Strange goings on with DVD player showing on 2 TVS

AFC69 · 23-09-2009, 22:19

Just took delivery today of a Toshiba 37XV635 37 inch LCD Tv, and very nice it is too.

However, I have a strange problem which I wander if anyone can work out for me.

No HDMI socket on Panny DVD recorder, so I have it connected to my Sky HD box via Scart, (AV2 "in" scart on Panny to upper scart socket on the Sky HD box, and another scart cable from the Panny DVD AV1 "out" socket to the TV. This is to allow me to record from Sky to DVD in RGB.

I have another 10 metre scart cable running from the lower SKy HD socket to another TV next door. Now, when I play a DVD, the picture is perfect on the Toshiba TV, but it also plays on the TV next door, cutting into the Sky picture.

Didn't do it on my old Sky + box and old analog TV setup, but since I've upgraded to Sky HD and new LCD Tv, this happens. Only difference is I am now using HDMI between the TV and Sky box.

chrisjr · 23-09-2009, 23:03

Just to confirm, the DVD is on the TV SCART on the Sky box and the second TV on the VCR SCART of the Sky box?

Now I could understand if they were the other way round as that is exactly what is meant to happen. So If I were you I would double check your SCART connections.

Basically when the DVD player goes into PLAY mode it puts a voltage on pin 8 of the SCART. If connected to the VCR SCART of the Sky box this signal is detected and the Sky box switches the TV SCART away from Sky and passes through the DVD signals.

I would be surprised however if it worked in reverse, ie a pin 8 voltage on the TV SCART in effect reversed the connection. The Sky box would more likely put it's own pin 8 voltage on the TV SCART to signal to the TV that there is something to watch.

I rather suspect you have the DVD on the VCR SCART and the TV on the TV SCART and the Sky box is simply doing what it is told. If not then it is either faulty or a bit cleverer than the old box.

If the SCARTs are the correct way round then have a look in the set-up of the DVD. From memory of my old Panny DVD there should be a way to disable the SCART switching signal. Failing that take a pair of cutters to Pin 8 on the SCART lead

AFC69 · 24-09-2009, 08:51

The 2nd TV is connected to the bottom scart on the Samsung Sky HD box, which I think is TV out, and the DVD rec is connected to the top scart socket, which I assume is VCR in/out. I'll check when I go home tonight.

So, if I chop pin 8 on the scart plug, is this on the scart cable that would go from the DVD rec to the Sky box VCR socket?

chrisjr · 24-09-2009, 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFC69

The 2nd TV is connected to the bottom scart on the Samsung Sky HD box, which I think is TV out, and the DVD rec is conencted to the top scart socket, which I assume is VCR in/out. I'll check when I go home tonight.

If you do indeed have the DVD on the VCR SCART and the TV on the TV SCART then the pin 8 signal will indeed switch the TV feed over when you play a DVD.

But you will be unlikely to have RGB on the VCR SCART of the Sky box. Most boxes only do RGB from the TV SCART, which is why I assumed you had the DVD on the TV SCART when you mentioned you were recording RGB from Sky.

And as i said if the DVD were on the TV SCART then it should not switch the second TV away from Sky when playing.

AFC69 · 24-09-2009, 13:52

I think I've sussed what I need to do.

I used to use a Scart distribution amplifier, which took a scart cable from Sky "out" socket, then had 3 outputs, thus allowing me to connect the 2nd TV, and also feed a scart cable to the DVD rec, all in RGB. The other Sky scart socket, the in/out scart, wasn't used. I thought I could get away with not using the scart distribution amp in my new set up, but it's obvious now that I will still need it.

Sorry, forget to mention the use of the scart amp in my previous setup.

But, thinking ahead, if I buy a Blue Ray DVD recorder, THEN I can dump the Scart amp as the DVD rec will simply use an HDMI connection to the main TV, thus freeing up the Sky out scart for the 2nd TV only.

Happy now. The scart amp can be a bit of a pain cos the 2nd TV loses it's RGB signal sometimes, thus requiring a power cycle, but it's the only way I think I'll be able to tick all my boxes in my current setup.

