8mm Forum: VHS Recorder to DLP Rear Projector

This is topic VHS Recorder to DLP Rear Projector in forum General Yak at 8mm Forum.

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Posted by Roger Shunk (Member # 2836) on August 27, 2015, 09:06 AM:

Greetings fellow film enthusiasts!

I'm trying to hook up my VHS take recorder to my DLP rear projector so that I can play some old VHS tapes. I realize the quality will not be really good.

I ran the S-cable from the VHS deck to the S-cable on the projector but no picture? It say's no signal on the screen?

I put the signal on the projector to Video with no luck and also tried the S-Video on the projector with no luck & still comes up NO SIGNAL?

Any advise on how to get this to work would be greatly appreciated! [Confused]

Thanks,
RS

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 27, 2015, 10:15 AM:

Have you set the VCR to S Video out Roger?

Also if memory serves me correctly, s video cables are directional (I think) should have an arrow to suggest if it's an input or output connection (I think).

Someone with a better memory than I have nowadays would answer this for definite Roger. Someone like Rob Young would know for sure.

Posted by Roger Shunk (Member # 2836) on August 27, 2015, 10:20 AM:

Hi Andrew,
Thanks for your reply. I do not think there is a setting on the VHS for the S-Video out? If there is how do I access that feature then?

Thanks for your help!
Roger

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on August 27, 2015, 10:20 AM:

Roger, it is possible that you have a faulty S-video cable. I would try a new one. Also, try connecting up with the regular composite video cable (plus the red and white audio cables) to see if that works, You can also try a component video cable (RGB) if your equipment has them.

Posted by Roger Shunk (Member # 2836) on August 27, 2015, 10:23 AM:

Hi Paul,
No the S-Video is brand new and I used it on another projector that worked with it. I will try your suggestions and hopefully will resolve the problem?

Thanks again!
RS

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 27, 2015, 10:36 AM:

It's rare that VHS video recorders would have component outputs Roger but some of later models did (especially Toshiba or Sanyo models) so it's worth looking.

Paul's advice on trying it first with a composite lead just to check all is working ok is very good advice, then check the s video cable for arrows. It may be the wrong way around and you may be attempting to give a signal to VCR from the Video Projector.

You would have to know your VCR menus well to know how to change its output configuration. If you were attempting to do this you may need a scart cable to an older style TV to display the menu before you change it to output to the PJ.

[ August 27, 2015, 12:20 PM: Message edited by: Andrew Woodcock ]

Posted by Roger Shunk (Member # 2836) on August 27, 2015, 10:42 AM:

Yeah makes sense so I will give it a try!
Thanks,
RS

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 27, 2015, 11:08 AM:

Roger
Don't forget that "S" video cables do not carry audio.

Posted by Roger Shunk (Member # 2836) on August 27, 2015, 11:12 AM:

OK Maurice got it!
Thanks,
RS

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on August 27, 2015, 11:25 AM:

I would go with Paul's advice first and try a basic composite lead connection to see if that works.

S-video leads shouldn't be directional, Andrew.

All good advice so far though.

On the plus side, if composite works, then whilst an s-video connection (separate luma / chroma siganls) would be slightly better quality, it won't be that much of a deal unless you're playing back SVHS recordings.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 27, 2015, 12:17 PM:

Must have been s video to scart or the likes that I was remembering then Rob. I think one lead I had years ago even had a switch on it for using it either as an input lead or by switching it became an output lead I think.
Thanks for clarifying that one Rob.

Posted by Rob Young. (Member # 131) on August 27, 2015, 12:31 PM:

Yes, indeed, Andrew - you could definitely get leads with composite plus left / right audio using RCA connectors one end, to a scart on the other - with a switch on the scart to make it either input or output, so you didn't dream it! [Smile]

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 27, 2015, 01:18 PM:

Thanks Rob for assuring me at the very least, that I'm not going completely round the twist just yet! [Big Grin]

Hope you figure out what's wrong soon Roger.

