HDMI to S-video conversion

[vev46]

My DVD player recorder/player Panasonic DMR-EA18 has 2 S-video inputs, one of which is fed by my DirecTV receiver. I would like to feed the second S-video input from my laptop's HDMI output. I recently bought an HDMI to AV "Keedox" converter, (about $38), but the video comes through only in black & white. The secondary S-video input to my recorder works perfectly when fed by the DirecTV receiver. The composite video output from the converter gives color, but the quality is very poor. The seller was willing to swap the converter for another unit, which unfortunately made no difference.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thx
Vic

[smrpix]

the video comes through only in black & white.

B&W image is a common symptom of having NTSC/PAL output set incorrectly. Keedox' website says there is a switch, how is it set?

[vev46]

The setting is of course on NTSC. If set on PAL, the video will not sync, & is totally unwatchable.

[pandy]

Perhaps hw problem with this S-Video input? cold joint, broken trace on PCB etc.

[usually_quiet]

My DVD player recorder/player Panasonic DMR-EA18 has 2 S-video inputs, one of which is fed by my DirecTV receiver. I would like to feed the second S-video input from my laptop's HDMI output. I recently bought an HDMI to AV "Keedox" converter, (about $38), but the video comes through only in black & white. The secondary S-video input to my recorder works perfectly when fed by the DirecTV receiver. The composite video output from the converter gives color, but the quality is very poor. The seller was willing to swap the converter for another unit, which unfortunately made no difference.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thx
Vic

Are you saying that the HDMI to S-Video converter works with the DirecTV receiver as the HDMI source, but not when the laptop is the HDMI source?

If you are certain the switch on the HDMI to S-video converter is set to S-Video rather than CVBS, are you using the 5V power supply or powering the device via HDMI? A laptop might not supply enough power via HDMI .

[newpball]

My DVD player recorder/player Panasonic DMR-EA18 has 2 S-video inputs, one of which is fed by my DirecTV receiver. I would like to feed the second S-video input from my laptop's HDMI output. I recently bought an HDMI to AV "Keedox" converter, (about $38), but the video comes through only in black & white. The secondary S-video input to my recorder works perfectly when fed by the DirecTV receiver. The composite video output from the converter gives color, but the quality is very poor. The seller was willing to swap the converter for another unit, which unfortunately made no difference.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Thx
Vic

The question is what do you expect?

Viewing a computer screen over NTSC/PAL sucks big time, you know that right?
No converter, doubler, upconverter, auto HD, or other magic garbage will change that.

[vev46]

My original intent in buying the converter was to be able to record Roku program material. As you probably know, Roku outputs only HDMI, which I typically connect to my Yamaha RX-V471 AV receiver which then feeds the switched HDMI to my TV. So, since my only input choices to my DVD recorder are S-VIDEO or Composite Video, I needed a converter. On my recorder, S-VIDEO 1 input is connected to my DirecTV S-VIDEO output, and I needed to connect S-VIDEO 2 input to my Roku HDMI output through the converter when I wanted to record Roku sourced material. I should add that the DVD recorder output I use is HDMI, (again, switched through my AV receiver), although there are COMPONENT and S-VIDEO output choices as well. I have tried the COMPONENT output from the recorder straight to my TV COMPONENT input, but no color with that either. The only reason I tried connecting my computer HDMI to the converter was to see if a source other than Roku might fix the problem and show color. I have not tried the DirecTV HDMI through the converter, but I do not expect different results. If you think it's worth trying, let me know.

Thanks for your continuing help.
Vic

[usually_quiet]

My original intent in buying the converter was to be able to record Roku program material. As you probably know, Roku outputs only HDMI, which I typically connect to my Yamaha RX-V471 AV receiver which then feeds the switched HDMI to my TV. So, since my only input choices to my DVD recorder are S-VIDEO or Composite Video, I needed a converter. On my recorder, S-VIDEO 1 input is connected to my DirecTV S-VIDEO output, and I needed to connect S-VIDEO 2 input to my Roku HDMI output through the converter when I wanted to record Roku sourced material. I should add that the DVD recorder output I use is HDMI, (again, switched through my AV receiver), although there are COMPONENT and S-VIDEO output choices as well. I have tried the COMPONENT output from the recorder straight to my TV COMPONENT input, but no color with that either. The only reason I tried connecting my computer HDMI to the converter was to see if a source other than Roku might fix the problem and show color. I have not tried the DirecTV HDMI through the converter, but I do not expect different results. If you think it's worth trying, let me know.

Thanks for your continuing help.
Vic

You never answered my other question. Are you using the 5V power supply (the adapter that plugs into an electrical outlet) or powering the HDMI to S-Video converter with HDMI?

[vev46]

Sorry - I am using the included power adapter. In the instructions included with the converter, it says to recycle power if there is a problem, which I have done, and which made no difference.

Vic

[usually_quiet]

Sorry - I am using the included power adapter. In the instructions included with the converter, it says to recycle power if there is a problem, which I have done, and which made no difference.

Vic

It may turn out to be a waste of time but other than that, it couldn't hurt to try a different HDMI source (DirecTV receiver) with the HDMI to S-Video converter.

[evanjackson]

I am on my second Keedox HDMI to S-video converter. I have the 5volt power supply plugged in. I have the HDMI cable from the computer plugged in The blue power light is on. The S-video/cvas switch is in S-video. The NTSC/PAL switch is in NTSC. All I get is either black and white bars or color bars, with the caption Out of Range NTSC. It was working the other night. The same happened on the first box It worked once or twice then reverted to the color bars.

Other than buying a flat screen with a HDMI input is there another converter out there somewhere?

[mikel]

Only b/w output on s-video, from color source possibly indicates bad chroma connection.
Try another s-video cable.