Scart connections

mossie

OK. I don't know if this is really the proper place to ask this question but I am sure ther must be many people out there who have had similar problems in the past. First of all I have the following:

Mitsubishi TV with 2 Scart Sockets.
Pace Sky+ box, 2 Scart sockets, one marked TV, one VCR,
Targa DVH5100x Home Cinema DVD/VCR, 2 Scart Sockests marked "Euro AV1" and "Euro AV2"
Targa DRH 5100X HDD/DVD recorder, 2 Scart, one input, one output.

At present I have the Sky+ connected directly tothe TV and also to the HDD/DVD recorder, this is connected to the home cinema DVD/VCR, which is also connected to the TV. The Sky+ is also connected to the home cinema by an optical lead for sound throughput. However when I swich on everything but the recorder all I get is a blank blue screen from the home cinema, with the recorder on I get the picture OK. If I am copying something from the HDD to DVD I cannot watch something else with this setup. This seems to occur whatever combination I connect the systems in. Has anyone experienced anything similar and, if so, how did you resolve it?

Many thanks,
Mossie

byte

Hmm.

Sky+ TVScart ---> TV Scart1
Sky+ VCRScart --> HDD/DVD Rec Input
Cinema Sys AV1 ---> TV Scart2

See how that works...

Also, in addition, maybe
HDD/DVD Output ---> Cinema AV2 for audio purposes...

watty

Note also many TVs SCART1 = RGB, SCART2 no RGB, maybe S-Video.

I use a mechanical all pins switched 4 way SCART switch box. About £5 from Hills electronics. Many SCART switches don't work well as they suffer from one or more faults in design:
1) No RGB switching between inputs, only composite.
2) RGB/Composite pin all tied together or not connected, so no RGB possible
3) No WSS (4:3/16:9 auto switch) due to wires on all sockets tied or none connected.

byte

watty wrote:

Note also many TVs SCART1 = RGB, SCART2 no RGB, maybe S-Video.

Yes, that's why I suggest connecting Sky+ directly to TV Scart1 for optimum picture, as I'd assume Sky+ would be used more than the other devices.

mossie

byte wrote:

Hmm.

Sky+ TVScart ---> TV Scart1
Sky+ VCRScart --> HDD/DVD Rec Input
Cinema Sys AV1 ---> TV Scart2

See how that works...

Also, in addition, maybe
HDD/DVD Output ---> Cinema AV2 for audio purposes...

OK. The first 2 as are I have them, connecting the cinema to the tv is fine, but once I connect the hdd/dvd and cinema to each other, all I get is a blue screen. If I don't connect the hdd/dvd to the tv I don't get onscreen settings etc.

byte

Hmm, I see your plight now.

On some DVD recorders I've looked at in the past, if Scarted thru Sky VCR Scart socket, when on, Sky is bypassed, and DVD is displayed. However, as your DVDR is only connected via an Input, it's not gonna work that way, as that Scart socket mustn't be bi-directional.

I wonder if the OUTPUT on the DVDR is bi-directional, ie. Can take incoming AV as well as output AV?

I think you may need a switched Scart block that watty mentioned above.

It's harder giving advice when I don't have the stuff right in front of me!

mossie

byte wrote:

Hmm, I see your plight now.

On some DVD recorders I've looked at in the past, if Scarted thru Sky VCR Scart socket, when on, Sky is bypassed, and DVD is displayed. However, as your DVDR is only connected via an Input, it's not gonna work that way, as that Scart socket mustn't be bi-directional.

I wonder if the OUTPUT on the DVDR is bi-directional, ie. Can take incoming AV as well as output AV?

I think you may need a switched Scart block that watty mentioned above.

It's harder giving advice when I don't have the stuff right in front of me!

The strange thing is with my old DVD recorder this never happened even when all the units were fully scarted together. I guess the Scart Block is the answer. Thanks for the info.

watty

My DVD player only is partly bidirectional. I have to select and empty RF channel on TV before selecting AV and DVD.

Otherwise on very quiet bit parts of DVD you can hear current TV tuner sound! Pressing Pause actually mutes the "leaking sound"

I must cut the video in and Audio in wires on SCART from DVD player.