I am looking for something to convert the RCA cables from my cable box and VCR to S-Video (so the receiver can do all of the switch).

Actually, my wife is tired of having to change inputs on the TV depending on what she feels like watching. She has tried to live with it, but insists that we do something about it (she even suggested using just the composite video cable instead of the S-Vid (NO!!!!). Anyway, is there such a beast?

Note: I am not looking for an video switching box or anything, just some adapters/converters.

Thanks in advance for your time.

Radio Shack has a $20 device that does just what you want.

The joys of marriage!!!

quote:<HR>Originally posted by X:
Radio Shack has a $20 device that does just what you want.<HR>

OK, what should I ask for - I went to Radio Shack this evening and they just looked at me like I was crazy...I just told them I need to take an RCA cable to an S-Video/S-VHS cable...completely blank look.

I also did not see anything in their video cable section, though the wall was pretty bare.

They're notorious for not knowing what they have in stock. Try asking them if they have 75 ohm cable with RCA connectors! They'll say no although I have 6 and 12 foot lengths bought from them.

Well, I looked around at their online site and couldn't find it. All I can tell you is it's a black inline RCA to S-Video converter. Maybe you can find it in their printed catalog. I bought one about 4 months ago and returned it because I figured out a way to not need it.

I asked a salesman at a reputable audio/video store about this 2 weeks ago. He showed me a nice little converter made by Monster Cable. When I asked how much he said $129 per! My jaw dropped. I too would be interested in a cheaper version.


Mark www.dvdtracker.com/~lastsho

You'd be better off buying a cheap S-VHS vcr (at least compared to buying the Monster adapter for $130).

They can now be had for $160, and probably less if you hunt around.
http://www.crutchfield.com/cgi-bin/S...7HRS3600&o=&a=

quote:<HR>Originally posted by stevevt:
You'd be better off buying a cheap S-VHS vcr (at least compared to buying the Monster adapter for $130).<HR>

Agreed, however, still does not solve the cable box problem...hmm, oh well, I guess my wife will just have to live with it a little longer...

I've seen the Monster version too for $100 at Circuit City. But I would still go for the Radio Shack version for $20 if it could be found by your searching the place, a RS salesperson with brains (oxymoron), or RS catalog. It was on a rack with the high quality AV cables.

I have seen (and purchased) the Radio Shack composite to S-Video converter and would stay away from it unless price is your primary consideration. While I have not seen the Monster/Entech converter, it is probably pretty good. I have seen and own a converter made by Tributaries called the Tributaries C2S http://www.tributariescable.com/tributaries.html
that works MUCH better than the Radio Shack converter (but costs around $100). The Radio Shack converter does the job, but at a cost of very noticible artifacting (even on a 27" TV). You get what you pay for.

[This message has been edited by AW (edited December 04, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by AW (edited December 04, 2000).]

Okay,

I bought from Radio Shack (in Canada) one "RCA to SVHS" (or SVHS to RCA as the case may be) converter. It is about the size of--well, it's cylindrical, has the RCA input on one side and SVHS on the other and is just big enough to do that so it's pretty small. I paid about $15 Canadian (which is about $10 US these days.

Why did I buy it? I have a laptop with a DVD player and the laptop has an SVHS output. My inlaws' TV does not have SVHS inputs. We've watched a couple of films this way without any particular problem. I've also used it on my Sony DB-930 AV receiver to see the difference between true SVHS and the RCA plug converted (the picture is, as you'd expect, different, but to my eye the picture is livable...).

Just my 2 cents' worth but I'm happy with my $10 purchase (and it IS a Radio Shack product, I'll see if I can find the packaging to give you the model #).

Hope this helps.

Andy

here ya go....
http://www.radioshack.com/product.as...5Fid=15%2D1238

i just bought one this weekend and still had the receipt in my jacket pocket.

gtr986

quote:<HR>Originally posted by gtr986:
here ya go....
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fn ame=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F002%5F002%5F018%5F000&product%5Fid=15%2D1238

i just bought one this weekend and still had the receipt in my jacket pocket.

gtr986<HR>

Thank you...I will go by and pick this up this evening (have you tried this out yet - does it work OK?)

Thanks again...

quote:<HR>Originally posted by jellis:
Thank you...I will go by and pick this up this evening (have you tried this out yet - does it work OK?)

Thanks again...<HR>

Jellis:

See my message just above gtr986's (this is the thing I'm talking about).

Andy

no problem. glad i could help.

it works fine for my needs. like yours, my wife was getting sick of having to change the inputs all of the time. our vcr was the only component whose video signal was still hooked up through a composite cable. i didn't care to invest in a new vcr, and picture quality wasn't an issue since we only use it as a tuner to watch upn (early edition of local news), the wb (buffy/angel) and occasionly view an old vhs tape. that little adapter did the trick.

I've been looking at this site for months now. But I never ordered anything from them:

http://www.svideotorca.com/svideorca.html

From what I've read in this forum, is that svideo is not that big of an imporovement over RCA. But if anyone's in the market and wants to give it a shot, I would love to have someone's opinion of their products.

quote:<HR>Originally posted by moneypenny:
I've been looking at this site for months now. But I never ordered anything from them:

http://www.svideotorca.com/svideorca.html

From what I've read in this forum, is that svideo is not that big of an imporovement over RCA. But if anyone's in the market and wants to give it a shot, I would love to have someone's opinion of their products. <HR>

I am not sure what you have been reading but their is a big difference between RCA (composite video) and S-Video. Anyone will tell you so. What is debateable is the difference between S-Video and component. Some say their is a significant difference, some say not.


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Here is another link to someone selling the adapter for 24 dollars.

http://store.yahoo.com/videoware/pigtailadapter.html

I have used this one for about 2 years now with no problems.

[This message has been edited by Bigbot (edited December 29, 2000).]