The Digital Set-top Box to Audio/Visual equipment interface.

The RGB to S-Video converter is the solution to connecting Digital Set-top Boxes (Sky Digital and On Digital) to home Audio-Visual (AV) equipment, or "home-cinemas".   While connection of composite video is possible, the picture quality isn't acceptable.   RGB connection is inconvenient.   The only solution is S-Video - the standard for connection to AV amplifiers, receivers, S-VHS / D-VHS recorders and plasma panels.

The RGB to S-Video converter connects to DVD players or Digital Set-top Box's RGB output via a SCART connection.   The converted picture is available via a standard S-Video 4-pin mini-DIN connector. Audio is passed directly to the phone connectors.

While a digital set-top box in the UK will only require PAL output, some DVD players that offer multi-region support only have RGB outputs and require both PAL & NTSC.   Here is where the RGB to S-Video converter and help.   An on-board computer analyses the video stream and adjust the RGB to S-Video converter to produce either PAL (UK) or NTSC (US) S-Video.

The unit is self contained and doesn't require any user intervention.   Just plug into the mains and go!

Features:

• Input of RGB from a DVD player, Sky Digibox, OnDigital box, or any other RGB video source.
• Output of high quality S-Video with separated luminance and chrominance information.
• Convenient connections to existing equipment - SCART input, 4 pin mini DIN for S-Video out.
• Computer analysis of picture format - no need to manually switch between PAL and NTSC.
• Audio is passed though without modification to ensure optimum audio quality.
• PAL only unit suitable for UK Digital TV.
• A low cost solution.

Ordering:   Please see the ordering section for prices and variation on this circuit.

Copy Protection.

Successful recordings have been performed from various digital set-top boxes to both D-VHS and S-VHS recorders.   However, this unit is not designed to remove copy protection.

Pat. Pending.   Contact: johnsim@mumbas.idps.co.uk

  2000.