian vendors, were told to stop offering them. About the only way you can get one now if you live in the US or Canada, is by ordering it direct from HDFury.

http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewt...462&highlight=

And on Nov 30 2010, from posts in this other related thread.

http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewt...ury3&&start=20


"What is the significance of the December 15th 2010 date? I couldn't find anything "on the net" about something going into effect on that date."

"It's a deadline given to US/CA reseller to remove products from their catalog.
You better catch one now if you are in US/CA
Also price may inflate in US/CA after 15dec."

Sorry for the late response...got off into another hobby/obsession for a while.

Yes, the Cisco box definitely blocks component output when HDMI is in use. Pulling the HDMI cable allowed the component signal through to be monitored my TV. I tried pulling the HDMI cable with the component cables hooked up to the DVDR75 but there's still no output through its s-video.

Ya'll mentioned changing the cable box output to 480i but I don't see a way to do that. Is there a hidden menu??

Did you push DISPLAY on your TV while hooked to your cable box via component? Again if it says anything other than 480i it probably won't work with your Philips DVDR.
I'll let someone else familiar with your box answer you question #2, it may or may not be possible for it to output 480i, I just don't know.

It took me a bit since my TV remote doesn't have a "display" button but the "info" button brings up a little bar that shows 1080i. I see what you're talking about now. There's no way an old DVDR75 even knows what 1080i is so it's not going to do me any good.

Oh well, it's going back up to the attic for more punishment unless somebody knows how to make this Cisco switch to 480i out of the component outputs.

johnla,after reading those links you provided it looks like things may be worse than i thought. It's strange about the Dec.15 cutoff date cuz MP got their new shipment in on,i believe Jan. 5 and were gone by about Jan.11+/- a day.they were gone so fast,and also the page is missing,not just being shown as "out of stock"that makes me wonder if they were told to remove those items for sale. It may very well be that MP will NEVER have them back in stock.

After searching for resellers all over the web,i found that no one has them in stock anymore. I kept seeing the same message everywhere "OUT OF STOCK"and "UNAVAILABLE" then given an option to be notified if and when the reseller will have more in stock. I checked Amazon-nothing. I checked ebay-there are/were two fore sale but i was outbidded on both lolol and the price went to high for a used unit,not much lower than a new one and there is no guarantee that the power supply,cords,and owners manual would be included.A power supply probably costs $20/$25 dollars and i could end up paying more for the used unit than a new one.

It also seems strange that there is a legal issue with these converters since
1.The manufacturer is a member of HDCP.ORG and 2. the converters are HDCP compliant. Well, i guess membership and compliancy means nothing to Hollywood.
I agree that if these are being removed from the market, then the price of these converters will go thru the roof!!.
If the analog hole is then subsequently closed,then ALL DVDR's in N.America will instantly become doorstops,or conversation pieces,cuz w/o a video format that is usable by a dvdr, ie; s video or composite video,then dvdr's are as dead as a doornail,then people will no longer have to figure out how to tune their favorite cable channel on whatever digital subchannel,cuz it won't matter anymore.There must be a way for the s video/composite video inputs of a dvdr to interface with an HDMI output from a Sat/cable stb. Oh,i forgot,cable users will still have the coaxial out from stb.,unless that is removed too. G.

The purpose of all this was to record from the Cisco box to a Magnavox DVR in the correct aspect ratio; wasn't it? I can tell you how to do it, but it's going to cost $50-100.

First, get one of these (discussed earlier in this thread). If you feed it the component output from the Cisco box, it will convert it to 480i s-video or composite which you can send to your Magnavox.

The problem at that point will be that you have no way to view high definition from your Cisco box unless you want to keep inserting and removing the HDMI cable. Radio Shack sells a component video distribution amplifier for around $50. If you feed it the component output from your Cisco box, you can then send component video to both the TV and the Monoprice converter simultaneously.

Has anybody tried these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/HDMI-3RCA-AV-Com...-/190469938705

Wow! I haven't tried one, but I hope someone does, and reports on it.

That may be a misprint. If you go to http://www.wowparts.com/store/produc...904-00070.html you will see what appears to be the same converter for sale @ $45.99,but it is an s-video,composite video>HDMI converter.Model#LK21947,part#021904-00070. I didn't see a model#or part# on the ebay link. AFAIK HDMI > s-vid./comp. vid.transcription still isn't possible. G.

Weird Those two devices look identical with the exception that the WOW converter has writing all over it indicating composite to HDMI while the Ebay converter is missing that writing but it's specs definitely say HDMI to composite/S-video.
The Ebay converter does say HDCP compliant so it sounds like if your source was CP'd you'd still need a external filter for backups. Still if it's legit I might be interested in such a device to make sure my analog DVDRs will continue to work far into the future
I'm a little leary of the model number of the WOW device, it starts out with LK which sounds suspiciously like a Lenkeng which I wasn't really impressed with it's picture quality although I'm really only interested in the Ebay device from it's description. I don't want to go from S-video to HDMI but rather the other way around.
Well who's going to be the first to try one?.....

