Lektropack Scart Switchers

MitsiTurbo · 21-12-2004, 14:25

Has anybody got/used one of this companies scart switchers?? What are your thoughts?

I am looking at the 5 way one: Scart Switcher

My current setup is:

Xbox > Video Recorder > Sky+ > DVD recorder > AV1 (all these are outputting/Passing through RGB).
I then have my PS2 going into AV2, and my n64 (with doctor v64

) going into the tv via RF.

I have now obtained RGB cables for both PS2 and N64 and would obviously like to connect these up aswell. The 5 way switcher would allow me to use the following configuration:

Xbox, PS2, N64, + 1 RGB spare > Video Recorder > sky+ and so on.

Does this sound like the best way of doing things to you experts?? And am i looking at a good product here?!

Many Thanks for any help

MitsiTurbo · 23-12-2004, 07:52

anyone?? (sorry to bump this but i wanna know that im buying a good product!)

Cheers

mikatt · 23-12-2004, 13:33

Hi check out QED-uk.com Quintro BT945 at £58.14 + delivery I think this is the same machine I've got one and works great

Mike

Skip Channel · 23-12-2004, 14:22

I've got the Quintro+. It's been a lifesaver as no other switcher/hub on the market could even come close to connecting up all my AV equipment.

I do have some gripes with it though. There's still not enough SCART sockets on it (IMHO), one of the SCARTs isn't RGB (so think of it as a four way if you want RGB on all) and you can't do a mix of s-video and RGB.

I paid near enough £100 for mine so I think for £58.14 (ex del) it's a steal.

Now to answer your questions!

There's many different configurations you can choose, it all depends on what you want to achieve and what is possible. I doubt you want to record anything other than Sky+ and terrestrial TV? And the VCR is now only used for old tapes? You don't want to record PS2 or N64 but it's possible you may want to record Xbox (I'm guessing that you may watch Divxs on that - afterall you do have a 'doctor' thingy for the N64!).

So this is what I'd do with that equipment:

Sky+ > 'satellite' SCART
DVD recorder > 'VCR' SCART
VCR > 'AUX' SCART (that's the non-RGB one)
Xbox > 'DVD' SCART
PS2 > 'LD' SCART
N64 > Sky+'s 2nd SCART

That way you can record on to DVD any source (except N64) whilst watching another. That includes any Divxs you have as well as non-macrovisioned DVDs. You can even dub one DVD whilst watching another.

I'd definately recommend it. You're just lucky - I had a right headache connecting 9 things to mine, plus my amp and a videosender. Put it this way, I don't do the dusting often!

MitsiTurbo · 23-12-2004, 14:38

Quote:

Put it this way, I don't do the dusting often!

Haha, i know what you mean!! I went behind all my equipment a few days ago when i was first planning this and i was sneezing for hours!!

Looks like ill definetely get one of these then. Finally be able to get all my sources in full RGB glory!!

Youre right about only wanting to record sky+ and terrestrial, and yes the VCR is only for playback of old tapes. I have no interest in recording from PS2, N64 or Xbox actually. I do indeed use it for divx but these are streamed from a server and i dont download or create these anymore. Dont make the grade quality wise!! So that whole setup you suggested looks spot on.

A few things that might affect it though: Currently, the scart lead going from sky+ to dvd recorder has wire 8 cut because every time i turned the xbox on the scart control turned the recorder on! (turned scart control off on sky box - luckily my tv stays on AV1 when turned on or off). I like having the scart control on the xbox over-riding the sky+ picture though so will that configuration still do this?

I certainly like the idea of being able to record from any source if i needed to.

Many thanks for your help guys. Gonna get one of these ordered. Now just need to decide on some nice expensive scart leads!

Any recommendations??

Skip Channel · 24-12-2004, 11:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitsiTurbo

A few things that might affect it though: Currently, the scart lead going from sky+ to dvd recorder has wire 8 cut because every time i turned the xbox on the scart control turned the recorder on! (turned scart control off on sky box - luckily my tv stays on AV1 when turned on or off). I like having the scart control on the xbox over-riding the sky+ picture though so will that configuration still do this?

To be honest, I don't know! I think it's one of those things you can't know (only guess) until it's been tried.

If the Xbox is plugged into the scart switcher instead of directly/daisy chained into the Sky+ I'd imagine it would behave differently.

FWIW I don't use the 'VCR' input/output for a video recorder as I only have VHS, not a DVDR (so it seems a waste of an RGB input/output). Instead I have my VCR hooked up through my Sky box. Unfortunately, because I do this, I can't do the fancy record any one source whilst watching any other!

On three of the four input/ouputs I have two RGB sources connected - either daisy chained or with an additional SCART doubler!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitsiTurbo

Now just need to decide on some nice expensive scart leads!

Any recommendations??

I avoid the £1.99 jobbies as well as the ones that cost as much as my new DVD player/DTT box. Personally, I'm not into anything fancy, as long as I can't see anything nasty (like the input on the output/'ghosting'-type stuff, buzzing, patterns, or bleeding colours) I'm satisfied. I find that the ones that cost a tenner are adequate.