Posted by Roger Shunk (Member # 2836) on August 28, 2015, 12:25 PM:

Thanks Andrew this project will be put on hold now since I have to catalog my film collection.

Posted by Steven J Kirk (Member # 1135) on August 28, 2015, 12:45 PM:

Don't think they ever used SCART in the States, so we may be misleading Roger on that one.

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 28, 2015, 01:42 PM:

Ah, didn't realize that Steven...Thanks for alerting me to that one.

I hope it all works out for you Roger when you revisit this one.

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on August 28, 2015, 02:57 PM:

Steven is right, SCART connectors do not exist in the USA. A few years ago, while in the UK, I purchased a new flat panel TV for my mum, and could not figure what that weird connector was on the TV. I was told by the salesman that I needed a SCART connector, to which I replied "what the heck is that".!

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 28, 2015, 03:09 PM:

You live and learn Paul as they say. [Smile]

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on August 28, 2015, 04:18 PM:

Interesting, it is often said that the "péritel" plug exists only in France (we use it also in Belgium but for big countries, the small ons don't count, do they ?). Now, I can see that it is also used in the UK under the name "SCART".

Posted by Andrew Woodcock (Member # 3260) on August 28, 2015, 05:23 PM:

It was a popular connection here Dominique when tv had 500 lines.
Now, most equipment you find has well and truly ditched it.

In fact all connections for picture except of course HDMI are deemed sub standard nowadays.

Even projectors like the PTAE 900 used to have one scart connection but not any more since HD and HDMI

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on August 29, 2015, 02:22 AM:

I shall miss the SCART plug, mind you, it was a terror to do your own wiring to it!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCART

Posted by Martin Jones (Member # 1163) on August 29, 2015, 02:57 AM:

As pointed out in Maurie's link, SCART, though only called that in the UK, is an acronym for "Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils Radiorécepteurs et Téléviseurs", thus recognising its French origins as a European standard.
Basically intended as a comprehensive and efficient connector for Analogue and DC, it could just a easily be used for "Digital" purposes (it has pins specifically intended for "data" transfer).... I use it extensively for interconnections between "bespoke" electronic items because it is easy to wire. AND.... it's very, very cheap to buy, and there is a multitude of cheap ready made connecting leads for it.

Posted by Dominique De Bast (Member # 3798) on August 29, 2015, 05:29 AM:

Thanks for all these précisions. The "SCART" denomination is not used in French, funny when you know where that name comes from.

Posted by Brian Fretwell (Member # 4302) on August 29, 2015, 11:00 AM:

It seems as if from the Dr Who (Colin Baker's Doctor to his assistant) description of Peri as a mischievous sprite with tel as television "péritel" is an apt name for it in this case.

Posted by Ken Finch (Member # 2768) on August 30, 2015, 08:08 AM:

Roger. From what you have been saying I assume your old VHS recorder is an S video machine. This means that it recorded and played back both SVHS tapes and ordinary VHS ones. As far as I am aware no films were ever released in SVHS format. Therefor if you are playing back standard VHS tapes you must use the composite output terminals and a composite lead, not S video. You also have to switch the recorder output from S video to VHS unless it automatically does this when you insert a VHS tape. The standard composite leads have Yellow plugs and sockets for video and red and white or red and black for audio,these being the stereo output sockets. If your projector has these sockets, you should be getting a picture. I have a large collection of films on VHS and have no bother projecting them with any of the video projectors I have owned. However, I also use a Yamaha A5 audio video amplifier in order to get the best quality sound as most projectors have poor quality audio. Incidentally the U.K. has always used the PAL system for TV at 625 lines. Give it a try and let us all know how you get on. Best of luck, Ken Finch. [Smile]

Posted by David Ollerearnshaw (Member # 3296) on August 30, 2015, 09:02 AM:

Though that S-video was outputting everything VHS SVHS. Hated SCART plugs, always though badly thought out. Give me BNC and RCA phono plugs anyday.

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