S-Video Cables

[Nixxer]

Ok, its hardly hardware but its to connect my GF4 to my TV as well as my monitor. I got one with it that can do just that pretty fine, except my TV is about 4 - 5 meters away from my base unit.

Does anybody know where to get these from for a "competitive" price in the UK. A local store can get me a 4 meter, but I'd prefer 5. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Also, is it true that a 5 meter cable will make the picture totally crap, or is it the guy at my local store insisting I buy another 2 meter one?

[Necropolis]

You can pick up some nice "DVD connector" kits out there. I got one with a 5m cable, S-video to RGB connector, RGB to SCART and a cable for your audio. All that for £10. It was "OK" when I have my geforce 4 mx420 but when I got my 9800 JESUS CHRIST, the difference it made.

You can pick one of these up from any good computer show, or any good electronics shop for that matter.

[TheLostSwede]

No problem with 5 meters of svcd cables at all and i have the el-cheapo deluxe version. A friend even has the 10 meter version with not to bad quality on his 4200.

[Nixxer]

Necropolis_uk said
It was "OK" when I have my geforce 4 mx420 but when I got my 9800 JESUS CHRIST, the difference it made.


I have a TI 4200 so I think the quality should be pretty good because its not a bad video card. Thanks for clearing up the length issue Mackanz.

[Necropolis]

The 4200 should be fine. The MX was a big pile of crap.

[Dexter]

Recommended max distance on a good S-video cable is about 50 feet. Anything beyond that you should put a signal booster on it. That's about 15 metres. Anyone who tells you 5 metres is the max on S-Video does not know what he is talking about. I have personally run S-video over 25 feet, and I worked in broadcasting and video production.

For reference, see http://www.extron.com/technology/faq.asp

See FAQ #23.

These are people who make all kinds of video products, including signal boosters. Obviously, if they just wanted to sell you stuff, these guys would say "25 feet max!" The fact that that they are telling you a pretty high number, even if it impacts their sales, shows you that their data is pretty reliable.

So I would say that the guy at your store does not know what he is talking about.

Dexter...

[Nixxer]

Thanks, but what makes it worse is this guy told me not to exceed 2 meters. Makes you wonder eh.

[Straight_Man]

Um, that is true only for USB, and even then only for USB cable that is not sheilded is this such a big thing.

Either one of two things is very likely true-- he is selling cable that is not sheilded and HE can't his cable to work, or he is tinking of USB. I would myself not tell him to his face he is lying, but would ask him to PLEASE check that recommendation.

A grounded shield plus pair twisting can stretch a signal a lot further with less bleed and loss for most cables. Mylar sheathing of video signal conductors also has proven very good at getting clean signals much further than normal specs allow for.

Not only is he incorrect, but I suspect he has inferior cold-soldered cable if he tested this or claims to have. Can you get Belkin cabling over on that side of the water??? Or HDTV cabling??? If not, and you have a friend (mate, IIRC) who can solder, try CAT6 plenum\burial network cable and plan on getting at least 6 meters of signal good through it for video. The spare pair gets grounded.

[Souriat]

Just go to Maplin, not the best prices but not far away from you ;)

[Nixxer]

Souriat said
Just go to Maplin, not the best prices but not far away from you ;)

But my father is working away and I don't have a car (yet) :(.

Might check Maplin, see if they sell online or stuff.

[Souriat]

They do but the site is ugly and confusing :P

edit: links are good.. http://www.maplin.co.uk amazingly

[TheLostSwede]

I also connected a scart on the end of the svhs and i couldnt notice any difference. That was with a normal DivX 5 btw. With a SVHS cd, it might be different. If you have a svhs in on your tv, i suggest you use that though.

[j]

just get a svideo amp. any local electronics store should have one