April 2, 2007
-
Help with TV
I have an old Sony 32 inch TV. Mind you, I don’t think its very old (I got it in 2000), but in electronic years, thats ancient. Its old enough to make that loud “GONG” sound when you turn it on. When I was getting cable installed, the cable guy chuckled and said he hasn’t heard that in ages.
I don’t know the exact model of this TV, but it does have both composite and S-Video inputs (even though the TV only has one video mode). What I’m wondering is what happens when you have devices connected to the composite and S-Video inputs at the same time? How does it know which signal to choose? Where does it take the audio from?
I ask because the hard drive on my computer died this week, and I’m looking to overhaul the box into a Media Center PC. My DVD player connects to the TV through the composite video via the receiver (which does not support S-Video. Its old too). I want to connect the computer to the TV through the S-Video input, but I wonder if the DVD and computer will conflict. If there are issues, I could always go with an S-Video to Composite converter and run it through the reciever. Any advice?
EDIT: I thought a picture might help:
Comments (15)
Wish I could help, but I’m clueless (as usual anymore).
I have some older sets…I’ve never heard the “gong” sound you’re referring to. *confused*
Why not just plug a bunch of stuff in and see what happens?
I think s-video takes priority over composite.
Since you only have 1 video mode I think an easier way to set it up (rather than buy a whole new tv) is to get a switch something like this ebay auction has options for s-video, composite, and component inputs. I’m sure theres cheaper ones out there, but google showed me this.
Hope this helps
the way you have it, no audio will come out of the computer to the tv b/c s-video only carries video signal. you’ll need to send the audio to a separate speaker/subwoofer system. basically, the tv will only act as a monitor.
i’m not sure if i did the exact same setup as you before, but something similar – hooked up a vcr and dvd player to the same tv using s-video and component video, respectively. the tv would only show the dvd, when i pressed “play” on both machines. if it’s just one input on the tv, one will take precedence over the other, i think. try it out, and see what happens.
or.. why not just put a DVD drive in the computer and do all of your media through the PC?
Hey, thanks for everyone’s input! I’ll keep everyone updated on what route I choose. Sean, I’ve actually simplified the issue a bit. The DVD player could also be the Wii. I was going to have both the DVD player and Wii go through th reciever, and then send the receiver out to the TV.
at least YOUR TV still works despite its ancient-ness.
My 36 inch panasonic, also relatively new, just up and died one day. it was working fine one night, the next morning when I tried to turn it on — it just wouldn’t. I’ve since unplugged it, let it sit a a couple days, then tried turning it on again — all to no avail.
I’m thinking of donating it to a Tech School that teaches TV repair.
you know the TV in my room at home with the turn dials and metal hangers sticking out of the top? Why do we still have that?
Not sure if your TV has this option but some allow you to choose which input (Vid 1 is S Vid Vid 2 is COmposite etc….) Just a thought?
Maybe you can route the TV through the DVD or vice-versa?
Erm, computer through the DVD. Not TV through the DVD. D:
http://www.mvixusa.com/
If you use the S-Video plug instead of the video plug from the composite, you still use the left and right inputs with the composite. I still have one of those cables where the s-video and the two rca cables are stuck together.
I like the receiver or switch box ideas. having both plugged in at once is ok if you only have one of them on at a time (otherwise you get a nice static mess) For the audio you could use cheap two-way splitter (in reverse) and as long as the sound levels going to the tv are low (As they should be) they shouldn’t blow each other up.
Thats the slap it together method. Why spend good money on an old setup. Just make it work <<grin>>
Good luck on it!
i remember that tv!
my landlord donated her old phillips tv to me, and it’s about the same size – and makes the same “gong” sound when i turn it on.
sad thing is that this is an upgrade from her previous tv – that was about 20″ and about a foot deep……