[brymbo76]

Hello,

I just bought a new TV which only has one "Mini" Scart socket but includes a converter lead to a standard Scart socket to connect your old equipment.

I have two items of equipment I used to connect up to my old TV through Scart and I thought I could consider using a Scart Switch I have got as I only have the one input but two items to connect but then I thought to save switching the inputs, I may as well make use of one of the unused inputs.

Looking on ebay, I thought a Scart to VGA adapter would be the simplest solution but am not sure if it will definitely work or not? I have read that it will be unable to transfer signals from VGA to Scart but will work from Scart to VGA, but does it carry audio signals as well or do I need a separate audio lead for it? This is about £4+

I alternatively could buy a Scart to HDMI, but that requires an extra power socket as the converter includes a power adapter. These seem to start at around £15

Or I could convert Scart to Component but these are more expensive again.

Or I could buy a Scart to USB but the adapter I have seen has USB one and and 3 phono sockets the other end and this requires converting the phono sockets to phono plugs then the phono plugs to Scart plug and it just seems a little messy.

Please can anyone tell me whether the Scart to VGA will work or alternatively, which of the other alternatives would you recommend instead?

Hope you are able to advise me on this.
Thanks.

[chrisjr]

Use a switch.

Much much much much much much easier than fannying around with all sorts of converters that may or may not work.

SCART to VGA is a particular nightmare that rarely ever seems to work in my experience. And no VGA does not carry audio so you will need an extra lead for that.

A SCART to USB device may not work with a TV. It is much more likely to be a video capture device used with a PC that requires specific drivers and software loading onto the PC in order to work. Something you can't do with a TV.

As I said at the start. use the switch and save yourself a world of grief (unless the switch is knackered )

[bobcar]

What equipment is it that you have that uses SCART? If one of them has two SCART sockets on the back then you probably don't need a switch but can daisy chain them.

[brymbo76]

I prefer each input having its own dedicated socket rather than having to manually get up and switch the inputs or one connected to the other, besides due to my configuration, am unable to daisy chain them and as I said, I may as well make use of the unused inputs.

[bobcar]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brymbo76

I prefer each input having its own dedicated socket rather than having to manually get up and switch the inputs or one connected to the other, besides due to my configuration, am unable to daisy chain them and as I said, I may as well make use of the unused inputs.

What does the bit in bold mean? Obviously if neither of the devices supports two SCART sockets then they can't be daisy chained but I'm not sure what "due to my configuration" means.

I used to have 4 devices with SCART but only ever used one SCART socket on my TV despite having more available, that was far more convenient than.using different sockets or a switcher.

[brymbo76]

OK, well I am already using a series of switches such as to switch either the output of a BT Vision box OR a Sky Box INTO the VCR/DVD Combi or another recorder.
Then am using other switches to select one recorder into another recorder for copying and a switch as to which recorder can be viewed on my bedroom TV via a Video Sender.

As complicated as it sounds so to save complicating matters further, it'll be easier if my new TV could select all inputs directly to available sockets on the TV.

[brymbo76]

I have a Sky+ Box and a VCR/DVD Combi. Was thinking of connecting the Sky box via the Scart to VGA lead and the Combi to the included Mini-Scart to Scart lead.
All I really want to know though is does VGA only carry Video or does it carry Audio as well?

Was going to use this if it works: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SCART-Cabl...QAAOSwPe1UGwJ0

The reason why I ask as to if it carries Audio as well is that I once bought a VGA to VGA lead to connect my laptop to my TV and there was no sound and had to in addition use a 3.5mm plug to plug lead to have sound as well as picture through the VGA connection.

Hope someone can advise me.
Thanks.

[LCDMAN]

NO VGA (Video Graphics Array, designed for PCs display output waay back) doesn't carry audio - back then you got a speaker in a PC that went "beep", end of.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Graphics_Array

You'll need an additional audio cable for that.

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brymbo76

I have a Sky+ Box and a VCR/DVD Combi. Was thinking of connecting the Sky box via the Scart to VGA lead and the Combi to the included Mini-Scart to Scart lead.
All I really want to know though is does VGA only carry Video or does it carry Audio as well?

Was going to use this if it works: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SCART-Cabl...QAAOSwPe1UGwJ0

The reason why I ask as to if it carries Audio as well is that I once bought a VGA to VGA lead to connect my laptop to my TV and there was no sound and had to in addition use a 3.5mm plug to plug lead to have sound as well as picture through the VGA connection.

Hope someone can advise me.
Thanks.

As I posted in post 2 SCART to VGA very often does not work. The signals involved are not entirely 100% compatible which can mean it is a bit hit and miss if it works. I've never had much joy with it myself.

And as I also said in post 2 VGA does not carry audio.

Personally I would use a powered SCART to HDMI converter. Not as cheap as a lead but I reckon it is more likely to work, for example

http://www.amazon.co.uk/SCART-HDMI-c.../dp/B0092IAA3I

[Chris Frost]

The SCART to VGA cable will only work if the TV's VGA socket supports 576i @ 50Hz. Very few do.

The lowest resolution supported by the average TV with a VGA input is 640x480 @ 60Hz. This is a progressive signal rather than interlaced which is what you'll get from SCART. The refresh rate is 60Hz which is higher than the UK uses for TV. In short then, it is likely that the TV won't "see" the SCART signal via the VGA input because it is the wrong format (interlaced rather than progressive) and it's at a refresh rate (50Hz) that is below the bottom threshold for VGA. So unless your TV manual explicitly states that it supports 576i @ 50Hz then trying a SCART to VGA adapter is a waste of time and money.

