SCART to S-Video adapter strange problems

[bigbadben]

I bought a scart to s video adapter like this one and there's a strange problem with it. Link: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/235200427026?hash=item36c309b412:g:iz8AAOSwkJllAZwQ&amdata...Bk9SR8quu87gYg

There is a ghosting effect when I connect it to both SCART outputs on my Panasonic DVD recorder. Did I just get a faulty one or are they all like this? I also bought a SCART to S-Video cable and the output was in black and white. I didn't change my settings since they should both handle PAL_B right?

[Alwyn]

Could you post a screenshot (or maybe a short vid) showing the ghosting? I've got a couple of those adapters (various sources over the years) but haven't noticed any ghosting (but I wasn't looking for it either). Mind you, I wasn't using them until the revelation of the scene-change level bounce!

[Subtitles]

The adapter is probably of low quality. Look for similar adapters from Europe as SCART was a standard in countries like Germany. Check hama products on amazon.de Perhaps an adapter with gold finish is better but no guarantee. Order only one with hama name or logo.
https://www.amazon.de/stores/page/8A19627F-018F-4644-AF93-9924094DAAEC/search?ingress=...ln&terms=Scart

[bigbadben]

Could you post a screenshot (or maybe a short vid) showing the ghosting? I've got a couple of those adapters (various sources over the years) but haven't noticed any ghosting (but I wasn't looking for it either). Mind you, I wasn't using them until the revelation of the scene-change level bounce!

Did you get any from ebay and if you did which sellers did you order from? The ghosting was very obvious in my case. Seeing as how none of the adapters are guaranteed to work except the ones from germany which don't send to Australia, maybe it's better to use either a scart to rca or s-video cable. Which one do you think would have better video quality? The VCR is sending a composite signal anyway. To me scart to rca looked sharper but s-video had better colours. Suppose this is a double bind situation for me.

[Alwyn]

Looking back into the archives, I bought one from Cablechick here in Aus, similar to this (might not be the exact one-looks the same):

https://www.cablechick.com.au/cables/scart-to-3rca-s-video-adaptor-with-direction-swit...8aAvQiEALw_wcB

Do you have a screenshot of the ghosting? Upload's easy: just hit the "Upload image" button above the Reply box. There's no need to use the attachments function.

I've always used S-Video from the DVD recorder to the digitiser; only just recently changed to the Scart output (still out using the S-video socket) because of the (very slight) brightness kick on scene changes.

[jagabo]

SCART pin 19 is shared for both composite and s-video luma. So you have to tell the DVD recorder which type of signal you want it to output. If you don't tell it you want s-video output it will continue to output composite on that pin and you will get a black and white recording.

[Sharc]

I've always used S-Video from the DVD recorder to the digitiser; only just recently changed to the Scart output (still out using the S-video socket) because of the (very slight) brightness kick on scene changes.

FWIW here another experience with those SCART adapters to escape the brightness kick of the S-video port:
https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/403635-Panasonic-DVD-recorder-passthrough-settings...e9#post2685791

[Alwyn]

From that topic:

However, I have a different kind of issue when using the SCART to S-Video & Composite adapter: it introduces a noticeable noise, like small but annoying diagonal white lines.

Probably an incorrect DVD Output setting for AV1 (as pointed out by Jagabo).

These are using a Scart connector/adapter on AV1 and S Video cable to the digitiser:

With output set to "Video (with Component):

[Attachment 74287 - Click to enlarge]

With output set to S Video:

[Attachment 74288 - Click to enlarge]

[Sharc]

@ the OP: What type of Panasonic DVD recorder are you using? Not all models suffer from the brightness fluctuation at their S-video OUT, so you may not even need the SCART adapter (or live with the brightness kick).
Also, poor cable terminations (which should be 75 Ohms) can produce ghosts (echoes).
Difficult to assess without a video sample.

[Sharc]

A reminder of caution regarding these SCART adaptors: Internally they are open wired using wire straps of say 1....3" length, and sometimes a PCB and an IN/OUT switch. Due to capacitive coupling between the unshielded wires the Y signal will be contaminated by the color carrier (C, modulated chroma) which is present on the C wire (and vice versa). Means the luma signal is no longer a clean grayscale signal but rather a "muddy" composite signal which represents a low saturated pale "colored" picture.
Attached oscillogram shows the Y at the output of a SCART adaptor. One can clearly see the residual chroma (C) which is superimposed on the luma due to capacitive coupling (crosstalk) happening within the SCART adaptor. It's like a "weak" composite signal.

Same (even much worse) happens with low quality poorly screened SCART-to-S-video adaptor cables. It can also be a source of "ghosts" due to the phase shift between the true signals and the crosstalk interference.

[TOM11]

Sharc:
Very good explained...
Now is need know how make an EXTREMELY quality cable (SCART-to-S-video/S-video-to-SCART) and EXTREMELY quality adaptor (with color)...
Ofcourse homemade...

[Jacky Joy]

I'm trying to confirm whether or not the Panasonic NV-FJ620 is an S-VHS video player. It doesn't actually say S-VHS on the front, only Super VHS. Is that the same thing?
Cheers

[Alwyn]

Off topic:

It doesn't actually say S-VHS on the front, only Super VHS. Is that the same thing?

No. It actually says "Super Drive". That VCR is not a SVHS VCR.

[rgr]

I'm trying to confirm whether or not the Panasonic NV-FJ620 is an S-VHS video player. It doesn't actually say S-VHS on the front, only Super VHS. Is that the same thing?
Cheers

This VCR has SQPB - that is, it can play SVHS tapes by converting to the VHS standard.