HDMI Switching Scaler

This compact high performance HDMI upscaler can connect up to five devices to one HDTV display or projector. It is perfect for connecting your multiple devices such as DVD players, set top boxes etc to your HDTV. It will upscale digital and analogue video signals from your devices to HDMI.1.2 to be shown on your HDMI display. This means video signals can be upscaled to be displayed at resolutions of up to 1080p and WUXGA (1920 x 1200). The HDCP compliant device supports Composite Video, S-Video, VGA, Component Video (HD), and HDMI inputs. You can easily switch between each input device using a remote control. Not only does it support video, the scaler also supports both analogue and digital audio signals as well. It can scale any PC (VGA to WUXGA) or HD (480i to 1080p) input resolution to any other PC / HD resolution. Its on-screen display makes it even easier to use. The LINDY HDMI 1080p Switching Scaler is a great small, compact, inexpensive device.

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Technisat HDFS Freesat HD Digital Box

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The Technisat HDFS HD Freesat Box has the benefits of a digital box, plus up to 70 hours a week of HD programmes, subscription-free. If you have an HD Ready TV or are thinking of buying one, this is a great option. Continue reading “Technisat HDFS Freesat HD Digital Box”

Apple Mac Mini Displayport raises compatibility concerns

Apple’s decision to remove the DVI port from the MacBook, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in favor of Mini DisplayPort, and to offer Mini DisplayPort as the only video connector for the new 24-inch Cinema Display, has raised current compatibility concerns. This has a number of implications:- Continue reading “Apple Mac Mini Displayport raises compatibility concerns”

HDMI Over Cat 5

With CAT 5 and CAT6 network cable costing in the region of £70 for 305m (1000ft) it is ideal for transferring HDMI over long distances,.

An HDMI over CAT6 extender will allow you to extend an HDMI connection using CAT 5e or CAT 6 network cable as a transmission medium. The advantages of using this type of cable rather than HDMI are that you can alter the length of your cable and it is very cheap in comparision wih full HDMI cabling, CAT6 cable is easy to hide in a house, behind walls under floors etc. Network cables are also very easy to terminate and can be done at home by the consumer, an HDMI cable on the other hand would be extremely difficult to terminate. Continue reading “HDMI Over Cat 5”

Run out of Optical Inputs on Surround Sound System

With so many set top boxes and DVD players having optical outputs it is often the case that you run out of optical inputs on the surround sound amplifier. There are a few solutions to this problem:- Continue reading “Run out of Optical Inputs on Surround Sound System”

Virgin V+ Connections

The Virgin Media V+ box has a variety of connectors to get the picture and sound to your TV, we’ll start off with the picture connections.

The V+ box has 3 video output connections:-

  • Scart – The scart connection supports RGB, RGB with composite sync (RGBS) and composite video (CVBS). The V+ box scart connection will only provide a standard definition picture, s-video is not supported so scart to s-video cables will give a black and white picture. If using a CRT or non HD Ready TV then a scart lead can be used to connect video and audio.
  • Component Video – The V+ box component video connection will provide a high defintion tv (HDTV) signal, whilst not quite as good as HDMI, HD via a component video cable will give an excellent picture. A component video cable has 3 phono plugs each end coloured Red, Green and Blue, sometimes referred to as an RGB cable, although you will find the connectors marked YUV or YPbPr.
  • HDMI – The best connection to use, connect the V+ box with an HDMI cable, this transfers the audio and video digitally with a single cable.

The V+ box has 2 options for connecting sound, you will only need to use these audio outputs if using a component cable which doesn’t support sound or are connecting to a surround sound system:-

  • Stereo phono output – Phono connectors provide the left and right audio channels, this output only supports 2 channel stereo sound, use a stereo phono cable to make the connection, if you want surround sound the optical output should be used.
  • Optical output (toslink) – The V+ optical connection outputs 5.1 surround sound via single toslink optical cable, a single toslink cable should be connected between the box and the av receiver / surround sound amplifier.

Missing some Channels on Freeview

A common problem when switching from analogue to digital TV (freeview) is that not all channels are received, the most common probelm is the TV aerial. UHF TV channels are grouped by frequency, the aerial groups are A B CD E K & W, group A covers channels 21-37, group B channels 35-53, group CD channels 48-68, group K channels 21-48 and group W (wideband) channels 21-68. If you have, for example, a group A TV aerial and some of the Freeview channels are above channel 37 you may not be able to receive them. Continue reading “Missing some Channels on Freeview”

Pioneer KRP-500A Kuro with separate Media Receiver

KURO means black in Japanese and black is at the very heart of the KURO concept. Blacker than ever, a KURO flat screen TV creates black tones of such depth and purity that every detail, every colour, every shade becomes brilliantly alive. 

Just 64mm thin and with a separate media receiver connected using a displayport cable, the KRP-500A is clean and contemporary in design; a centrepiece complementing almost any interior.

The KRP-500A delivers flicker-free images in razor-sharp 1080p resolution. View films coming from Blu-ray in the original 24 frames per second – precisely the same rate at which they were originally filmed and mastered. What you see (and hear) is true to the original. Continue reading “Pioneer KRP-500A Kuro with separate Media Receiver”