Help! I only have one scart rgb input

[ramlin]

Hi, I have just bought a new DVD player (a Panasonic s-75) which has a scart connector (rgb, s-video and composite). My TV is a 1998 Sony 25 inch TV which has two scarts at the back. One is, according to the Sony mannual, a 21 pin Euro connector (CENELEC standard) including audio/video input, RGB input, TV audio/video output and the other scart input, according to the mannual, is a 21 pin Euro connector (CENELEC standard) including audio/video input, S-Video input, Monitor audio/video output. The RGB scart input of my TV is currently being used to connect to my digital cable decoder, the s-video scart input of my TV is currently free. I also have a S-video input 4 pin Din at the front of the TV.
I haven't yet taken out the player from the box (I only just bought it). Can someone advise whether I should connect the dvd player to the s-video scart at the rear of the TV or the s-video input at the front of the TV or should I buy a scart splitter or scart switchbox so that the DVD player can, together with the digital decoder, share the rgb scart (if so, could someone recommend an inexpensive scart switchbox). BTW, the scart lead I purchased with the DVD player is a Cambridge Audio Premium 2m scart cable.


Many, many thanks for your help in advance.
Clifford

[bugster]

Either use S-Video to the reat of the TV (you don't want ugly cable visible at the front do you?)

OR, does your digital cable box have a 2nd scart socket, maybe labelled for VCR. Often these allow 'pass-through' of all signals and should allow the DVD RGB to pass through to the TV.

[ramlin]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
The digital set box I have does have another scart input in it - I have no idea whether its rgb, s-video or composite scart (I'll give the cable company a call to check and also to check whether the output to the TV from the digital box is also RGB). Assuming, the scart isn't rgb could you tell me what is the difference in quality between s-video and rgb, is the difference noticeable on 25 inch TV like the one I have and if it is so noticeable would you recommend a scart switch box. Many thanks again for your quick response.
Clifford

[bugster]

The difference in quality between S-Video and RGB really depends on the source equipment and the TV set. In many cases using RGB is better quality, it tends to give a sharper image and brighetr colours. But on some setups it doesn't work as well as it should so S-Video then becomes the preferred option. With most equipment that supports RGB (Set top cable boxes, DVD players etc) the option for RGB output has to be enabled, it is not normally on by default.