DIY s-video cable: is 75 ohm wire essential?

iveal · 05-06-03, 03:03 PM

I'd like to make an s-video cable for the TV & DVD player in my bedroom using some cat-5 cable. The specs for the cable is 9 ohms/100 m. I've seen a lot of component and video cables being advertised as 75 ohms. Will the difference in impedance make any difference or damage my equipment?

Also, I understand that the 4 pins in an s-video cable correspond to Y, Y-ground, C, and C-ground. I take it that, theoretically speaking, I could just jam 2 stripped strands from the 4 cat-5 pairs into where the pins would otherwise go, and this would work. Is this right?

Thanks in advance.

Frank S · 05-06-03, 10:12 PM

Why go through ALL THE TROUBLE of making your own S-Video cables when you can buy very good qaulity ones for under $15?

Unless of course it's just for the fun of making it!

iveal · 05-06-03, 10:49 PM

Buy an s-video cable?! Where's the fun in that?

Besides, I don't like my bedroom setup enough, so I don't feel that it deserves it. Anyway, I'm just curious to know if it will work, but I don't want my curiosity to fry my stuff.

icondude · 05-07-03, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Frank S
Why go through ALL THE TROUBLE of making your own S-Video cables when you can buy very good qaulity ones for under $15?

Where can I get a good one for $15?

iveal · 05-07-03, 03:42 PM

I've heard that the Dayton line from PartsExpress to be a good value. The cheap RCA ones from MCM electronics are functional. Acoustic Research is also a value brand and widely available.

http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage...._ID=167#svideo

http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebComme...il.jsp?id=DT6S

http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebComme...l.jsp?id=DT9SA

icondude · 05-08-03, 10:39 AM

I was wondering if I could get one locally at a reasonable price. Seems like all the places that carry good ones mark them up quite a bit.

GMLSKIS · 05-12-03, 07:38 PM

I saw a cheap one at Walmart yesterday for $6 for 6 feet.

icondude · 05-13-03, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by GMLSKIS
I saw a cheap one at Walmart yesterday for $6 for 6 feet.

Was it a cheap gold plated one or just a regular cheap one?

GMLSKIS · 05-15-03, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by icondude
Was it a cheap gold plated one or just a regular cheap one?

A regular cheap one, expect to pay more for gold plated.

GMLSKIS · 05-17-03, 10:58 PM

I went and bought the $6 one at Walmart today and it worked like a charm hooking my laptop computer to my TV.

05-06-03, 03:03 PM	#1
iveal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 463	DIY s-video cable: is 75 ohm wire essential? I'd like to make an s-video cable for the TV & DVD player in my bedroom using some cat-5 cable. The specs for the cable is 9 ohms/100 m. I've seen a lot of component and video cables being advertised as 75 ohms. Will the difference in impedance make any difference or damage my equipment? Also, I understand that the 4 pins in an s-video cable correspond to Y, Y-ground, C, and C-ground. I take it that, theoretically speaking, I could just jam 2 stripped strands from the 4 cat-5 pairs into where the pins would otherwise go, and this would work. Is this right? Thanks in advance.

05-06-03, 10:12 PM	#2
Frank S DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: May 1999 Location: USA Posts: 1,953	Why go through ALL THE TROUBLE of making your own S-Video cables when you can buy very good qaulity ones for under $15? Unless of course it's just for the fun of making it!

05-06-03, 10:49 PM	#3
iveal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 463	Buy an s-video cable?! Where's the fun in that? Besides, I don't like my bedroom setup enough, so I don't feel that it deserves it. Anyway, I'm just curious to know if it will work, but I don't want my curiosity to fry my stuff.

05-07-03, 03:42 PM	#5
iveal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Posts: 463	I've heard that the Dayton line from PartsExpress to be a good value. The cheap RCA ones from MCM electronics are functional. Acoustic Research is also a value brand and widely available. http://www.partsexpress.com/webpage...._ID=167#svideo http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebComme...il.jsp?id=DT6S http://mcm.newark.com/NewarkWebComme...l.jsp?id=DT9SA

05-08-03, 10:39 AM	#6
icondude Banned Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: USA Posts: 6,733	I was wondering if I could get one locally at a reasonable price. Seems like all the places that carry good ones mark them up quite a bit.

05-12-03, 07:38 PM	#7
GMLSKIS DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Visalia, Ca., USA Posts: 3,722	I saw a cheap one at Walmart yesterday for $6 for 6 feet.

05-17-03, 10:58 PM	#10
GMLSKIS DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Visalia, Ca., USA Posts: 3,722	I went and bought the $6 one at Walmart today and it worked like a charm hooking my laptop computer to my TV.