HDTV question

[Jason1]

Okay on Wednesday we are getting HDTV installed from the cable company. Problem is im allready using the two Component inputs on the back of my TV for the dvd player and Gamecube respectivly. I did notice that we have one of the white connectors such as the one seen in the following picture.(note that isnt the back of my TV, but thats the only picture I could find with that type of connnector.) Im not sure if the HDTV box could output to that, in fact im not even sure what the heck that white connector is. So im asking what that white connector is, and could the HDTV box that we will be getting use it? Also, if the answer is no, is there some sort of component switch type thing that would turn one component input into two, so I wouldnt have to constantly switch the gamecube and the DVD player when I want to use them?(Im hoping I dont have to do this) Can anybody shed any light on this subject?

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/7196/7196465_ba.jpg

[Fox 6]

Back in the day when i had the xbox downstairs we also had a dvd player and and N64 that we used to. So we had a splitter thing. It was basically a little box with sets of AV jacks (numbered 1- 4) in the back that everything plugged into, and when we wanted to use a perticular item we would just push in a button on the box that cordinated with the set of jacks that the item was plugged into. Hope this helps. you can buy them at any electronic store.

[Jason1]

Yea, im hoping I dont have to do that, but yea thats exactly what I was talking about. Id just have to make sure it would keep the signal Component quality.

[Stonecutter]

Okay on Wednesday we are getting HDTV installed from the cable company. Problem is im allready using the two Component inputs on the back of my TV for the dvd player and Gamecube respectivly. I did notice that we have one of the white connectors such as the one seen in the following picture.(note that isnt the back of my TV, but thats the only picture I could find with that type of connnector.) Im not sure if the HDTV box could output to that, in fact im not even sure what the heck that white connector is. So im asking what that white connector is, and could the HDTV box that we will be getting use it? Also, if the answer is no, is there some sort of component switch type thing that would turn one component input into two, so I wouldnt have to constantly switch the gamecube and the DVD player when I want to use them?(Im hoping I dont have to do this) Can anybody shed any light on this subject?

http://images.bestbuy.com/BestBuy_US/images/products/7196/7196465_ba.jpg


The white connector is a DVI port. You may or may not be able to output to it. It's going to depend on your box.

Unfortunately there are many, HD providers (Comcast is one of them, I believe Charter is another) that do not allow the boxes to output from their DVI port. This is done to prevent you from copying HDTV to DVD. I'm not exactly sure how that works, it seems like a load of **** to me cause the best you could hope for would be 480p but regardless, my Comcast box HAS a dvi port, but will not output from it, it is disabled.

If you want perfect picture quality, you're going to have to spend about 300-400 on a component switcher box. I went the cheap route and got a pelican box from wal mart for about 100. There is a very slight loss in picture quality that I'm willing to live with to save the money.

[Null]

yea... a switcher box for component cables is the easiest way.

DVI plug is what a LCD monitor would use on the pc, some DVD players will have em too, i think most are switching to the HDMI plugs now tho. however there are easily cheap adapters that will change a DVI plug into component cables.. at no loss because DVI is better quality then component anyway.
So yes you could use that for your box, it just wont be outta the DVI plug on the box because of what stonecutter says, its disabled.


i always like a good switch box tho because everything is right there and to plug new things in i dont have to go to the back of the tv.

[Professor S]

I've used a switch box for years. I still play my older systems pretty often (No Mercy still rocks and the Dreamcast never gets old) so it was a pain to constantly be plugging and unplugging connections.

You can find a switch box almost anywhere, like EB or Best Buy, and they are pretty cheap. I have my Xbox, Gamecube, N64 and VCR (shares time with the Dreamcast) all hooked up right now.

[Stonecutter]

This is what I was talking about. I've googled everywhere and cant find it in stock, but this thing, should it become avaliable again, is awesome.

http://www.4compuelectron.com/applications/search/itemdetails.asp?sku=CP-PL957

8 switches, 3 of which support Component AND Toslink. There's also at least 3 S video and 3 ethernet ports. It also has a full set of imputs on the front (they're under a flap) should you ever have a friend over who wants to set up a system you don't already own.

[Jason1]

however there are easily cheap adapters that will change a DVI plug into component cables.. at no loss because DVI is better quality then component anyway.
So yes you could use that for your box, it just wont be outta the DVI plug on the box because of what stonecutter says, its disabled.





Would a adapter like that be easily available at a major electronic store? Does anyone have a link to what one would look like?

Also, dont you mean the other way around? Like the adaptor would change component cables into a DVI plug to go into the TV, not DVI to component.

[Null]

things like that work both ways usually.

but ya, you'd have something like this plugged into the back of your TV. and plug the component into it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814999203

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImageCompressAll125/14-999-203-01.JPG


Ideal for gaming, surfing the Internet, watching DVDs on your big screen TV

Supports 480i (interlaced) 480p (progressive), 720p and 1080i formats

Works with any analog component (YPrPb) input device such as projectors, HDTVs, etc.


that might be the cheapest way if your just looking to turn that one plug into a component.

something like Radioshack might have some like it also.

[Jason1]

things like that work both ways usually.

but ya, you'd have something like this plugged into the back of your TV. and plug the component into it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814999203

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/ProductImageCompressAll125/14-999-203-01.JPG



that might be the cheapest way if your just looking to turn that one plug into a component.

something like Radioshack might have some like it also.


This sounded like my best bet, so I went ahead and bought it. Only problem, it dosent fit into my TV. If you look closely at the pic of the back of the TV in the top of this thread, there are not 4 little holes around the single longer connector. Now if you look at the following picture I bought, there ARE the 4 little holes around the flat connector.

http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/14-999-205-03.JPG

So to put it simply, it dosent fit so im going to try to send it back...if anyone could find one somewhere online that DOES fit (AKA dosent have those 4 little connectors aroud the single connector), please let me know.

[Null]

thats interesting, i've never seen a different type for DVI, (obviously its ATI's own veriation of it, dunno why they'd do that) but sorry bout that, didnt even notice thoes extra pins.


Sorry about that..

now there was others on newegg, (they must be sold out at the moment cuz they're not listed) but if you have a radioshack nearby i know i've saw some there before.

i'll try and look around for some more.

[Jason1]

thats interesting, i've never seen a different type for DVI, (obviously its ATI's own veriation of it, dunno why they'd do that) but sorry bout that, didnt even notice thoes extra pins.


Sorry about that..

now there was others on newegg, (they must be sold out at the moment cuz they're not listed) but if you have a radioshack nearby i know i've saw some there before.

i'll try and look around for some more.


Alright thanks, you dont have to apoligise, you were just trying to help, newegg offers a good return policy anyways so I will get most of my money back. Yea I might just check radioshack soon if nothing can be found, although ive been searching around a bit also, and the ones ive seen all seem to be ATI's version with those pins...