Sky box to S-video

[ben_gb]

Hi,

Is anyone using an RGB to s-video converter to plug a Sky box into a Hauppauge PVR card (250, 350 or 500)?

How is the quality...does it compare well to the 'pure' RGB signal plugged directly into the TV?

Does anyone recommend a particular converter?
I've come across one from JS Technologies ( http://www.js-technology.com/product...4&page_index=2 )...does anyone know if this is any good?

Thanks for any comments.

Regards,
Ben

[ron.smythe]

Hi Ben,

I do convert from the Sky Digibox to SVideo for input to both the PV250 and PV350 cards. The quality is far superior to that of the RGB input the PVR250 / 350 can handle, I can't explain why as I am not too sure! I currently use the RGB to SVideo from Maplin (http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...rldID=&doy=8m3) I can recommend it and have been using 2 for over a year.

Ron.

[Lucas]

Ben,

like Ron, I also use the maplin converter. I chose it over JS for availability(at the time I couldn't order from their site) and cost reasons. When I did the market search, a lot of people vouched for the JS converter.

Although my PVR250 and USB2 do not have RGB inputs(they have S-Video), I take it you mean what is the quality like comparing:
1. Digibox directly to TV via RGB
and
2. Digibox through SageTV/PVR250 via S-Video (using an RGB to S-Video Converter)
3. Digibox through SageTV/PVR250 via Composite Video (no need for an RGB to S-Video Converter)

Initialy I had a composite connection and it was fuzzy compared to 1. above.
Later I fine tuned capture settings, Video card settings and 3 was very similar to 1 in terms of sharpness. BUT because of the lower signal quality I could see the formation of artifacts around text - Try the SKY EPG.

Option 2 above give the best result with no distinguishable differences between this and a direct RGB connection to the TV. With this I get very good overall quality even at the DVD Extended Play capture settings.

It is a worhwhile investment.

[bartley9]

I have a PVR350 and just use the cable which came with the card to connect to the Sky box, no extra converter boxes. I select composite in, in Sage.

Picture quality is great. No noticable difference between the two.

[ben_gb]

I'm going to be outputting to a big screen, so I want to ensure that the best possible signal is being recorded, so it sounds like a converter is a good choice.

Thanks for all the replies!

Cheers,
Ben

[Alig Proudblade]

Theres one digibox on the market which has an S-Video out built in... I'll find a link a post it in the next couple of days.

Ive seen it for sale on Ebay a few times for next to nothing and intend to grab one myself in the near future.

Chris.

[ben_gb]

Thanks...I would be interested in hearing about this!

Ben

[Alig Proudblade]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...sPageName=WDVW

Auction is nothing to do with me, but it does show that such a thing exists and is readily available.

I guess if you acquired one you would need to re-register your card to the new box.

Chris.

[edgley]

I have had a JS for about three years, and its been on 24x7.
I too use it for a large screen into a 350.

Support our local industry, what little there is of it. His was the only one you could get all that time ago.
Go for it!