Cheaping out on cables

[c_hernandez32]

I read that using cheap cables will produce static and unwanted problems.

I only use the same cables that come with my DVD player and reciever. I have an S-Video cable that came with my capture card and a coaxial digital audio cable that came with my reciever. Is there anyway to physically inspect and determine the quality of the cable? I'm kinda cheap and don't want to buy $30 compenant video cables, could I use 3 yellow video cables, and produce decent video, or would the quality be crap compared to S-Video?

I also heard that using an audio cable to connect the video can cause problems.

Just a quick poll, does anyone still have the odd Yellow and Red AV cables that came with the original NES?

[Innershield]

You probably won't notice any difference between s-video and component connections

[redwudz]

I wouldn't spend $30 for a cable unless you have a long run or a combo cable like SVHS. It's more important to keep your cable runs short as possible and route them away from sources of interferance such as large appliances and florescent lights. Audio cables are more likely to have problems with interferance than video, mainly because of AC hum. Video is fairly immune from interference. However, if you move or flex your cables often, you might want to go to better quality. When you use coaxial cables, such as for RF signals, you want better quality, because RF interference is much more common. If you listen to the 'cable' companies, they would have you spending a $100 for cables. I use the red and green cables, though not recomended, with no problems. I'm sure most people would recomend a 'name brand' cable, but not the most expensive one.

[Tommyknocker]

I do not use any NES cables. But if you can compare an image form a S-video capture, and a component video capture, you should be able to see the difference.

I plan on buying the ADS Pyro A/V Link soon so I can capture better VHS. To that end I bought a fatter yellow Video cable for my VCR. The capture quality improved, so now I'm in the market for a VHS with S-video output as well.

So my suggestion is not to substitute Video cable for audio cables. If you are too frugal, I would stay with what cables you have. At least each was already designed fore the purpoase you using them for. Perhaps you may be able to find a friend who loan you some to see the difference.

[SquirrelDip]

I'm going to agree with Innershield but you can make your own good quality component cables. I did this because I needed a longer run (about 10m) and purchasing 5 cables (component video and stereo audio) to run to the tv was really expensive.

Pick up quality RCA ends, Radio Shack sells them for about $5 a pair (an electronics house will be much cheaper). You'll also need a soldering iron and some solder. Stop in at your home reno place and get their best RG6 coax wire - even their best stuff should be about $0.50/m. A little soldering and in no time you've got your cables. If you're not familiar with soldering then practice a while joining wires together - takes a little practice getting good/clean connections.

This wire is actually good quality, low loss - just a little more rigid than commercial cables and doesn't take as much bending. I noticed no noise (static) with my home-made wires...

[You_Are_Alive]

Component cable will definitely give better picture quality then S-video cable and compostite cable. The colors will be more clean with less static, and reduces bleeding, especially with sharp edges. But of course, if your tv color settings are not fixed correctly, then it won't matter. Your not seeing the colors as they were meant to be seen when the programming or DVD was made. S-video is also very good, but not better than component cable. With it, facial tones will usually have a bit more of redness in them, and more fuzzy or soft, where composite is just at the low end with more washed out faces and blacks, and a dirty signal with the most fuzziness.

If you want the best, fork out the money for good component cables, but it sounds to me that you don't want to do that, so then just stick with s-video cable, you'll be happier cause you didn't have to spend the extra money. The thing about making your own, thats funny. I've never heard of someone doing that unless it was a necessity. As my friend would say, Cheapass, and I wonder if they had a nice aesthetic look to them. Who would go thru all that trouble and time and soldering. Can you post your pics of the cable, that would be fun to see.

[SquirrelDip]

@You_Are_Alive: A good set of cables, especially for longer lengths, can run into the hundreds of dollars. Many people don't have the funds and are looking for a cheap alternative. If you read the forums here I think you'll find a very high percentage of people running TV/DVD systems that are less expensive than what you are suggesting they spend on cables alone.

With a little care and a little time you can make your own. Below is a picture of my audio cable, the video's look identical but are currently being used.

[Innershield]

I saw someone post screenshots of a coax, a composite, an s-video, and a component connection. The coax and the composite looked the same and the s-video and the component looked the same. So saying that you will definitely get a better picture with the component is not necessarily true. I will do a search to see if I can find the screenshots and will post.

[LanEvo7]

Just don't get the cheapest cables and you should be fine. I have a pair of $7 gold plated cables from trisonic and monster(i needed it in a hurry and this was the only thing circuit city had). I can't tell the difference between the two.

[movie freak]

oh my god squirreldip those cables looks so neat and look good, how do you solder, i am looking forward to making my own

[You_Are_Alive]

Nice job there, SquirrelDip, good pics. But honestly, how long did it take you? Like I said, ppl with a necessity, like yourself will do it, if they know how. But the majority do not, and most, even me, don't need such long runs of cable. Shorter run cable is the norm, and thats still worth paying for. Never pay retail anyway, always shop around for the best deal for any cabling.

@Innershield, component is better, read my above post again. S-video splits the luma and chroma of a video signal. The component is better because it splits all colors seperately, hence the better quality and cleaner signal (less noise). But there are alot of variables too, the worst being as I've stated, a TVs color settings, including the contrast, and brightness.

