Component Video to S-Video

[ima2hd]

I have a DVR 921 from Dish Network. As we know capture cards currently only have s-video for the best option for video in. The DVR 921 will downconvert any Hi Definition signal to 480i & that is how I watch the Hi Definition channels. Although I can't say much for the quality on the SD channels the downconverted Hi Definition channels are excellent except for TNT. If one switches to anything above 480i the DVR 921 only sends those signals out the component or DVI output, so you don't get a picture on those modes. Getting to my question "In Focus" sells a Component Video to S-Video or S-Video to Component Video & they state "Compatible with 480i signals; not for use with progressive signals." If I were to purchase this adapter would it allow me to watch the 480p,720p or 108o1 signal via the s-video? And would it damage anything?
My next question is whenever I capture off the downconverted Hi Definition signal (480i) it is displayed letterbox 16 x 9, but the captures are always 4x3 why is this? Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks,
Will

[edDV]

...

Getting to my question "In Focus" sells a Component Video to S-Video or S-Video to Component Video & they state "Compatible with 480i signals; not for use with progressive signals." If I were to purchase this adapter would it allow me to watch the 480p,720p or 108o1 signal via the s-video? And would it damage anything?

"Compatible with 480i signals; not for use with progressive signals."
That means it is only encoding Y, Pb, Pr to NTSC (S-Video) and the the reverse and only for 480i

What is your TV set?

480p requires a progressive EDTV or HDTV to watch.

720p and 1080i are HDTV standards that require a HDTV to watch them.
There is no economic way to get these HD component analog signals into S-Video (480i) or to your PC if that is what you are asking.

My next question is whenever I capture off the downconverted Hi Definition signal (480i) it is displayed letterbox 16 x 9, but the captures are always 4x3 why is this? Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Describe what you mean by 4x3. Do captures look different than letterboxed 16x9 ?
Letterboxed 16x9 is a 4x3 aspect ratio. The 921 should have menus to select 4x3 letterbox, 4x3 Pan&Scan or 16x9. On a standard TV, 16x9 will look squeezed horizontally and full height.

[ima2hd]

Well I wish I would have gotten your reply in time. I went ahead & purchased the adaptor http://www.buy.com/retail/product.asp?sku=10352650&loc=&rp=true I suppose I can return it. Do you think I could at least watch 480 p through this adaptor? I only watch material from my DVR 921 through my PC in which I have an ATI AIW 9600XT. I searched in vain to find a video card or peripheral device with component video in or DVI/HDMI & even posted my query on here before purchasing a new video card.
I have done some avi captures & ran them through AVI2DVD (DVD2SVCD) I select the 16:9 anamorphic tab & it always leaves borders on the sides? I have also done some mpeg2 captures & they always show up as 4 x 3 when I check them with windvd under the information tab it says 4 x 3 also I have checked it using WMP 10 it also says 4 x 3. I have also done some test captures & made sure in display set up on the DVR 921 it was selected as 16 x 9 which of course it does looks squeezed on my 4 x 3 PC monitor as you said. The material is definitely 16 x 9 off of the Hi Def channels it is being downconvrted by the DVR 921 to 480i & displays properly letterboxed on my monitor. I didn’t think the DVR 921 was making the 16 x 9 letterboxed but maybe it is? I would like to make some captured of the HD downconverted channels & make sure they display properly on a 16 x 9 set. I currently don’t have one, but could make some test captures and take them to a friend to test them. I ma not sure what will happen when I hook up the adaptor and select 480p or higher? Maybe my ATI AIW 9600XT can only accept 480i through the S-video input and so I therefore nothing will be displayed; however something would be sent out of the component to the s-video I assume? Any help would greatly be appreciated.
P.S. The DVR-921 will only send out 480p or higher via its component or DVI output & that is why I came up with the adaptor idea.

[edDV]

It's just no going to work with 480p, 720p or 1080i

S-Video is for Y/C NTSC interlaced only. No way that component 480p will work.

The ATI AIW 9600XT will only input interlaced NTSC (composite or S-Video)
Like you say, there are no component analog input cards available at the consumer level.

The DVI/HDMI outputs from HDTV tuners are encrypted with HDCP and by design will not work with PCs. Those outputs will only work with a HDTV with HDCP encryption support.

You need an HDTV to use the HDTV outputs. End of story.
27" HDTV ready monitors can be had for under $500 if you shop.

16x9 in 480i is the full vertical horizontally compressed image that you say you are getting on your 4x3 display. When you capture and encode that image and properly define it as 16x9 in the MPeg header during authoring, it will play from the DVD as 16x9 on a wide screen TV or in your computer media player. The header defines playback as 16x9 or 4x3.

[ima2hd]

Well it was a novel idea anyway I thought since progressive could be sent out of a DVD player via s-video it might work. I guess a dvd player converts the progressive signal on most dvd’s to interlaced before it sends it out of the s-video? Unfortunately I don’t know what an MPeg header is? I have made vcd headers before using TMPGENC when I make svcd’s.

Sincerely,
Will

[edDV]

Well it was a novel idea anyway I thought since progressive could be sent out of a DVD player via s-video it might work. I guess a dvd player converts the progressive signal on most dvd’s to interlaced before it sends it out of the s-video? Unfortunately I don’t know what an MPeg header is? I have made vcd headers before using TMPGENC when I make svcd’s.

Sincerely,
Will

The DVD player makes a 60 frames per second progressive output only on the component analog or DVI/HDMI outputs. Same goes for your 921 tuner. You will never get progressive video on a NTSC Y/C S-Video output and you will never see progressive video on a standard TV.

[ima2hd]

edDV: Thanks for the explanation that helps a lot. I am looking into one of those DBS cards right now.

Take Care,
Will