multiple s-video inputs

[radiator]

just a quickie.

my tv has 2 scart sockets (AV1 AV2) and 2 s-video (both set to AV3, one on the back, and one on the front) - great i thought, i can hook up my DC to one and PC to the other....shouldn't matter if only one machine is switched on....or so i thought

problem is, as soon as you plug the second cable in, the video goes kinda funny (can't really describe it, looks more 'dotty'?!)

the same thing happens if you use a cable with the 3rd pin broken off (i bust my crappy cable the other day...3rd pin just fell off!)
s-video plug:

1 2
3 4
 --

so, it must be something to do with whatever that 3rd pin does (2 cable interfering maybe?)

just wondering if there is some solution to this (like a s-video switch box or something...my soldering skills are ok, do you think it'd be easy to construct a switch box of some sort?)

 


[EDIT]

like one of these:


which would allow you to connect more than one SCART device into a single socket....i just need one for s-video (unless someone else has any bright ideas?

[Minwah]

If I were you I would get a DC Scart lead - MUCH better quality than S-Video.  This would leave you with just 1 S-video from your PC...

...is this your cabinet/MAME PC??  If so, then you could get an ArcadeVGA and wire this also to Scart, again superb quality.  Just check that your Scart sockets are fully wired for RGB.

Sorry I didn't really answer what you asked, I'm not sure what is causing the video problem.  There must be such a thing as an S-Video switchbox (?), try www.maplin.co.uk

[radiator]

mmm, but, i didn't really want to have to access the tv to switch between SCART and s-video (it doesn't auto switch - and it's a dodgy tv in that the on-screen menu doesn't show up - i managed to work out how many times you have to press each button to get to certain setting   )

need someone who knows s-video inside-out on this one (i still think that it's interferance between the 2 cables...or something )

cheers anyway minwah

[EDIT]

after re-reading your post, you have got quite a good point...i was originally gonna go with SCART becuase of the superior video quality, but the s-video -> SCART cable i bought didn't work right (image was black and white)

if there's an easy way of wiring my video card to a SCART cable i'll do that (don't want to fork out more money on an ArcadeVGA, i'll just use my radeon 7500), and then pickup a DC SCART cable, and one of those multi-input doofers pictured above - i could then connect both the PC and the DC to one SCART input and not have to change the AV channel on the tv...

but for the moment i'll stick with s-video and put up with the 'dotty' image (unless someone has a workaround?)

[shmokes]

Of course the ACT-labs guns are only S-video and Composite compatible as far as I know.  If I am correct and this is important to you perhaps S-video is the way to go.

[radiator]

Of course the ACT-labs guns are only S-video and Composite compatible as far as I know.  If I am correct and this is important to you perhaps S-video is the way to go.

aaah damnit!

i was planning on getting a couple of those once released....looks like i'll have to stick with s-video and find a solution to the problem i'm getting...