The biggest advantage to go with your own, is price. But consider the disadvantage, your time, procurement of items from various places, additional tools. Then the coax cable is rigid, less flexible, they look ugly and stand up. Soldering is a weak connection, look at the pics closely. Your connector only goes over the cable, premium cable actually has molded rubber thing built right into the connector, hence stronger. Etc, I think you guys get what I'm trying to tell you.

BTW, I wonder what c_hernandez32 decided to do? Will he make his own, buy the component, or stick with just the s-video?

[SquirrelDip]

Time spent was about 20 minutes per cable.

The cable was actually purchased from an electrical wholesaler an was $36 CDN for a 1000 foot roll. I was helping a friend wire up a new home, we purchased a 1000 foot roll of RG6 and a 1000 foot roll of CAT5 ($60 CDN) - ran two CAT5 and one RG6 from the basement to every room in his home (with the exception of the bathrooms). Note that CAT5 can be used for telephone as well as network...

Soldering actually takes a little practice to get good at it. A cheap soldering iron should run about $10 and a spool of fine (thin) solder also about $10 (and the solder will last you for years...). Two hints when practicing: 1) heat your contacts slightly prior to bring the solder onto them. And 2) a third hand is handy, anything from clips to pliers to a small vice can come in handy.

[Innershield]

@Innershield, component is better, read my above post again. S-video splits the luma and chroma of a video signal. The component is better because it splits all colors seperately, hence the better quality and cleaner signal (less noise). But there are alot of variables too, the worst being as I've stated, a TVs color settings, including the contrast, and brightness.

Yes component is better. I never said it wasn't. I just said you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference. Do some testing and make your own screenshots.

[c_hernandez32]

I think that soldering my own wires is a bit out of my league. For now I will stick to S-Video. Hopefully for Christmas I will buy my own compenant video cables. For about $12-15 you can buy your own compenant video cables at Walmart. If am not impressed by the clarity or they just suck, I can return it. Walmart is so easy to con. I bought a DVD/VCR player and a year later it broke down. I returned it and told them I bought it two weeks ago. Got another one for free.

Does soldered cables look good, but I just really need a 4-6 cable. Something standard at most stores. can you compare the quality of Monster cables and say Philips (brand at Walmart)?

[SquirrelDip]

Just make sure the wire is a good diameter (about the diameter of the Monster wires) and that the ends are gold plated. The differences are probably minimal with respect to the cable but could be major when dealing with the contacts.

[lordsmurf]

I see definite differences in high-dollar cables and cheapo cables. For that reason, I mostly use Monster for s-video/composite. And always RG6 RadioShack for coax.

[Matt_]

I have a quick question about two different equal length Radioshack Gold Series coaxial cables that I hope someone can help me with.

I am hooking up for my parents a cable converter box, a vcr, and a dvd recorder to their TV. Because I want things to be as straight-forward as possible for them as far as their being able to use everything, there is a lot of coaxial cable being used. The output channel for the cable converter box is channel 4 and, while the video quality looks very pleasing for this setup, there is background "fuzz" on channels 2, 3, 5, and 6.

This brings me to my question about Radioshack.

I've read some different discussions on this board about tips on connections, and while it'd be nice if the budget were there to try the suggestions for online retailers, I'm faced with for the time being with my only choice being to try what's in town and what's affordable.

I need four or five 3 foot lengths of coaxial cable, and Radioshack is selling a 3 foot Gold Series cable Item # 15-1515 for $ 4.89 and a 3 foot Gold Series cable Item # 15-1541 for $ 9.99. The two seem to be spec'd identically with two exceptions: besides the difference in price, the one has a push-on connecter while the other one has a screw-on connector.

I wanted to ask about whether there is any significant difference between these two. At a savings of $5 per length, I would be willing to buy several of these and try them to see if there will make a difference for my parent's setup. But if there is some important difference then I'll skip the $ 4.89 ones though this means that the $ 9.99 ones would also be out of my budget as far as what I can justify spending on what.

[redwudz]

There is probably no difference between the two cables except the ends and maybe cosmetically. I would definitely go with the screw on type of ends, they push-on can get unplugged.

As far as the quality, really hard to say. I look at the size of the solid center conductor and whether the cable is 'quad shielded', although I doubt the shorter cables are. For short runs, should be just fine. (IMO)

[ZAPPER]

Matt
I always figured that the threaded type gave a better connection, but have no proof. Coax is pretty fool proof stuff as far as the center wire is not really part of the fitting, it is the fitting. And as long as the sheilding is crimped firmly by the connector you have a good connection. If the ends seem loose or crooked on the cable then you may start to have trouble. There are at least two grades of coax and I think that RG6 is the preferred but I tend to get confused when I am forced to have to think about anything

[ZAPPER]

@squirreldip

Ahh, the smell of the flux, the pride of a job well done, the burning of your bare leg as the solder rolls of the bench into your crotch, the relization that the best soldering of your life has been wasted because you forgot to slip the connector cover onto the cable before you solder the wires and the search for the third hand!