SCART to HDMI or SCART to Component + audio are two solutions that are likely to work best besides the SCART to mini SCART adpter that the TV uses. You could also go SCART to Composite video (yellow phono) + audio for VHS and Laser Disc as they are both composite video sources to there's no quality loss.

[Tassium]

Agree with above, these cheap leads rarely work because they don't convert any of the signals. The TV has to do it.

It's possible the TV has Scart on VGA, but I doubt it.

A device to convert signals is going to cost £20 to £30

[Tassium]

If you state the make/model of TV it would be of help.

The reason being that you mentioned Component. The TV has Component, yes? (red / green / blue)

It's possible that the TV will support Scart into Component with a passive adapter that could be bought for £4

The Component inputs on the TV will also have associated audio inputs (phono) which will be automatically selected alongside the Component video signal.

[Tassium]

One more thing. if you are using a VCR/DVD Combi then does it not have Component output?

It might have Component over Scart, selectable via a switch on the back of the machine.

[brymbo76]

I have a leaflet at home that displays all the pins of a VGA and says:
Pin 1: Left channel audio from decoder to receiver. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 6: Right channel audio from decoder to receiver. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 12: Left channel audio output to decoder. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 13: Right channel audio output to decoder. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.

Therefore according to that, a VGA DOES support audio.

[webbie]

Only some rare ones I think you'll find, but not on the vast majority.

[Chris Frost]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brymbo76

I have a leaflet at home that displays all the pins of a VGA and says:
Pin 1: Left channel audio from decoder to receiver. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 6: Right channel audio from decoder to receiver. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 12: Left channel audio output to decoder. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 13: Right channel audio output to decoder. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.

Therefore according to that, a VGA DOES support audio.

The 15pin D type plug can be used for a variety of purposes. What you have sounds like one of the bastardised versions for a different purpose, or you are reading the pints for SCART

If this was a VGA connection on 15 pin D then pin 1 is Red signal, pin 6 is red ground, and from memory 12 is one of the sync lines. None of these are audio, and the standard wiring pin out for VGA on 15 pin D definitely does not cater for audio.

[chrisjr]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brymbo76

I have a leaflet at home that displays all the pins of a VGA and says:
Pin 1: Left channel audio from decoder to receiver. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 6: Right channel audio from decoder to receiver. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 12: Left channel audio output to decoder. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 13: Right channel audio output to decoder. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.

Therefore according to that, a VGA DOES support audio.

Not entirely sure where you found that from but it is NOT a VGA pinout. VGA does not nor has it ever supported audio.

Google VGA Pinouts and you will not find anything like that. For example

http://pinouts.ru/Video/Vga15_pinout.shtml

[Nigel Goodwin]

Quote:

Originally Posted by brymbo76

I have a leaflet at home that displays all the pins of a VGA and says:
Pin 1: Left channel audio from decoder to receiver. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 6: Right channel audio from decoder to receiver. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 12: Left channel audio output to decoder. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.
Pin 13: Right channel audio output to decoder. 0.5-0.7V to 10kOhm load.

Therefore according to that, a VGA DOES support audio.

As others have said, that is NOT a VGA pinout

From the little you posted it 'might' be the pinout of a Sky VideoCrypt decoder, which used a similar 15 pin D connector to VGA - but of course was nothing whatsoever to do with VGA.

[brymbo76]

Well I have definitely got the message about the VGA thing now.

As I have said in my other recent post, I have decided to cut my losses with this TV and am having it collected tomorrow and will be exchanging it for a Sony Bravia KDL40W705CBU model instead.

Using the 'Lindy HDMI CEC Less adapter' you can find on Amazon I was suggested to try, it made no difference to stopping my TV going into Standby at random moments trying to watch BT Vision on it through the HDMI input.

By replacing the Panasonic for the Sony, It may mean sacrificing losing the 4K feature for picture quality but due to my current funds and job situation, am uncomfortable to spend too much on a TV right now such as by spending over £400 on one of 40" in size (my previous one being an LG 32" LCD without Freeview HD) but a HD picture to me is good enough for now and at least I'll (hopefully) be able to control the volume on this TV from my Sky remote, BT Vision remote and my DVD/VCR combi remote and also hopefully the Sony TV won't keep going into Standby like the Panasonic did when trying to watch programmes on it through the HDMI lead connected to it from my BT Vision box.

If I had kept that Panasonic TV, I would never have been able to programme those remotes to use the TV volume functions and would have to watch BT Vision either through the Scart or hope that a Scart to HDMI converter adapter will work and give a good enough quality of picture because through the Scart connection the picture was noticeably worse than directly through HDMI (which you could see when the TV wasn't turning off!).

Also, I thought it was silly that there is no direct Scart socket or Composite Video connection on the Panasonic. It features a "Mini-Scart" socket and a 3.5mm 4-pole socket and includes a Mini-Scart plug to Scart socket adapter and a 3.5mm 4-pole plug to Composite Video & Audio Phono sockets adapter.

Also, due to how far apart the legs are from each other that fit to the TV that make up the TV stand, it would've meant buying a new wider stand to place the TV and all my other AV equipment onto.

Just hope the Sony doesn't suffer from the same standby and remote control code programming problems!