Here's a 'mail bag' item from IGN:

"I hope you are planning on reviewing the Pelican system selector with component video and optical switching and 8 inputs. I want this thing but I'm a bit leery.

--Bill Twiggy

I would be leery too. I have no idea whether the Pelican selector has the bandwidth to channel hi-def signals. It looks cool and has plenty of outlets, but we'll have to wait and see if it lives up to people's expectations. Then again, expectations are overly inflated about this device. Hi-def selectors are expensive, and a seven-channel model for under $100.00 will be necessarily limited."

If I were to call the 800 number, what exactly would I ask so they'd think I knew what I was talking about?

*dials* Well, that's reassuring. I dialed the number, and first got a hold message [All agents are busy.] Then it said If you're calling about Codebreaker, push this; if you're calling about system selectors, push 2. I pushed 2--a default message says 'Nothing has been recorded' beeps twice and that's it.
It *could* be that the system selectors have only recently gotten big enough to need their own prompt on the phone system, and whoever's in charge of it hasn't reprogrammed their IVR yet; I work in a call center, and that is quite easy to image. Or it could mean that this company is run out of somebody's garage...

I talked to Pelican at a conference, and when they showed this to me I said "That's great, but where's the remote?" and they said "It will be on a new model next year."

I don't see a point in having a system selector, let alone a $100 one that doesn't have a remote control. And yes, I am that lazy.

d'oh! I would have liked a remote, indeed. But we currently have...5, I think, in the living room, and one more might have been overkill. [/sourgrapes]. Plus that would be X more months of inconvenience and swapping cables. Yeah, that's it.
I wonder if they'll have some sort of upgrade promotion.

Anyway, I just hooked the thing up, and once I got free from the octopus nest that is behind my entertainment center, tried it out. One problem: I still only have DVD audio through the TV with one input [I've got it set up on both an 'HD' input and a regular input, and my dvd player only has one set of analog sound outputs.] So that's not an improvement; but the dvd player itself runs directly to the receiver, so I guess I can deal with it. I'll try watching some more non-anamorphic stuff on the 'HD' setting, see how I like it, then maybe run the audio to the tv on that setting.

Anyway--I ran the NASA sequence on Digital Video Essentials. Granted, I am not a scientist or expert, and I haven't even really completely calibrated my TV.....but this sequence looked as incredible as it did when hooked directly to the TV. I guess it 'might not be', actually, based on bandwidth etc, but to my naked eye, it looked excellent.

It is true that you can successfully switch component cables with a passive composite cable switcher (that is, one that doesn't need to be plugged in). I use a cheapie composite switcher to switch between DVD, Xbox, and PS2 component cables, since my TV has only one component input. Of course, this switches only video... you'll need a separate switch for audio. Although it's not an HDTV, I have heard that it transmits even HD signals fine... because it's passive, you don't have to worry about the frequency.

The toslink optical switch capability is attractive to me, though.

I have one of the Radio Shack composite switches. Was only $20, and it works fine for 420pi. I know a lot of people have had success with this device.

Sorry, I'm too lazy to do a search for it on the Radio Shack site, otherwise I would have posted a link.

Just FYI the JVC JX-S111 has 30Mhz of bandwidth. http://www.crutchfield.com/S-bcgkOeF...sp?i=257JXS111

I have one and it is crearly stated in the manual also. I don't know why amazon has it listed as only 10Mhz.

Well I got mine last night. I have the following configuration:

Inputs:

Channel 1: PS2 ---- Component Video ---- Optical Output ---- ethernet
Channel 2: Xbox ---- Component Video ---- Optical Output ---- ethernet
Channel 3: HD Sat Receiver ---- Component Video ---- Optical Output
Channel 4: DVD ---- Component Video ---- Digital Coax Connected to Composite Video
Channel 5: Laser Disk ---- S-Video ---- Digital Coax Connected to Composite Video
Channel 6: Dreamcast ---- S-Video ---- RCA Audio Output
Channel 7: Computer (currently not connected)
Channel 8: Digital Video Cam ---- S-Video ---- RCA Audio Output (Front Panel)

Output to Receiver/TV:

Component Video directly connected to 480p/1080i input on 65" Mits Widescreen
S-Video directly connected to S-Video on tv
Optical Output directly connected to optical input on receiver
Composite Video connected directly to Coax Digital Input on receiver
RCA Audio directly connected to RCA inputs on receiver
Ethernet connected directly to computer

The beauty of this setup is that I have all audio inputs shared through the same selector on the receiver. And, I only need to switch the video on the tv for the dreamcast or laser disk which neither get that much time anymore anyways.

Yep, I found that same info over at Home Theater Forum but was too lazy to come back and post it. Sorry! Thanks for the reminder.

Well, that wasn't very helpful then, was it! Sorry 'bout that.

Here's another component video selector that's gotten some good comments over at HTF: http://www.avtoolbox.com/avt-5842.htm

It's $89, lists 100Mhz bandwidth in the specs. Not as many inputs as the Pelican, no optical digital audio or other extras, but you wouldn't have to worry about its ability to handle HDTV, and the specs also say: "Selection can be made by the front panel push buttons or by the IR Remote Control." Pretty cool if it comes with or can be controlled by a remote!

Deb: In your situation, wouldn't a $20 composite selector have been a better choice? If I understand correctly, your tv does not have s-video or component inputs.

Quake I needed something that handled 6 devices at least and for $20 what you can find is 4.

Hmm... the one on Pelican's site and the one in Gamepro don't seem to be the same thing. The Gamepro unit has 8 component inputs, 3 of witch have ethernet and optical audio. The unit on Pelican's site claims only 3 component inputs...

Mine has 8.

what's the link to pelican's site? only one i found was a "coming soon" page.

maybe that's not the system selector pro?

http://pelicanperformance.com/ then hit UNIVERSAL. The PL-957 System Selector Pro is the first thing on the list.

Full Metal Casing Yes
AV/S-Video Inputs 8
Component Inputs 3
Ethernet (Broadband) Inputs 3
Optical Digital Audio Inputs 3
Dual Outputs (TV/Monitor) Yes
Back Lit/Custom Name Plates 13*
Select Buttons 8
Front Access Inputs Yes
Zero Impedance Circuitry Yes

I'm thinking it's just a typo on the site maybe.. it worried me since I was planning on getting this unit after seeing it in Gamepro, but this one's specs were different.

ok so does it have 8 true component inputs or a total of 8 hookups being composite,s-video and component.
i currently am using the jvc jx-s111,
best price iv'e seen is here
http://etronics.resultspage.com/disp...jx%2ds111&rk=3

psxfan2 are you asking if the 8 are a mix, or 8 of each? It's 8 of each.

so 8 component inputs are possible?

Yes, 8 component inputs are possible. Any way you slice, there's 8 of each :)

You can have 8 component, 8 S-Video, or 8 Composite Video inputs. Each of the 8 inputs have RCA audio inputs. The first 3 inputs also have optical audio and ethernet. I have been using it for a couple of days now and I can not tell that there is any problems with the HD signals I am using. The negative about the unit is the backlit buttons are hard to see when they are not selected. Once I have all of them memorized it shouldn't be too bad. Money well spent.

For $75, I don't think it gets better than this.

you would be crazy to spend $100 on this when you can get a perfectly good system selector on Ebay for $10 or less. I got one made by Radio Shack with 4 inputs-works perfectly.

cozmo, some of us do need the 8 inputs. You will be hard pressed to find a better deal for 8 inputs.

BTW does yours have COMPONENT inputs and ethernet and digital audio?