Component to S-video/composite

[Satori]

Is there a way to convert component to s-video/composite without spending a lot of money?

I am building my next PVR and will be connecting it to my older HDTV with a component cable. I would like to have the PVR also drive my other SDTVs in the house from the same cable. That way I can watch TV from other televisions without another client (My family never watches 2 different programs at once). I thought about splitting the component output and using one side to drive a converter.

[stustunz]

you can but converters to go from vga to svideo/composite
so you could use one of them for the other screens in the house then use the component from your video card for your main tv
http://www.radioshack.com/search/index.j...video&sr=1
the first one on this link is the sort of thing you need $60us depends on what you call alot of money i guess
im not 100% sure but you may even be able to plug the component into the same converter box to convert the component signal to svideo

you cant just use a cable to do what you want as the component signalis very different than svideo/composite
higher resolution etc

[Satori]

Yes, I didn't think there was a cable for it.

So it sounds like I would split the component cable, one side goes to my HDTV, the other side goes to a component->VGA cable, that cable goes into a VGA->S-video converter like the one at the link.

BTW the signal would be 1080i so i am not sure I can find a VGA->s-video converter that would handle the signal for low $$. But aside from that would it work?

EDIT: Actually would this work? Is it what you meant?
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/...CatId=1430

[stustunz]

yeah that would be what i would try first

but if that didnt work you could just set your video card to clone
then you can have one montor set to 1080i on component and the vga to what ever the scan converter can handle to down scale it to svideo/composite
then plug the vga into the converter job done dont have to shag arong with making funny looking cables etc

the link you gave me doesnt do what you want it converts it so you can plug into a monitor(upscales) you are trying to down scale

[Satori]

That would be so much simpler. Just connect the other TVs to the S-video output of the video card (probably use a RF modulator to send it around the house on the existing wiring) and set the card up to have multiple displays with the second (S-Video) display a clone of the main.

Thanks.

[stustunz]

i think if you still want to use component you can get a able to go from vga(dsub) to do that but it doesnt work with all video cards

old video players make good rf modulators and if you have on laying around then its free

[Satori]

And i thought I had it solved...
Forgot the HDTV output is on the same port as the svideo. I wonder if any of the ATI cards support component out on their DVI or VGA ports. I saw a converter for DVI for ATI awhile ago. I was going to get a 2000 or 3000 series ATI card for their video acceleration. If one of them can output component over one of the other ports I am set.

Actually a DVI-> VGA adapter with a VGA->S-video cable might also work. Then just use the native component out on the s-video port of the card and s-video by converting the VGA with a cable or converter.

[stustunz]

you should be able to run 2 analog out
what connections do you have on your tv or main monitor?
i dont know you setup
what video card are you using ?

you can run 2 analog or 1 analog 1 digital but you cant run 3 of anything

[Satori]

Don't have the card yet. Was going to get an ATI 2600 pro with 2 DVI and svideo/component out. The tv has component in and I was going to use a RF modulator to send the svideo around the house.

I am leaning toward using the component out on the video card through the svideo port (ATI has an adapter that fits in that port with component out) Then I will get some kind of converter or try a VGA to svideo cable for the rest of the house. I will have to use a DVI->VGA adapter and then a VGA->svideo cable, so I doubt it will work, but I will try it because it is cheaper than a converter.

[stustunz]

you cant go vga >svideo that i know of
you can may be able to go vga>component
but yeah try them first before you buy the converter