Seriously Frustrated - Need Help With Cable -> LCD TV

[BRUN]

when we got our new LCD TV i connected it all up and noticed that the cable tv looked better when viewed through our DVD HDD Recorder to TV, than using the AV that was direct to the cable box

i presumed from info on AV Forums that only one of the scart connections on the TV was a 'good' one, so i decided to connect the cable box directly to that, and connect the cable box to the DVD HDD Recorder via Scart, and then that to the TV via component cables, however this is no different, whatever is connected to the TV via the good scart connection gives the best picture, whether its cable coming through the DVD HDD Recorder, or whether its the cable box connected directly

really starting to get annoyed with this, why is the picture quality not the same when viewing from the same source, only one input on the TV seems to give good results

 

[Da]

i'm a little confused, are you using 2 scart leads 1 for each input? Are they the same quality or is that not the issue?

 

[BRUN]

right, the TV has 2 scart inputs, amongst other inputs, originally i had it connected like this

AV1
Cable Box->DVD HDD Recorder->TV

AV2
Cable Box->TV

all using similar quality scart leads

AV1 gave better cable picture than AV2, so i decided to connect the cable box directly to the TV using a scart lead and AV1 on the TV, i also decided that since the AV2 socket on the back of the TV didnt seem to be giving me as good picture as AV1, i would connect the DVD HDD Recorder to the TV using component cables, which i have now done, so at the moment i have

AV1
Cable->TV via Scart

AV/Component
Cable->DVD HDD Recorder via Scart, then DVD HDD Recorder->TV via component cables

 

[V1NNY]

if you want High Def you will need to use DVI or HDMI input cables

 

[Williams025]

He wont need high def as he doesnt have a high def source (see his previous thread - and a component cable will gove you high def anyway).

You are right in that only one scart will be a 'good' scart as one of them will be RGB capable and the other will be a normal scart. RGB is superior to a normal signal, and this is almost always AV1. Plug the source into AV1 (which I think you have) and ensure the source is set to output RGB in the settings / main menu. This will give you a much better picture and for an SD source is more than you need.

I'm still confused though, as it looks as if your cable box is plugged into both scarts? If you want all your sources through the RGB socket, you could buy a multiple scart adapter and run them all through the same one. If you do, make sure all sources are set to RGB and you will get a much better signal. Make sure the DVD recorder is set to RGB as well, this should show an improvement on both the scart (on AV1) and component connections.

 

[BRUN]

it is, it is plugged directly into the TV, and through the DVD HDD Recorder aswell

i have done this so that if we want to record normal TV on the DVD HDD Recorder, we can still watch cable, otherwise we wouldnt be able to, would we ?

 

[Timb1984]

Buy this: Joytech AV Control center.

http://www.joytech.net/8/products/av/9/AV-Equipment.htm

 

[Williams025]

Ah I see. Personally, I'd buy a scart adapter (like the one above, though there are cheaper ones around) and run all the SD stuff through AV1. High def TVs are geared up mainly for HD so seem to skimp on the quality SD connections.

 

[Mike_182]

Post above or two that suggested only one will be good, my TV has all three scarts selectable as Composite, RGB or S-Video.

Never use them though, got Sky HD for recording, HD/SD DVD player is X-Box360.

Don't need anything else, if I want to burn a DVD my media PC (also connected through HDMI) has that option.

 

[Williams025]

^^^ yes, on more expensive TVs you will find you can select an output, but generally TVs will only have one RGB enabled socket.

 

[BRUN]

Ah I see. Personally, I'd buy a scart adapter (like the one above, though there are cheaper ones around) and run all the SD stuff through AV1. High def TVs are geared up mainly for HD so seem to skimp on the quality SD connections.

i am doing now, ive got the TV scart out on the cable box into AV1 on the TV which shows good picture

however, when viewing cable through the DVD/HDD Recorder, which is connected to the TV using component leads, the picture is not as good and when i change the picture settings on the cable box from RGB to Composite there is no difference in quality, when i do that on AV1 i can see a definite difference

 

[Williams025]

It could be that the DVD recorder's socket isnt RGB enabled (which shouldnt happen). It seems its losing the RGB / component in going through the recorder. Is this set to RGB too?

 

[Mike_182]

Ah I see. Personally, I'd buy a scart adapter (like the one above, though there are cheaper ones around) and run all the SD stuff through AV1. High def TVs are geared up mainly for HD so seem to skimp on the quality SD connections.

i am doing now, ive got the TV scart out on the cable box into AV1 on the TV which shows good picture

however, when viewing cable through the DVD/HDD Recorder, which is connected to the TV using component leads, the picture is not as good and when i change the picture settings on the cable box from RGB to Composite there is no difference in quality, when i do that on AV1 i can see a definite difference

What brand is the DVD/HDD recorder? Without being offensive a lot of people buy the cheapest one they see with little or no research into the technology and connectivity of these devices - particularly in regard to futureproofing (which is pointless alot of the time anyway).

I think it may be worth having a look through the destruction manual for the DVD box to see what inputs it accepts.

 

[BRUN]

It could be that the DVD recorder's socket isnt RGB enabled (which shouldnt happen). It seems its losing the RGB / component in going through the recorder. Is this set to RGB too?

nope it cant be that, cos when i connect cable->dvd->tv using scarts, and connect them to AV1 the picture is good

its a Panasonic DIGA DVD HDD Recorder 80Gb, cost about £200

 

[Mike_182]

Hmm. Panasonic are usually pretty good with their connection types. If you get the model of it and do a google, that might help.

 

[BRUN]

Well i thought by not using the other poor scart and puttin the dvd in by component cables i wouldnt have this problem ... But i do ... I think the key is that on anything other than av1 the cable picture settings dont have an affect

 

[BRUN]

ive been told another option i have to view cable seperately from the DVD is to use the RF in/out on my equipment but that wont give me good quality either will it, RF cables are poor arent they ?

 

[Williams025]

Yeah, RF is rubbish, better off using a piece of string.

Have you tired swapping the scart cables around? Just thinking thats the only thing that hasn't been tried, maybe the cable running from the DVD player to the TV, or the cable between the cable box and the DVD might not be capable of running an RGB signal (though, TBH most are)?

 

[BRUN]

the scarts im using are JVC, 2 of which are flat gold plated ones

 

[V1NNY]

Monster cable is the only way forward, considering how much you prob spent on your tv and dvd player why cost cut at the cables, we had a demo in store from monster and they are just brilliant, have a look here http://www.monstercable.com/ or pop into your local comet and get them to demo a cable for you trust me its worth it

 

[BRUN]

but its not cable related, because if i just connect to AV1 its perfect