21-12-2004, 14:25	#1
MitsiTurbo Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 447	Lektropack Scart Switchers Has anybody got/used one of this companies scart switchers?? What are your thoughts? I am looking at the 5 way one: Scart Switcher My current setup is: Xbox > Video Recorder > Sky+ > DVD recorder > AV1 (all these are outputting/Passing through RGB). I then have my PS2 going into AV2, and my n64 (with doctor v64 ) going into the tv via RF. I have now obtained RGB cables for both PS2 and N64 and would obviously like to connect these up aswell. The 5 way switcher would allow me to use the following configuration: Xbox, PS2, N64, + 1 RGB spare > Video Recorder > sky+ and so on. Does this sound like the best way of doing things to you experts?? And am i looking at a good product here?! Many Thanks for any help

23-12-2004, 07:52	#2
MitsiTurbo Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 447	anyone?? (sorry to bump this but i wanna know that im buying a good product!) Cheers

23-12-2004, 13:33	#3
mikatt Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: South Hampshire UK Posts: 37	Hi check out QED-uk.com Quintro BT945 at £58.14 + delivery I think this is the same machine I've got one and works great Mike

23-12-2004, 14:22	#4
Skip Channel Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 4,656	I've got the Quintro+. It's been a lifesaver as no other switcher/hub on the market could even come close to connecting up all my AV equipment. I do have some gripes with it though. There's still not enough SCART sockets on it (IMHO), one of the SCARTs isn't RGB (so think of it as a four way if you want RGB on all) and you can't do a mix of s-video and RGB. I paid near enough £100 for mine so I think for £58.14 (ex del) it's a steal. Now to answer your questions! There's many different configurations you can choose, it all depends on what you want to achieve and what is possible. I doubt you want to record anything other than Sky+ and terrestrial TV? And the VCR is now only used for old tapes? You don't want to record PS2 or N64 but it's possible you may want to record Xbox (I'm guessing that you may watch Divxs on that - afterall you do have a 'doctor' thingy for the N64!). So this is what I'd do with that equipment: Sky+ > 'satellite' SCART DVD recorder > 'VCR' SCART VCR > 'AUX' SCART (that's the non-RGB one) Xbox > 'DVD' SCART PS2 > 'LD' SCART N64 > Sky+'s 2nd SCART That way you can record on to DVD any source (except N64) whilst watching another. That includes any Divxs you have as well as non-macrovisioned DVDs. You can even dub one DVD whilst watching another. I'd definately recommend it. You're just lucky - I had a right headache connecting 9 things to mine, plus my amp and a videosender. Put it this way, I don't do the dusting often!

23-12-2004, 14:38	#5
MitsiTurbo Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 447	Quote: Put it this way, I don't do the dusting often! Haha, i know what you mean!! I went behind all my equipment a few days ago when i was first planning this and i was sneezing for hours!! Looks like ill definetely get one of these then. Finally be able to get all my sources in full RGB glory!! Youre right about only wanting to record sky+ and terrestrial, and yes the VCR is only for playback of old tapes. I have no interest in recording from PS2, N64 or Xbox actually. I do indeed use it for divx but these are streamed from a server and i dont download or create these anymore. Dont make the grade quality wise!! So that whole setup you suggested looks spot on. A few things that might affect it though: Currently, the scart lead going from sky+ to dvd recorder has wire 8 cut because every time i turned the xbox on the scart control turned the recorder on! (turned scart control off on sky box - luckily my tv stays on AV1 when turned on or off). I like having the scart control on the xbox over-riding the sky+ picture though so will that configuration still do this? I certainly like the idea of being able to record from any source if i needed to. Many thanks for your help guys. Gonna get one of these ordered. Now just need to decide on some nice expensive scart leads! Any recommendations??

24-12-2004, 11:52	#6
Skip Channel Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Posts: 4,656	Quote: Originally Posted by MitsiTurbo A few things that might affect it though: Currently, the scart lead going from sky+ to dvd recorder has wire 8 cut because every time i turned the xbox on the scart control turned the recorder on! (turned scart control off on sky box - luckily my tv stays on AV1 when turned on or off). I like having the scart control on the xbox over-riding the sky+ picture though so will that configuration still do this? To be honest, I don't know! I think it's one of those things you can't know (only guess) until it's been tried. If the Xbox is plugged into the scart switcher instead of directly/daisy chained into the Sky+ I'd imagine it would behave differently. FWIW I don't use the 'VCR' input/output for a video recorder as I only have VHS, not a DVDR (so it seems a waste of an RGB input/output). Instead I have my VCR hooked up through my Sky box. Unfortunately, because I do this, I can't do the fancy record any one source whilst watching any other! On three of the four input/ouputs I have two RGB sources connected - either daisy chained or with an additional SCART doubler! Quote: Originally Posted by MitsiTurbo Now just need to decide on some nice expensive scart leads! Any recommendations?? I avoid the £1.99 jobbies as well as the ones that cost as much as my new DVD player/DTT box. Personally, I'm not into anything fancy, as long as I can't see anything nasty (like the input on the output/'ghosting'-type stuff, buzzing, patterns, or bleeding colours) I'm satisfied. I find that the ones that cost a tenner are adequate.

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