What's that thing called that splits an s-video/RCA(Composite)?

[RoganSarine]

I'm trying to look for one on ebay, but I can't find one (A cheap tie-over solution until I learn what the heck a Hava Wireless HD does... apparently it's supposed to allow you to play things in HD but record in SD... but I don't get how). If you don't get what I'm talking about:

Basically my TV has no output ports (I just noticed it... my brand new LCD has no s-video or video composite output ports. i don't know if that's standard in LCD's) and I need to split an s-video and an audio RCA connection so one can plug into my capture card, and another into my TV.

Can someone tell me what this is called and possibly link me to one on ebay? I tried things like RCA splitter, but I also need svideo for video.

[kimco52]

Distribution Amplifier

[jagabo]

A simple A/B switch will allow one input to be switched between two devices. Only one device at a time gets the signal.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2049645

Y adaptors will allow you to send one signal to both devices but the level may be degraded by 3 dB. Audio will be less loud and video darker.

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat%5Fid=2009&sku=29164
http://www.needledoctor.com/Molly-254-206IV-6-Python-Series-Y-Cable-1-RCA-Male-to-2-RCA-Female

A distribution amp is an active device that splits one signal into two (or more) and hopefully keeps the levels and quality. Most A/V receivers can act as distribution amps.

[kimco52]

Generally speaking, you can split audio because the source is low impedance but the inputs you are going to are high impedance so there isn't too much loss for just a split to two. Kinda like a bridging input (unbalanced).

Video is different. You cannot passively split it without degrading the signal. Normal video is 75 ohms in and out. Splitting will cut that in half (3dBm)(6dBv). You will be able to tell the difference as jagabo has stated. I have found some later model A/V receivers have loss through them, also. If I take a signal and feed it directly from a source to a monitor I will see a good picture (normal). If I put it into the input of a receiver, and feed the monitor from the monitor out connector, some are a little darker (lower signal). This is because they are using electronic switching (emitter follower) which is a little less than unity gain. My current Pioneer does that. So, I put a little amp on the output to the monitor which brings the level back up to unity.

I realize my previous answer was real short but it is correct. An active device is preferrable to a passive splitter. good low cost distribution Amplifiers are out there. You need to look for them. The ones I found are made by a company called Kramer Electronics. The video one I am using is the PT102S which is an S-video 2 output amplifier. It is a little box about 2" square so it fits neatly at the rear of the receiver. I don't remember what I paid but it was less than $30. I can adjust both the Y and C levels individually.

[SmokieStover]

http://www.amazon.com/AV-400SV-Prograde-Distribution-Amplifier/dp/B0009QZPO6/ref=pd_si..._dbs_e_title_1

[kimco52]

It looks like a good box, even for the price. However, as I mentioned in my post, I needed a little amplification to overcome losses inside the receiver. This box is fixed at unity gain -0.4dB. I wanted a box that had some adjustable gain adjustments. Not a lot, +/- 1.5dB.

If this unit works in your application, use it.
Most "Pro" DA's have adjustments.

[RoganSarine]

It looks like a good box, even for the price. However, as I mentioned in my post, I needed a little amplification to overcome losses inside the receiver. This box is fixed at unity gain -0.4dB. I wanted a box that had some adjustable gain adjustments. Not a lot, +/- 1.5dB.

If this unit works in your application, use it.
Most "Pro" DA's have adjustments.

How much did it cost you compared to a bare bones one? (Which I'm still having trouble finding one that just does it for RCA even on ebay).

[jagabo]

The prices I saw were more than twice the $30 kimco52 mentioned:

http://www.google.com/products?q=Kramer+Electronics+PT102S

[kimco52]

The prices have gone up, evidently, from when I purchased mine. I got mine from Markertek.. http://www.markertek.com/SearchProduct.asp?off=0&sort=prod

I bought it two years ago and it was under $40 with power adaptor. I noticed you can get one for $69 at one of the links in the Google link from jagabo, above.

The composite video one is the PT102V module. If you get one with BNC's, you can get BNC-RCA adaptors anywhere.

[RoganSarine]

Kimco... Does your s-video one also have RCA audio? Because not only do I need to split the video, but I also need to split the RCA audio into the TV and into the capture card. Would this involve both your video amplifier and another splitter of sorts? Or is there an "all in one" solution with a better bang you know of?

Edit: Is something like this ( http://www.kramerelectronics.com/indexes/item.asp?desc=565 ) similar to what I want with appropriate gain controls? It's a little expensive considering it's just adding audio... heh.

Wouldn't I be better off buying something at this point like a wireless HAVA, so my TV could recieve an HD signal and my capture card recieve a signal that is 480i? (Which resembles the same price tag). Someone told me that a HAVA could do this (i'll make a new topic for this question).

P.S.: I just noticed that my TV has an RCA audio out. Would I get sync problems if I sent an svideo connection through the VDA splitting it to my TV and my capture card while my audio RCA went from my TV to my capture card?

[kimco52]

My DA is only S-Video. You would need an additional amp for audio.... PT102A for the same series. I would say that for what you want, the Kramer VM-30AYC is a better choice than using the two separate boxes similar to the ones I am using. It keeps it in one box.

The amp Smokiestover mentioned would also work, however, for me, I prefer one that has gain controls to overcome any insertion losses and imbalances. The amp he referenced is a unity gain amp with insertion losses. I have losses through my AV receiver even though they say it is just a switch but an electronic switch has insertion losses. And it may not be linear. That is why I added the video amp to my system ...... and the gain controls to compensate for the switching.

I do not know anything about HAVA, so I can't comment on it.

I don't believe you should have any sync problems with what you say because there is no processing going on. The DA does no signal processing. Where you get sync problems is when you use a framer or digital video processor. There is some delay going through those.