question about s-video "y" adaptor
03-06-02, 12:12 PM
#4
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I tried a VGA "Y" cable with bad results. Unfortunately the two sources are always hooked together in this configuration, whether off or on, and the output suffered. It appeared to attenuate the strength of the picture by about a factor of 2, probably due to an impedance change caused by the two sources hooked in parallel. When one source was removed the picture was fine.
I would not have much hope for an s-video "Y" either. What I have found is that if a strange adapter is really hard to find and you don't find much info on it, it's usually because it doesn't work very well.
I would not have much hope for an s-video "Y" either. What I have found is that if a strange adapter is really hard to find and you don't find much info on it, it's usually because it doesn't work very well.
03-06-02, 12:23 PM
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What about one of those Video Game system choosers? It allows to hook up 4 sources and choose which one you want to use. I'm pretty sure they have ones which use S-video, but I don't know of the quality.
03-07-02, 06:22 AM
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I have used an s-y adaptor for some time now and it works perfectly with no visible loss of signal. But, I am going from one source to 2 TVs. They are becoming easy to find now with Radio Shack selling one for under $10.
03-07-02, 12:36 PM
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Hmm, for under $10 I'd give it a try. They didn't have one at my local Radio Shack, maybe I'll go to a bigger location.
I can definitely see where the y-adaptor would divide the signal, but I wonder if it's noticable or just on paper. $40 is about as cheap as it gets with a switch and extra s-video cable, and that's a bit much.
I can definitely see where the y-adaptor would divide the signal, but I wonder if it's noticable or just on paper. $40 is about as cheap as it gets with a switch and extra s-video cable, and that's a bit much.
03-07-02, 01:35 PM
#8
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One source to two TVs is fine with a Y-adapter. Two sources to one TV, however, almost always isn't. If the two sources are both always off when not in use, then it MIGHT be alright if the second is turned off while the first is in use.
03-07-02, 02:48 PM
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Radio Shack now sells a couple of switchers that allow you to input 4 or 7 video sources and feed the signals, whether composite or S-video to your monitor with an S-video input. The switcher will convert the composite inputs to S-video (though it will not improve their quality). The benefit of using a switcher like this is that you are only feeding one signal to the monitor.
The prices I saw at a local RS were not bad (I think 79.95 and 149.95)
The prices I saw at a local RS were not bad (I think 79.95 and 149.95)
03-07-02, 05:52 PM
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Originally posted by aardvarkmi
Radio Shack now sells a couple of switchers that allow you to input 4 or 7 video sources and feed the signals, whether composite or S-video to your monitor with an S-video input. The switcher will convert the composite inputs to S-video (though it will not improve their quality). The benefit of using a switcher like this is that you are only feeding one signal to the monitor.
The prices I saw at a local RS were not bad (I think 79.95 and 149.95)
Radio Shack now sells a couple of switchers that allow you to input 4 or 7 video sources and feed the signals, whether composite or S-video to your monitor with an S-video input. The switcher will convert the composite inputs to S-video (though it will not improve their quality). The benefit of using a switcher like this is that you are only feeding one signal to the monitor.
The prices I saw at a local RS were not bad (I think 79.95 and 149.95)
03-08-02, 06:07 AM
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I also saw these splitters a few weeks ago at one of the local Boston area computer shows. They were selling them for $6.95. They are just a simple device that looks similar to a regular video y splitter. They really shouldn't be charging much more than $10-$20 for these things.
03-08-02, 10:35 AM
#13
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Those s-video splitters work as long as both signals aren't active at the same time. For example, if you have it split to 2 tvs, you are fine as long as you don't have both TVs on at the same time. If you do, both try to draw more current from the signal that can be provided by splitting it. You end up getting horrible picture quality (dark, washed out, dull). As soon as you turn the 2nd tv off then the picture quality on the first tv goes back to normal.
The reason why the more expensive ones work is they are powered to boost the signal strength that would otherwise be lost by splitting the signal.
The reason why the more expensive ones work is they are powered to boost the signal strength that would otherwise be lost by splitting the signal.
