Right, we have a Humax Freeview PVR which is connected to the back of the TV through a scart lead. We also have a Manhattan satellite box connected to the TV via a scart lead. The last TV scart socket is taken up with a scart for the DVD.

We originally had both the digiboxes connected to a scart switch which went into the back of the telly. The picture was great but we were having sound problems with the audio from the TV going into the DVD for the speakers. My bright idea was to take out the scart switch and put both digiboxes straight into the back of the telly. The problem is the Freeview PVR was picking up interference somewhere along the scart lead which lead to lines on the telly.

I have spent the morning swapping scart leads and the holes they are in and everything and have ended up with a compromise. The satellite picture looks almost to sharp while there is a slight fuzz on the freeview PVR. When we had the scart switch the lead from the switch to the TV was a big chunky gold plated lead (now used for the satellite box because of its length) so I’m wondering if that has any part to play. The other scart leads are just normal thin silver connectors.

Can anyone sugest anything I have not thought of??

Are all of your tv scarts RGB enabled ? If not then you will be losing picture quality by dropping down to composite.

If you only have one or two RGB scarts then you can daisy-chain your devices. For example, you can connect your dvd's tv output scart to your pvr or satellite box's vcr scart. The dvd's output will then show on the screen when it is switched on, but the other box's output will show when the dvd is off.

Interference is normally caused by poorly shielded scart leads. It can be fixed by getting leads which have individual shielding on each wire.
Last edited by Cobson : 02-12-2006 at 11:50

I'll check that thanks, BTW would somthing silly like wrapping one of the thin scart cable in tin foil do anything??

pete

How would I know if my scart leads have individual shielding on each wire. I have been using the same two scart leads for the past twelve years. Their circumference is 3.5cm, the casing is gold and there are twenty one pins. I do not have a clue as to whether eash lead, if there is more than one, is separate as they are sealed. My picture could certainly be improved, although I am pleased with it. Hence my interest.
Last edited by Emrys Davies : 02-12-2006 at 13:48

[quote=Cobson]Are all of your tv scarts RGB enabled QUOTE]

How do you know if they are RGB enabled?
Last edited by E Thomson : 02-12-2006 at 13:58

[quote=E Thomson]
Check the tv's manual. If this doesn't tell you then plug your freeview box into each scart one at a time and find the freeview box's setting for switching between composite and rgb. If the scart supports RGB then you should notice the difference on the screen. If the two modes look the same on your tv then the scart isn't RGB enabled.

I take it you are better buying scarts that are rgb enabled. The one I have at the moment was a cheapo but I have bought a new dvd recorder and freeview box for xmas and want to get the best out of them Where do I buy these scarts.

When I said about the scart being RGB enabled I meant the scart socket on the tv itself. A scart cable will be ok with RGB devices as long as it is fully-wired on all 21 pins.
Last edited by Cobson : 02-12-2006 at 16:09

Apart from looking festive it won't do much. Each of the 21 wires in the scart cable should be shielded from each other as well as from external interference.

Having said that, you only really need shielded cables if you are experiencing problems. I use some cheap cables without individual shielding and don't have any problems.
Last edited by Cobson : 02-12-2006 at 16:13

If the tv has only 2 scart sockets, but you have 3 devices (Freeview, Satellite, DVD), why not try.......

Connect the Freeview box to the main RGB scart on the tv (be sure to use the "tv" or "AV1" scart on the Freeview box). Then connect the satellite box to the spare scart on the Freeview device.....so its hooked up, TV - Freeview - Satellite. The DVD player would have its own scart linking it directly to the other spare scart on the tv.

Dave