S-Video to Coax?

[jolly_camper123]

Hi all,

 

A strange set up. If anyone has any suggestions I would be most grateful!

I have inherited an installed plasma screen that is used for advertising, driven by a PC and connected via S-Video.

Due to Security in the building it is installed, it has to be switched off every night (though standby is OK). Since I am not around to switch it on every morning, I am trying to use the built in timers to switch it on and off at appropriate times. However, the timer will only switch it on to a TV channel rather than the s-video input. My question is:

1) Is it possible to convert the S-video signal to an 'Aerial' coaxial connector?

2) Would, by then plugging it into the 'aerial in socket' allow the signal to then appear as a conventional TV channel, allowing the timer to switch it on?

 

TV is a Samsung LE40R51B if anyone is interested

 

 

Many thanks,

[Shez]

1) Is it possible to convert the S-video signal to an 'Aerial' coaxial connector?

Yep. All you need is an old VCR with an S-video input. You can do it with standalone devices as well but there are a lot of VHS decks floating around at the moment looking for ways to avoid a trip to the recycling facility. You'll sacrifice a bit of quality by doing the conversion though.

 

2) Would, by then plugging it into the 'aerial in socket' allow the signal to then appear as a conventional TV channel, allowing the timer to switch it on?

Yes again. You'll just have to tune the plasma to the VCR's output channel.

[the kid]

Coax > RCA then RCA>s-video.

 

I do both separately at work no reason why it should not work.

 

RCA to S-Vid I only found on ebay but was about £2 total, coax>RCA is a pretty standard item from maplins/cpc etc.

[sleah]

Coax > RCA then RCA>s-video.

 

I do both separately at work no reason why it should not work.

 

RCA to S-Vid I only found on ebay but was about £2 total, coax>RCA is a pretty standard item from maplins/cpc etc.

 

However, there is the small matter of changing the s-video signal (which is sort of composite (or scart) split in to two) in to a UHF aerial signal, which cannot be done with any kind of passive connector or adaptor, it would have to be converted by a UHF modulator.

 

Surely a better solution would be to do (if possible) what I do for a Samsung LCD used for digital signage, and that's to fit a simple timer to the mains lead!

Forget messing with the signal and using built in menus, KISS

 

Hmm... this is assuming that the TV will go back to s-video when mains is re-applied.... the Samsungs I've used (and a JVC) have happily gone to their VGA inputs when powered like this..... simple test is to yank the mains plug out with it on, then plug back in and see what happens. Some TV's will go to standby, others to UHF CH1. It's a case of try it first

[jolly_camper123]

Dear all,

 

Many thanks for all the suggestions. Hopefully one of them will work!

 

I am most definitely a great fan of the KISS principle, both in the tech stuff I do, plus in my education as a medical student! A cheap timer plug was the first thing I tried, and sadly the TV goes to standby rather than reverting back to the S-Video input.

 

W

[Bobbsy]

Coax > RCA then RCA>s-video.

 

I do both separately at work no reason why it should not work.

 

RCA to S-Vid I only found on ebay but was about £2 total, coax>RCA is a pretty standard item from maplins/cpc etc.

 

 

To expand on Sleah's post, there's plenty of reason it won't work.

 

The antenna socket on a television works with an RF (radio frequency) signal from a transmitter. It does NOT work with any form of video or component signal which is what you'll get from a S-video source.

 

However, even if you were talking about the composite video input, simply adapting the cable connectors will STILL not work. S-video is better known as Y-C component, with the luminance and chrominance portions of the picture fed separately. Without some form a electronic adaptor, you would still not get a colour picture.

 

Finally, "coax" is short for "co-axial" and is a type of cable, not a connector or a signal standard. The antenna connectors commonly used (with coax cable) in the UK are more properly called "Belling Lee" connectors.

 

We try to keep the Blue Room as factual and useful as possible. Please don't post speculative answers when you clearly don't understand the technology.

 

As for the original question, the timer would be the best bet if it works, otherwise Shez's solution of just using a surplus VHS machine is probably the cheapest way, though there are certainly UHF modulators with S-video inputs on the market.

 

Bob

[bruce]

If you go via a RF solution, the quality is likely to be pretty cruddy...

 

One alternative that might work would be to convert the s-video signal to composite behind the telly. You can buy a passive converter for a few pounds, or make one using nothing more than a capacitor.

 

Once you've got the signal as composite, feed it into the TV using a SCART input. Connect a +9v source to pin8 of the SCART (it's a high impedance input, a PP3 battery will last for ages) and the TV should auto-switch to that input when powered on.

[sleah]

If you go via a RF solution, the quality is likely to be pretty cruddy...

 

One alternative that might work would be to convert the s-video signal to composite behind the telly. You can buy a passive converter for a few pounds, or make one using nothing more than a capacitor.

 

Once you've got the signal as composite, feed it into the TV using a SCART input. Connect a +9v source to pin8 of the SCART (it's a high impedance input, a PP3 battery will last for ages) and the TV should auto-switch to that input when powered on.

 

Godd thinking Batman!

 

Just to stray OT, as the question has been answered..... a little nostalgia about a work around to do something similar.

Back in the late 80s early 90s we had some 14" Panasonic TVs that needed to be powered from a single mains switch and go to AV-in from power-up.

These were pre full menu driven days..... to force the AV input, we actually soldered the AV button closed, so it wass effectively pushed permanently, this worked very well without affecting the other controls.

Power up was a challenge, but a simple 'bodge'. These TVs went in to standby if their power switch was on when mains was applied.

The workaround involved mechanically jamming the power button fully in. There was some kind of secondary switching occured when you switched the TV on normally, which effectively de-activated standby so jamming the button fully in prevented it from going to standby

[timtheenchanteruk]

Once you've got the signal as composite, feed it into the TV using a SCART input. Connect a +9v source to pin8 of the SCART (it's a high impedance input, a PP3 battery will last for ages) and the TV should auto-switch to that input when powered on.

 

you may not even need to go that far, it would require looking in the manual, but one scart may include a S-vid input, apply the +9v, and it would switch to this, no conversion neccessary, this would also possibly depend on the scart input recognising, or being told that this is an s-vid input.

 

is there no menu option to switch onto a specific channel/input when the timer comes on??

[jolly_camper123]

The menu in the TV will only allow tuning to a TV channel rather than an input from S-video etc.

Problem solved now. Bought a cheap UHF modulator from Maplins. Works a treat!

 

Many thanks,

 

W