I have got a virgin digibox and my monitor is a DELL 24" widescreen LCD, which has no scart but does have VGA and component amongst other connections. I currently use a SCART to composite cable to view the cable TV through the monitor, but I would prefer the best picture possible, ie, directly converting the RGB video coming out of the SCART. But what is the best solution, the boxes on ebay merely convert the composite signal into VGA so nothing is achieved there, and I bought a cable off maplin (from keene electronics) which was supposedely a SCART to VGA but I get no picture (signal out of range) suggesting that horizontal scan of my monitor isnt in range. Is there any solution that will work? Seeing as the VGA input must have horizontal scan of 31. something Hz, might it be easier to get a scart to component converter? But i wonder if the component input can take 50Hz. The last resort is a SCART to S-video converter, which unless it is cheap, is pointless, i'd rather stick with composite, despite it looking a bit pish.
It seems pointless to me to get V+ just for one HD channel and the HDMI output which would have solved my problem, and i wouldnt use recording features ever i dont think.

scart to s-video converters are very cheap, my local electrical shop sells them for £3 which also have the usual 3 phono av outputs too.

there is a big difference between composite and s-video too, well worth changing to s-video, providing you have an s-video output option within the menu for the output.

what makes you say it would be pointless and would rather use composite?
Last edited by asdigi : 04-04-2007 at 12:08

because i assumed they were in the region of £30, because the virgin digibox doesnot output an s-video signal i dont think

If you seriously want the best PQ then here's what to do. Get a QED SQART cable and plug it into this http://www.js-technology.com/product...fc98dd33a942c1 and plug the VGA cable into the Dell.

It's not cheap but as you want the best possible PQ this is the ultimate solution. I use one to feed a 42" Panasonic palsma and the picture is excellent.

If you don't need to send sound to the Dell then choose the QED AV41 which is optimised for picture quality.

Hope that helps.
Ray.

ah, if the virgin box can't output s-video then yes, to convert the signal will be expensive. I've never used a virgin digibox as its not available where i am.

You say you have component inputs though, do you have a dvd recorder with component outputs? I have a Samsung R-119 dvd recorder which has component outputs and i can plug my Sky+ into that and then output Sky+ through the Component sockets, thats another idea...

ah, that looks like what i need, shame about the price, maybe if i shop around i can get something around £60 (second hand perhaps)

i wouldnt have minded s-video if it wasnt so expensive. (£75 on the same website)

Hi sham,

Bear in mind these are not just switching boxes. They employ broadcast quality components which really do clean up the signal. I watch a 42" plasma from 8.5ft and there are no digital nasties. It's a lovely picture for SD.

There's a thriving second-hand market on www.avforums.com which is probably the best site in the UK for all av matters. Watch here for any second-hand stock. I'm sure that as people switch to HD these boxes will become available. In time mine will!