How can I simplify working with multiple scart leads?

boardswalker

Hi,
I am trying to simplify my tv/cable/vcr/dvd wiring.
I have only one scart-in on the (8 yo) tv but three different scart cables so I end up manually switching the cables. There must be a better way. The TV is working fine, and actually has an excellent picture, so the inconvenience does not warrant replacing the tv.

I tried getting multi-scart boxes but these don't work as the signals leak. The first one was bought in Curry's and it seemed to just merge all incoming signals. Not good.
Then I went to Maplin and they seemed to understand what I wanted and sold me one that had on/off switches for each incoming scart which they assured me would eliminate interference. It didn't.
In fairness to both, I got no quibble refunds so no issue with that.

Right now the set up is that a cable runs from the upc wallpoint to the cable box. The cable box is connected by scart to the tv. When i watch dvds I disconnent the cable box and connect the dvd. Similarly for vcr.

I do not know how to record onto vcr but with the upc dvr that is not an issue anymore.

Has anyone else resolved the multi-scart in problem? How did you do it?
Thanks.

tvbrat

Hi Boardswalker

I have a few of these around my home
and they work fine.


http://www.argos.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=30001&langId=-1&catalogId=1500001101&productId=1500213831&Trail=C%24cip%3D1500012579.Sound%2Band%2Bvision%3EC%24cip%3D1500012586.Electrical%2Baccessories%3EC%24cip%3D1500012588.Leads%2C%2Bconnectors%2Band%2Badaptors&categoryId=1500012588&clickfrom=image

zilog_jones

Why don't you just connect your DVD player to the other SCART socket on your DVR? It should switch to this automatically, or it will work when the DVR is on standby.

The main source of interference you get on SCART cables is actually crosstalk coming from the TV set! Your TV always outputs composite video on its SCART socket - in most applications quite unnecessary - but this can give this weird faint scrolling picture in the background that you may experience (switch boxes and stuff may make this worse), especially with cheaper cables (anything over about €40 is still overpriced bollocks though!). The DVR/STB will also output video on its second SCART socket.

Since your DVD player doesn't need any video input you can remove the appropriate pins or cut their connections (look up pinouts on the Wikipedia or something) to reduce possible interference.

I have a 3-way Hitachi mechanical switch I got in Argos a while ago - doesn't seem to do much damage to the signal, but I know someone else who had one the switches went dodgy after a while (he prob switched it more often than I did)