Radio and Telly UK Forum - Composite Out help

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Composite Out help (Read 1412 times)

FrequencyCast

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Composite Out help
Jul 23^rd, 2009 at 4:55pm

Hi all,

Question to our podcast that we don't have an immediate answer. Any of the gurus here able to offer some advice on this one?

Thanks!

Here's our listener's question:

"I have a wee problem you might be able to help with. My Harmon Kardon AV140 amp can't switch between different types of video source (composite, S-video etc.), so I have standardised on s-video. The problem is that the Nintendo Wii only pushes out composite, so I have to physically plug/unplug it into my Panasonic plasma screen.

I have tried a Wii 's-video' lead, bought at some expense, but this generates a poor, rolling, black and white image only. A replacement lead from the same manufacturer exhibitied the same problem."

FrequencyCast - the online radio show covering digital TV in the UK. Take a listen at www.frequencycast.co.uk

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andyfras

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Re: Composite Out help
Reply #1 - Jul 23^rd, 2009 at 5:56pm

If the Wii only gives out composite, this 'S-Video' lead must be passively splitting the composite signal into luminance and chrominance by using filters. This will give a very poor result at best and you would be better sticking to composite.

Is there a spare input on the plasma that could be used? If you are concerned about replugging causing a problem with the plasma input sockets, you could use a short extension and keep it plugged in. Any wear would now be on the extension lead and not the plasma.

See the comments here: http://www.consolesandgadgets.co.uk/catalog/nintendo-svideo-cable-p-2400.html

Topfield TF5800, Protek 9600IP, Technomate TM-5400, Panasonic TX-32PB50, Philips DVDR 3300H, Hannington Transmitter

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purple-bobby

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Re: Composite Out help
Reply #2 - Jul 23^rd, 2009 at 9:25pm

I would think along the same lines as andyfras, above. If you are playing the TV sound through the AV amp, then switch the AV amp to TV source, and plug the WII in a spare input and select that on the TV.

If your screen isn't a TV and only a monitor without extra inputs and audio outputs, then a minor problem. I would start by just sending the Wii's audio to the AV amp and the composite video to the screen, and see if the screen can work it out for its self.

I think the European PAL Wiis output 480p component YPbPr or SCART style RGB (with composite), and the American NTSC output 480p component YPbPr or S-video (Y on red and C on green, blue not used). If you use an American S-video lead on the European RGB SCART, there is no sync (on red) and you will get a rolling picture. No one seems to mention getting S-video output of an European Wii.

It should be possible to feed the yellow composite to a Y/C splitter for S-video compatibility, but at lower quality than composite CVBS PAL or S-video, but I cannot see anyone selling them.

http://pinouts.ru/Game/nintendo_wii_av_pinout.shtml

bobby

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andyfras Guru Offline Posts: 7828 Hampshire Gender:	Re: Composite Out help Reply #3 - Jul 24^th, 2009 at 12:55pm Looking at the pinouts, it should be possible to make up a lead that would drive an HD TV using component 720 (750 Including blanking) or 1080 (1125 including blanking) progressive if the TV will accept HD analogue component. This would give a far superior display to 480 (525 including blanking) composite.
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purple-bobby

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Re: Composite Out help
Reply #4 - Jul 24^th, 2009 at 2:53pm

andyfras wrote on Jul 24^th, 2009 at 12:55pm:

Looking at the pinouts, it should be possible to make up a lead that would drive an HD TV using component 720 (750 Including blanking) or 1080 (1125 including blanking) progressive if the TV will accept HD analogue component. This would give a far superior display to 480 (525 including blanking) composite.

I'm fairly sure the European Wii only does 480p component, and only the Japanese Wii has these extra video modes (to match what appears to be a standard consumer monitor).

bobby

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FrequencyCast Full Member Offline Check out our digital TV podcast Posts: 124 London Gender:	Re: Composite Out help Reply #5 - Jul 27^th, 2009 at 10:08pm Thanks very much chaps - we'll pass this on to the original poster, and give it a mention in the next podcast, due out at the end of the week.
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Simon H Newbie Offline Have you tried FrequencyCast yet? Posts: 1 Yorkshire Gender:	Re: Composite Out help Reply #6 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 1:40pm Thanks for this insight everyone. I'll stop mucking about trying to get a better quality cable. If anyone has the pin outs needed to make a cable I'd approeciate it.
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purple-bobby

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Re: Composite Out help
Reply #7 - Aug 7^th, 2009 at 2:15pm

Simon H wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 1:40pm:

Thanks for this insight everyone. I'll stop mucking about trying to get a better quality cable.

If anyone has the pin outs needed to make a cable I'd approeciate it.

For CVBS composite, you may as well use the grey AV cable that came with the Wii.
I bought an unofficial component lead, that has a component/composite switch (as well as AV plugs for PS2/3 and Xbox), this has two audio leads: left and right, and four video leads green/Y, blue/Pb, red/Pr and yellow/composite.

On the European Wii:
composite: standard 575i PAL video
component: 480p Y Pb Pr

There is an AppleTV component video to s-video converter for $160, but it might need 480i instead of 480p.

The component cable seems to work quite well, no noticeable flicker, but the Wii has last century resolution, so the pixels are quite evident.

http://pinouts.ru/Game/nintendo_wii_av_pinout.shtml

PS
I've just found this http://www.howtoconvert.co.uk/howrgb2svid.htm
which seems to convert RGB to S-video, so you would need the Wii RGB SCART lead (why don't they include that, instead of the cheap composite lead and adaptor? ) http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nintendo-Official-Wii-SCART-Cable/dp/B000JJRV8Q

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