WD TV media player - using on standard TV

ChrisM001 · 03-10-2009, 19:26

I've just got one of these, as my neighbour was getting rid of it. Great for playing my media files on the TV, however as I am still in the TV dark ages and have a Panasonic 32" CRT (bought just before Plasma/LCD become the TV to have

) I can't use the HDMI cable.

For standard TV's, the connection is via the component input. Trouble is, when I connect using these there are two darker vertical bars on the screen - a problem with the TV perhaps as did not appear on a mates TV when I tried it.

So, I found my old component to SCART adaptor from the PS2, and all now is fine. However, there is obviously no power on signal in the adaptor, so each time i turn on the WD TV i have to select AV manually, whereas when using the component input (AV3 on my TV) it autosensed a signal. Is it possible to get a cable that is component at one end and a normal SCART at the other?

S-T-E-V-E · 03-10-2009, 21:57

Do you not mean Composite rather than Component which the WDTV doesn't have?

chrisjr · 03-10-2009, 22:37

Since SCART doesn't do Component either then it almost certainly has to be Composite.

ChrisM001 It will make absolutely no difference whatsoever if you use a SACRT adapter plug or a SCART to composite video lead. The two are identical from an electrical point of view. So if the adapter doesn't sense a video signal then neither will a lead.

Neither setup has the pin 8 signal used to switch the TV to the SCART input. it simply is not wired to anything whether it's an adapter or a lead. Only SCART to SCART leads will have pin 8 wired.

ChrisM001 · 03-10-2009, 23:21

Composite not component indeed - my mistake. Thanks for the info on the pin 8, another reason to get a new HD TV!!!

RobAnt · 04-10-2009, 03:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisM001

Composite not component indeed - my mistake. Thanks for the info on the pin 8, another reason to get a new HD TV!!!

Can't you use the SCART to SCART in RGB mode? This will give both a better picture and the auto sensing feature you're looking for.

japrufrock · 04-10-2009, 04:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobAnt

Can't you use the SCART to SCART in RGB mode? This will give both a better picture and the auto sensing feature you're looking for.

The WDTV doesn't have a scart connector, only composite or hdmi, so no RGB.

bobcar · 04-10-2009, 09:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by japrufrock

The WDTV doesn't have a scart connector, only composite or hdmi, so no RGB.

Unfortunately you are going the wrong way, if you wanted to convert SCART (RGB) to HDMI that would be relatively easy and cheap but the other way around is much more difficult (it's not impossible but I had a quick google and found nothing that does it, probably very few people need to do this so it's not worth any manufacturer's effort).

If you want higher quality than composite it seems like you need a new TV.

ChrisM001 · 04-10-2009, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcar

If you want higher quality than composite it seems like you need a new TV.

Thats what I told my wife......!!!! Needless to say, she is not yet convinced

03-10-2009, 19:26	#1
ChrisM001 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Shepperton, Midd'x Posts: 61	WD TV media player - using on standard TV I've just got one of these, as my neighbour was getting rid of it. Great for playing my media files on the TV, however as I am still in the TV dark ages and have a Panasonic 32" CRT (bought just before Plasma/LCD become the TV to have) I can't use the HDMI cable. For standard TV's, the connection is via the component input. Trouble is, when I connect using these there are two darker vertical bars on the screen - a problem with the TV perhaps as did not appear on a mates TV when I tried it. So, I found my old component to SCART adaptor from the PS2, and all now is fine. However, there is obviously no power on signal in the adaptor, so each time i turn on the WD TV i have to select AV manually, whereas when using the component input (AV3 on my TV) it autosensed a signal. Is it possible to get a cable that is component at one end and a normal SCART at the other?

03-10-2009, 21:57	#2
S-T-E-V-E Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Leeds, UK Posts: 844	Do you not mean Composite rather than Component which the WDTV doesn't have?

03-10-2009, 22:37	#3
chrisjr Forum Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Reading Posts: 27,916	Since SCART doesn't do Component either then it almost certainly has to be Composite. ChrisM001 It will make absolutely no difference whatsoever if you use a SACRT adapter plug or a SCART to composite video lead. The two are identical from an electrical point of view. So if the adapter doesn't sense a video signal then neither will a lead. Neither setup has the pin 8 signal used to switch the TV to the SCART input. it simply is not wired to anything whether it's an adapter or a lead. Only SCART to SCART leads will have pin 8 wired.

03-10-2009, 23:21	#4
ChrisM001 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Shepperton, Midd'x Posts: 61	Composite not component indeed - my mistake. Thanks for the info on the pin 8, another reason to get a new HD TV!!!

04-10-2009, 03:42	#5
RobAnt Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: South West Posts: 10,218	Quote: Originally Posted by ChrisM001 Composite not component indeed - my mistake. Thanks for the info on the pin 8, another reason to get a new HD TV!!! Can't you use the SCART to SCART in RGB mode? This will give both a better picture and the auto sensing feature you're looking for.

04-10-2009, 04:01	#6
japrufrock Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 47	Quote: Originally Posted by RobAnt Can't you use the SCART to SCART in RGB mode? This will give both a better picture and the auto sensing feature you're looking for. The WDTV doesn't have a scart connector, only composite or hdmi, so no RGB.

04-10-2009, 09:12	#7
bobcar Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 14,718	Quote: Originally Posted by japrufrock The WDTV doesn't have a scart connector, only composite or hdmi, so no RGB. Unfortunately you are going the wrong way, if you wanted to convert SCART (RGB) to HDMI that would be relatively easy and cheap but the other way around is much more difficult (it's not impossible but I had a quick google and found nothing that does it, probably very few people need to do this so it's not worth any manufacturer's effort). If you want higher quality than composite it seems like you need a new TV.

04-10-2009, 09:22	#8
ChrisM001 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Shepperton, Midd'x Posts: 61	Quote: Originally Posted by bobcar If you want higher quality than composite it seems like you need a new TV. Thats what I told my wife......!!!! Needless to say, she is not yet convinced

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WD TV media player - using on standard TV