I think someone changed the wording around.

I also noticed that the seller on ebay,Partsdom.com *IS* WOW.If you go to partsdom.com,WOW's site comes up. I think that the two units you're seeing ARE the same. Somebody is trying to pull somebody's leg!! One more thing,if a composite/s-video>HDMI converter can sell for $45.99 then how much more do you think an HDMI>composite/s-video transcriber would cost since the latter would involve much more complicated technology and it would have to be VERY new technology? I think that it would cost a whole lot more than a measly 46 bucks! More in the neighborhood of a couple of hundred bucks. As i said before, i think somebody is trying to pull somebody's leg,and i ain't fallin' for it! Also,on WOW's site you will only see the s-vid.> HDMI converter listed,why not both of them? And the HDMI>composite/s-vid.converter,strangely enough sells for EXACTLY the same price as the s-vid.>HDMI converter on WOW's site. IIRC,the specs. for both units are the same! they even say HDCP compliant. Strange indeed!

I did find an HDMI>s-video converter made by Atlona model#HD530,cost:$299.00. But if CP is detected then it's analog outputs shut down. BOOOO!!.

This is why I don't like dealing with Ebay, what's up with all the different prices and sellers for what look like the same product
I'm more of a Amazon guy myself, I've always had good luck with Amazon(never dealt with Ebay) but AZ doesn't seem to sell as wide of a variety of items like Ebay
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...All-Categories

Well not surprisingly,when i went back to WOW's website and did a search on HDMI to s-video converter nothing came up. I also tried HDMI to composite video converter-same thing. Both searches took me to the composite/svideo>HDMI converter. Since the seller on ebay is really WOW,then both converters SHOULD be listed there,but they're not. jjeff, i don't think this is a question of diff. prices (both units are 46 bucks) and sellers with look-alike products, it's the same converter!... it's only the wording that's been converted! G.

A dealer by the name WOWparts is selling the same device via Amazon, also claiming that it is a HDMI to Composite 3 RCA / S-Video Converter Adapter. They even show the INPUT as HDMI and OUTPUT as COMPOSITE or S-Video.

Here is the Amazon link.
http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Composite.../dp/B0047PDBP0

EDIT:
Sometimes the generated link shows the dealer as RedTagTown and sometimes the generated link shows the dealer as WOWparts

The Amazon posting has two reviews. One reviewer gives 5 stars, and specifically says he uses it to run a signal to his old CRT TV, to view streaming video. So, unless the review is a phony, it seems it really does go from HDMI to S-Video/composite.

The second review says the converter didn't work, the LED light didn't come on. So, that was a bad unit, no way to tell which way it converted.

I just may try that Amazon device. It has 2 reviews, one positive and the other one DOA and the buyer wasn't going to try another one.
Note the Amazon device specifically says it converts HDMI 480I while the Ebay device specifically omits 480I and starts at 480p
Not that that's a big deal, AFAIK if something is going to output HDMI it will do at least 480p, but it does show how oddly these things are listed.....

Here's that eBay link for $40.96 Buy It Now.

Hope ya'll have good luck with that type of converter. Since i already have a Component video>svideo converter,i ordered an HDFury2 HDMI>Component video converter on Saturday. I hope to have it by the end of the week, (it's being shipped from Japan)then i'll try it out. Iv'e never read a bad review of it,only unanimously GOOD reviews of it. I just hope that it will do what i want it to do. I hope it's not so high tech. that it can "see"down the video stream and detect other components connected in the video pathway and turn itself off. It's made for non-HDMI tv's,which of course aren't HDCP compliant so maybe i'll be ok. I hope...i hope....i hope...... it can't "see" my Comp.vid.>svid.converter cuz i need the converters s-video output to go to my DVDR's. G.

Since you already have a quality Component>S-video converter I can see the desire to purchase a quality HDMI>Component converter.
For me(to convert from HDMI to S-video) I 'd need to spend >$200 for a quality Component>S-video converter and on top of that add $180-$250 for a HDFury HDMI>Component converter, $400+ is probably more than I'd want to spend to close this damn analog hole.
That $58 Amazon HDMI directly to S-video converter sure sounds tempting(if it does what it's supposed to) and I'm not even worried if it does or doesn't remove CP, I've always got my Sima if I need that
I guess if it doesn't live up to expectations Amazon is generally a safe place to buy and return. I don't know, I'll have to thing about more.
Thanks to SuperEye for the Amazon link