Creating a component-video cable for a Dreamcast?

[Packy]

I'm using the s-video cable for my Dreamcast right now, but my TV supports component-in. Does anyone know the pin-out for the DC video/audio cable, or if it's even possible for me to create my own cable? I'm not sure if support for component-out is strictly hardware-based. Any knowledge or help on this subject would rock.

It'd be a fun project if it's possible

Darin

 

[lukatmyshu]

Even if you could split the cable (which I imagine would be really difficult and since S-Video and Component signals are totally different and are unrelated) I don't think it would make a difference in terms of picture quality. Because even if you could (which again I think is impossible) S-Video only transmits 400 lines of resolution .... component 500 (I think) ... so there's no way to 'extract' those extra lines.

 

[VH5150]

They sell S-video to composite converters and they're not expensive.

 

[suicideKing]

There is very little difference between S Video and Component video (480i).

Now if your goal is to connect the Dreamcast to an HDTV with progressive component inputs, you'll need a Dreamcast VGA box and a VGA to Component transcoder.

But bottomline, if you are connecting to a TV that can only do NTSC (480i), there is nothing to gain.

:frown:

 

[Bulldog7000]

S-Video or Y/C is is merely the Luma and the Chroma (Light & Color) information of the video signal tranmitted seperately. Component video is the color components of the video, usually RGB on consumer Tvs. In the case of consumer Tvs with RGB or 3 part component, the sync signals (horizontal and Vertical) are composited and mixed with the Green Part, what they call "Sync-on-Green". In professional 4 or 5 part component the sync signals are seperate from the color all together. In 4 part it is a seperate composite sync RGBS, and in 5 part all components are seperate RGBHV (Horizontal Vertical).

So in essence there is no way to get a "better" signal by converting S-Video to Component. You need the components coming out of the graphics subsystem to take advantage of them.

Here is a link about the pinout of the DC's AV connector.
DC AV connector Pinout

Looks like it's doable.

Have fun!
BDOG

 

[Packy]

Fun! Thanks for all the responses guys. I did snag a cheap $2.99 s-video cable from Software Etc. when I first bought the DC, but projects are more fun than buying stuff. I just wanted to see if it's do-able, and it seems like it might be.

[edit] The TV I have isn't progressive-scan, it' just an older Sony Vega 36", with component-in. Since component is broken down into RGB, with the sync riding within the green (probably), it does seem like it's possible.

Nifty...

 

[N8Magic]

<< Fun! Thanks for all the responses guys. I did snag a cheap $2.99 s-video cable from Software Etc. when I first bought the DC, but projects are more fun than buying stuff. I just wanted to see if it's do-able, and it seems like it might be.

[edit] The TV I have isn't progressive-scan, it' just an older Sony Vega 36", with component-in. Since component is broken down into RGB, with the sync riding within the green (probably), it does seem like it's possible.

Nifty... >>



I thought component wasn't broken up in to colours, I thought it was broken up into chrominance, luminescence and something else. Basically, I think it separates the colours on to two cables, and the black and white info on another.

I could be wrong.

 

[Packy]

That sounds more like s-video, but I could also be wrong

 

[crypticlogin]

<< That sounds more like s-video, but I could also be wrong >>



No, you're right.. s-video uses luminance and chrominance. Here' s a quick who's who about the video types, linkned from the mainpage that Bulldog mentioned. Video primer

It's a real quick read and fairly concise.