Connection questions for a dummy

[maggie]

I am totally clueless about hooking up my VCR/DVD combo and Dish Receiver to my new TV. Previously, I have hook up everything with the big black cable with the pin in the center (coax?) *like I said, dummy*. Anyway, I recently purchased a large screen TV that has the red, yellow, white connections (component?) and S-video input. I tried hooking up the component r-y-w cables but I don't get a picture. Do I have to set the TV on a certain input setting? Is the s-video cable for DVD only? What's the best connection from the Dish receiver the the VCR/DVD to the TV. Are there any input settings on a Dish receiver? (I still have an old coax cable to receive my local channels, do I hook that up the same way). Do you have all these hookups individually or do they have to be combined? i.e component hook-up with the s-video cable or are they entirely different things. Does s-video make the picture quality better? Sorry to bombard with questions but I can't make sense out of the manual and sadly my husband is more clueless than I am about electronics. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Greg Hansen]

I'll try to clear this up for you.

The red, white and yellow inputs you are referring to are composite video (yellow) and audio (red and white). If your only choices on this new monitor are composite or S video (or Y/C) you'll definately want to go with Y/C (you'll still need to use the red and white for audio). The remote for this unit should have an input button. More than likely you have 2 video inputs; one for Composite and one for Y/C. (There are sets out there that provide both hookups but the Y/C hookup overrides the other. Which means you cannot have two seperate video sources connected directly to the set. There are ways around this. Let me know if you need them.)

Now, as for how you're going to daisy chain your components... Check you dish receiver. What outputs does it provide? You should find a Y/C out. If so, go Y/C from the receiver to the VCR/DVD (Unless that unit does not have a Y/C input. If it doesn't I would consider replacing it with one that does. Your compromising your video signal.) Then Y/C from the VCR/DVD to the television. Remember that along with these Y/C connections you will also need to feed the audio down (red and white).

Your dish receiver should work similarly to a digital cable box. If the signal is coming from the dish itself via coax whatever output you use will be the one the signal passes through.

Yes, S video does provide better picture quality. I won't go into to detail. But it has to do with signal seperation and format conversions. Unless absolutelu unavoidable I would never use composite video out on a DVD player.

I hope that helps a bit. If not, let me know.

[Angles]

Which brand/model TV did you buy? I thought most big screens nowadays come with component video, in addition to S-Video and composite.

I bought a 27" JVC a few years ago (non-HD) that has all three connections.

[Sammy Jankis]

Nice job, Tindalos. I get the impression you've done this before.

And GIO, I have a 32" JVC (non-hd) with component inputs as well.

[JWinge1, Napoleon in Rags]

I haven't seen any DVD/VCR combos with an S-Video Input, only Outputs.

[Greg Hansen]

Jankis wipes with silk:
Nice job, Tindalos. I get the impression you've done this before.Thank you. Yes, I spent 10 years or so in the A/V industry as a consultant (mostly to government and education).

And, come to think of it, JWinge1, I haven't seen a DVD/VCR combo unit with an S-Video Input either.

[maggie]

Hey, it's me again. Actually you're all right. The TV has component connections and the DVD/VCR has an S-Video output. Anyway, I'm back again because I just purchased a Dish PVR receiver (one tuner) and I was looking for the best way to hook it up. So you're saying the the component is better than the red, yellow, white connections? Are these used along with the S-Video cable?

[sorro]

In order of image quality:

DVI - Found mostly on high-end sets, not too useful at the moment. It looks like a rectangle with a lot of holes and a slash or two in it. The only DVD player to take advantage of it is the Samsung HDDVD player (upcodes 480p to 720p). Does not carry sound

Component video - This is becoming the standard for high end connections. It is found on lots of TVs, all DVD players (I think) and some other home theatre pieces as well. This is a three pronged setup that carries the red, green, and blue pieces of an image in separate cables. Does not carry sound.

S-Video - This has been the standard, and is commonly found on most home theatre pieces. It looks like a large circle with lots of holes in it. Does not carry sound.

Composite video - This is the yellow white red cord setup commonly found on everything today. It carries the sound in stereo on the red and white cables and the video on the yellow.

Coaxial cable - This is the worst setup, it has been around the longest, and it carries everything in a single cord. There is one prong in the center of the circle that acts as the connection.

Whenever possible, use the highest available connection. If you have to choose, give the best to your DVD player, followed by VCR and cable (unless you have an HD signal, then give that the best available port).

If you use anything above composite video, you will have to use the red/white cables to transfer sound to your TV. (Unless you have a digital out on your PVR and a digital in on your TV)