[slinkelist] PC to TV Converter

Paul Chambers bod@bod.org
Sun, 27 Aug 2000 19:57:03 -0700


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While in general I agree with George, if your expectations are not too high
it's possible to get something that's not too objectionable. Some caveats,
however:

a) don't even think about a composite video connection. S-Video is the
absolute minimum.

b) all TVs are not created equal, and this sort of use will shine a
spotlight on any shortcomings your tv may have. Including ones that won't
show up when using the set for normal video. If you don't have a pretty good
TV set, you won't get acceptable results.

c) accept that you'll get better results using lower resolutions. I'd
recommend 640x480, but with a good VGA scan converter and a good TV, 800x600
*may* also be O.K.

d) The quality of VGA scan converters and the 'TV out' option on graphics
cards vary a great deal. One converter manufacturer that seems to engineer
good products is AverMedia. Take a look at the AverKey 300, or one of the
higher models. The scan converters used by the broadcast industry do a great
job, but for the price you'd be better off buying a 'HD-ready' set and
driving that with the graphics card directly.

e) using a little intelligence in picking system colors can help, too. Try
to avoid high-contrast transitions, highly-saturated colors, etc. Video
doesn't have anything like the bandwidth of graphics, so fine details and
sharp luminance or chrominance changes will appear 'blurred' because they
will be bandwidth-limited.

Fair warning, even if you get everything just right, you may still be
unsatisfied with the results. It's never going to look great, NTSC was never
intended to display graphics. If you have an older TV, save your money (or
spend more of it to buy an HD-ready set with RGB inputs).

Paul
  -----Original Message-----
  From: slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com [mailto:slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com]On
Behalf Of Tang, George
  Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2000 6:33 PM
  To: Steve Fine; slinkelist@nirvis.com
  Subject: RE: [slinkelist] PC to TV Converter


  Unless you have HDTV or a TV designed to be a computer monitor, you will
not be happy with the result.  The reason is because TV's resolution is too
low to display VGA.

  -George
    -----Original Message-----
    From: slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com [mailto:slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com]On
Behalf Of Steve Fine
    Sent: Sunday, August 27, 2000 6:13 PM
    To: slinkelist@nirvis.com
    Subject: [slinkelist] PC to TV Converter


    I want to use my TV as a monitor for my PC running CDJ.  I've tried an
inexpensive VGA to TV converter and had unsatifactory results.  Does anyone
have any suggestions or first hand experience with one of these units?

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<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D070453602-28082000>While =
in general I=20
agree with George, if your expectations are not too high it's possible =
to get=20
something that's not too objectionable. Some caveats,=20
however:</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D070453602-28082000></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D070453602-28082000>a) =
don't even think=20
about a composite video connection. S-Video is the absolute=20
minimum.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D070453602-28082000></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D070453602-28082000>b) all =
TVs are not=20
created equal, and this sort of use will shine a spotlight on any =
shortcomings=20
your tv may have. Including ones that won't show up when using the set =
for=20
normal video. If you don't have a pretty good TV set, you won't get =
acceptable=20
results.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D070453602-28082000></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D070453602-28082000>c) =
accept that=20
you'll get better results using lower resolutions. I'd recommend =
640x480, but=20
with a good VGA scan converter and a good TV, 800x600 *may* also be=20
O.K.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D070453602-28082000></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D070453602-28082000>d) The =
quality of=20
VGA scan converters and the 'TV out' option on graphics cards vary a =
great deal.=20
One converter manufacturer that seems to engineer good products is =
AverMedia.=20
Take a look at the AverKey 300, or one of the higher models.&nbsp;The =
scan=20
converters used by the broadcast industry do a great job, but for the =
price=20
you'd be better off buying a 'HD-ready' set and driving that with the =
graphics=20
card directly.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D070453602-28082000></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D070453602-28082000>e) =
using a little=20
intelligence in picking system colors can help, too. Try to avoid =
high-contrast=20
transitions, highly-saturated colors, etc. Video doesn't have anything =
like the=20
bandwidth of graphics, so fine details and sharp luminance or =
chrominance=20
changes will appear 'blurred' because they will be=20
bandwidth-limited.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D070453602-28082000></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN class=3D070453602-28082000>Fair =
warning, even=20
if you get everything just right, you may still be unsatisfied with the =
results.=20
It's never going to look great, NTSC was never intended to display =
graphics. If=20
you have an older TV, save your money (or spend more of it to buy an =
HD-ready=20
set with RGB inputs).</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D070453602-28082000></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><SPAN=20
class=3D070453602-28082000>Paul</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE dir=3Dltr=20
style=3D"PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px =
solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
  <DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
  size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> =
slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com=20
  [mailto:slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com]<B>On Behalf Of </B>Tang,=20
  George<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, August 27, 2000 6:33 PM<BR><B>To:</B> =
Steve=20
  Fine; slinkelist@nirvis.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> RE: [slinkelist] PC to =
TV=20
  Converter<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
  class=3D978552901-28082000>Unless you have HDTV or a TV designed to be =
a=20
  computer monitor, you will not be happy with the result.&nbsp; The =
reason is=20
  because&nbsp;TV's resolution is too low to display =
VGA.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
  class=3D978552901-28082000></SPAN></FONT>&nbsp;</DIV>
  <DIV><FONT face=3DArial color=3D#0000ff size=3D2><SPAN=20
  class=3D978552901-28082000>-George</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
  <BLOCKQUOTE style=3D"MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
    <DIV class=3DOutlookMessageHeader dir=3Dltr align=3Dleft><FONT =
face=3DTahoma=20
    size=3D2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B>=20
    slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com =
[mailto:slinkelist-admin@nirvis.com]<B>On Behalf=20
    Of </B>Steve Fine<BR><B>Sent:</B> Sunday, August 27, 2000 6:13=20
    PM<BR><B>To:</B> slinkelist@nirvis.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> =
[slinkelist] PC to=20
    TV Converter<BR><BR></DIV></FONT>
    <DIV><FONT size=3D2>I want to use my TV as a monitor for my PC =
running=20
    CDJ.&nbsp; I've tried an inexpensive VGA to TV converter and had=20
    unsatifactory results.&nbsp; Does anyone have any suggestions or =
first hand=20
    experience with one of these units?&nbsp;=20
</FONT></DIV></BLOCKQUOTE></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>

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