Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

Hiya live fans...

I just got a new TV, a Sharp 28JW-74H 28" widescreen.

It has an S-Video socket on the front & I have a S-Video/AV cable.

The cable has the Black 4 pin plug & 3 phono plugs.

Thing is when I plug all the plugs into the front sockets the picture is Black & White, when I pull out the 4 pin plug its colour.

Am I supposed to just use the Black 4 pin plug for this & will the picture be any better than using a std AV cable into the SCART socket?

Cheers,
Zoombini.

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

The S-Video Cable connects to the S-video socket and the right(red) and left(white) cable audio sockets of your tv. This should give superior audio and visual quality with added picture luminance.Apparently. :)

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

you dont wanna plug the yellow phono in at the same time as the svideo lead otherwise i think you'll be confusing the electronics as 2 different video sources are coming in at the same time :eek:

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

So the Yellow one is not connected then?

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

And while I am at it, what mode do I need a wide screen TV in to see "Stargate" instead of "targat"?

I'm beginning to wonder if I'm watching a new scifi series based on Stargate..lol

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

OK, searching around shows only 1 connetor for this, so I dont think I have to plug the phono plugs in when using it. I shall try later when on t'box...

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

If you want to use svideo then plug the svideo lead and the red/white leads in but NOT the yellow one. If your widescreen telly supports RGB i STRONGLY recommend you get the advanced cable as it makes the picture even better :)

The mode to turn targat into stargate is "16:9" :)

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

Actually first of all try it with JUST the svideo lead plugged in as im not sure if the lead carries sound with it, im pretty sure it doesnt however try first just to make sure. If you get sound with just the svideo lead plugged in you dont need to plug in any of the phonos. If you get no sound then plug in the white/red ones.

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

Oh yes, I forgot about sound..lol

Thanks for the info.

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

Hi Zoombini,

Firstly the S-Video connector does NOT carry audio, so you will need to use the RED and WHITE Audio leads. But as stated earlier, DO NOT connect the yellow lead aswell (This is the composite video).

Secondly in terms of quality of picture, S-Video is far superior than composite (single yellow). RGB is supposed to be even better than S-Video, but on my 32" Sony, I've done many comparisons, and I personally can't see much in it! (If you only have 1 RGB enabled scart, I'd keep this for your DVD player)

One further point - If you use you deceide you want to connect the x-box to one of the rear panel scart connectors, and you buy a S-Video to Scart adapter (which also allows you to connect the Red & White Audio leads), you may need to go to one of your TV menus and select S-Video on that scart socket, as I'm sure that the RGB and S-Video signals share some common pins).

Good Luck and stick with it, because you will reap the rewards!
Zorilla

PS: The standard scart AV cable I think only carries the video in Composite - hence why you should definately get the S-Video working, as it should be much better. For Scart pin out try: http://www.daveladd.demon.co.uk/pscart/scartpinout.html

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

Well I tried it again, using the S-Video plug & the audio ones only.

Its still in Black & White.
I have the correct input selected as "front s-video" on the AV control. I think that maybe I need to try the Xbox & lead on another TV before I go back to Currys complaining about it.

I will also try and find a SCART/S-video converter to try..

Cheers, Zoombini.

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

go buy the Advanced SCART cable. It's RGB, and makes a huge difference. I have constantly been surprised by how much better RGB is than S-video. Just be sure to plug it into the correct port on ur TV, only one of your SCARTS will support RGB. Further, you will need to switch on RGB in the video settings on ur XBox Dashboard. When you've done all that, and you select your AV channel, the one you want to look for is RGB, rather than AV1/AV2/S-video/etc..

S-video is good. I used to always use it. RGB is better.

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

I have the std SCART cable that comes with the Xbox.

I cannot find any settings for turning on RGB in the Xbox Dashboard?
Only screen size & PAL60 support?

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

you have set the xbox to output svideo havent you... ( i think there is an option for this, may be wrong though )

the 'black and white via svideo' is what i get if either the transmission is really composite(xbox set wrong), or the svideo is being interpreted as composite(tv set wrong).

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

the 'RGB' option is only available when the advanced scart is plugged in i believe.

odd there is no svideo option, I thought there was...

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

zoombini, do you by any chance have a panasonic set?

If so try pressing the yellow button i think it is, twice (the coloured button you pressed to get it onto svideo). I remember having the EXACT same troubles on christmas day when i got my xbox! I was severly ****ed and thought my xbox had broken already! :eek:

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

oops ok i just read you have a sharp set...still the principle is probably the same. Try pressing the button you pressed to get it to the correct av output again. Unfortunatly it seems TV manuals are getting worse and worse, our panasonic manual doesnt mention this at all as well as other stuff :(

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

Will do..

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

No. Thats not the same thing. The cable that comes with the Xbox is a composite lead (poorest quality) with a SCART adaptor. Thats not the same thing as an RGB SCART. With the RGB SCART plugged in, if memory serves, you'll see an option allowing you to select the output... and you can choose RGB.

You'll also notice, if you've plugged the cable into the correct place, that your TV channel says RGB instead of AV1 or whatever.

An RGB SCART cable is the single most important purchase after the console itself. I use the Advanced RGB SCART from MS because it has Dolby Digital optical connection too, but the regular RGB SCART lead which also must be bought and not confused with the standard lead can also be used.

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

there is no option in the xbox dashboard whether to choose rgb or not. If you have an RGB enabled xbox->scart lead then it will automatically output scart :) (in the same way if you have the advanced lead the 5.1 options appear in the dashboard, intelligent leads eh ;))

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

AHA! Yes Exolus you were correct, pressing the button twice did bring it up into colour.

And what an excellent picture it is.

Its a pity that the lead plugs into the front to do it, I will have to get an adapter so it plugs into the scart/s-video socket at the back.

Then maybe some time I can go for an RGB cable..

Thanks for the help guys.

The next problem with it is that the lines are bowed slightly & I need to adjust the vertical bow on it, good job I have the service manual..lol

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

glad you got it working :) Might be cheaper to go straight for the RGB cable though than getting a scart/svideo socket first ;)

Just make sure your TV supports RGB otherwise you're obviously wasting cash :)

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

Dunno about that, I'm sure that the cable will cost me more than 86p...lol

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

ye. i couldnt remember, I have so many consoles. :rolleyes:

yes. definately go get an RGB lead, the picture will improve again. honestly.

all the way thru the SNES and PS1 I was using S-video. Then with the PS2 I started out with S-video again, and my mate brought up his RGB lead, and we put PES on. The extra sharpness and defination was amazing. Its almost the same again as going from composite to s-video when going from s-video to RGB.

on launch night, me and my 2 mates had a word with the manager of GAME and had him put aside 3 Advanced SCART leads so that we knew when midnight came and we could buy our boxes, that we would definately have the RGB leads. They were that important to us. :cool:

Re: Using a S-Video cable & the Xbox?
 

Actually, looking at it I am quite satisfied with the composite, so the S-video is fine by me.
Unless I manage to get an RGB cable for a similar price that the S-video one cost me (from poundland) I will stick as I am ta.