23-09-2009, 22:19	#1
AFC69 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 439	Strange goings on with DVD player showing on 2 TVS Just took delivery today of a Toshiba 37XV635 37 inch LCD Tv, and very nice it is too. However, I have a strange problem which I wander if anyone can work out for me. No HDMI socket on Panny DVD recorder, so I have it connected to my Sky HD box via Scart, (AV2 "in" scart on Panny to upper scart socket on the Sky HD box, and another scart cable from the Panny DVD AV1 "out" socket to the TV. This is to allow me to record from Sky to DVD in RGB. I have another 10 metre scart cable running from the lower SKy HD socket to another TV next door. Now, when I play a DVD, the picture is perfect on the Toshiba TV, but it also plays on the TV next door, cutting into the Sky picture. Didn't do it on my old Sky + box and old analog TV setup, but since I've upgraded to Sky HD and new LCD Tv, this happens. Only difference is I am now using HDMI between the TV and Sky box.

23-09-2009, 23:03	#2
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Just to confirm, the DVD is on the TV SCART on the Sky box and the second TV on the VCR SCART of the Sky box? Now I could understand if they were the other way round as that is exactly what is meant to happen. So If I were you I would double check your SCART connections. Basically when the DVD player goes into PLAY mode it puts a voltage on pin 8 of the SCART. If connected to the VCR SCART of the Sky box this signal is detected and the Sky box switches the TV SCART away from Sky and passes through the DVD signals. I would be surprised however if it worked in reverse, ie a pin 8 voltage on the TV SCART in effect reversed the connection. The Sky box would more likely put it's own pin 8 voltage on the TV SCART to signal to the TV that there is something to watch. I rather suspect you have the DVD on the VCR SCART and the TV on the TV SCART and the Sky box is simply doing what it is told. If not then it is either faulty or a bit cleverer than the old box. If the SCARTs are the correct way round then have a look in the set-up of the DVD. From memory of my old Panny DVD there should be a way to disable the SCART switching signal. Failing that take a pair of cutters to Pin 8 on the SCART lead

24-09-2009, 08:51	#3
AFC69 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 439	The 2nd TV is connected to the bottom scart on the Samsung Sky HD box, which I think is TV out, and the DVD rec is connected to the top scart socket, which I assume is VCR in/out. I'll check when I go home tonight. So, if I chop pin 8 on the scart plug, is this on the scart cable that would go from the DVD rec to the Sky box VCR socket?

24-09-2009, 08:58	#4
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Quote: Originally Posted by AFC69 The 2nd TV is connected to the bottom scart on the Samsung Sky HD box, which I think is TV out, and the DVD rec is conencted to the top scart socket, which I assume is VCR in/out. I'll check when I go home tonight. If you do indeed have the DVD on the VCR SCART and the TV on the TV SCART then the pin 8 signal will indeed switch the TV feed over when you play a DVD. But you will be unlikely to have RGB on the VCR SCART of the Sky box. Most boxes only do RGB from the TV SCART, which is why I assumed you had the DVD on the TV SCART when you mentioned you were recording RGB from Sky. And as i said if the DVD were on the TV SCART then it should not switch the second TV away from Sky when playing.

24-09-2009, 13:52	#5
AFC69 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Aberdeen Posts: 439	I think I've sussed what I need to do. I used to use a Scart distribution amplifier, which took a scart cable from Sky "out" socket, then had 3 outputs, thus allowing me to connect the 2nd TV, and also feed a scart cable to the DVD rec, all in RGB. The other Sky scart socket, the in/out scart, wasn't used. I thought I could get away with not using the scart distribution amp in my new set up, but it's obvious now that I will still need it. Sorry, forget to mention the use of the scart amp in my previous setup. But, thinking ahead, if I buy a Blue Ray DVD recorder, THEN I can dump the Scart amp as the DVD rec will simply use an HDMI connection to the main TV, thus freeing up the Sky out scart for the 2nd TV only. Happy now. The scart amp can be a bit of a pain cos the 2nd TV loses it's RGB signal sometimes, thus requiring a power cycle, but it's the only way I think I'll be able to tick all my boxes in my current setup.

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Strange goings on with DVD player showing on 2 TVS