Cat Cables Request

[SiliGoose]

Lex,

How about a component video switch box from Cat Cables? I think it's something all of us will soon need but not all of us are willing to pay the $300+ for those currently on the market.

If you could get it under $100 I'd be interested.




-Sili

[Trevor Schell]

With the talent the Lex posseses, I bet he could do it for under $50.




Trevor
My HomeTheater S.E.
Sonically Enhanced
C5

[Lex]

hmmm, sounds interesting Sili, but that may be outside my domain. What kind of switching are you looking for anyway? I am not sure I even understand the product at this point. component to what? S-vid? additional component? Composite?

There are possibilities, but I have to know there's market potential, and put a product design together. Would take time.

I am looking at bringing a new guy on board the production staff. From what I hear, he has board level experience. So, that does open up possibilities. He's someone my Dad knows, and I am going to try to talk to him next week.

Lex

[Trevor Schell]

Plus throw in a set of bonus component cables.




Trevor
My HomeTheater S.E.
Sonically Enhanced
C5

[Lex]

Trev, here I thought you believed in me. 29.99, and not a penny more. JK.

haha and thanks buddy.

Lex

[SiliGoose]

Sorry, Lex...I guess I failed to describe what I had in mind.

I am quickly runing out of component video inputs on my receiver (a problem I suspect many of us are facing). The solution would be a simple switchbox that would allow me to use a single component input on my receiver for several components (a press of a button would activate one of the components).

Something similar to this: http://shop.store.yahoo.com/consumer...t/terkvs4.html. The pictured switchbox isn't component video enabled.

I know they sell the necessary components to make a switchbox like this at Radio Shack. I've often considered making my own. I just thought I'd make the suggestion to you since it seems rather similar to cable making and since there are very few component switchers on the market.




-Sili

[ThomasW]

Good quality component switchers are currently only available from pro/studio suppliers. Go here http://www.markertek.com and type OMX-9000 in the search box. This is the cheapest good component switcher I'm aware of...




theAudioWorx
Klone-Audio

[John Kotches]

Extrons 4 input Component Video Switch goes for around the US$600 mark as well. Serious bandwidth (300+ MHz).

Video is a very demanding application, requiring much higher bandwidth and tolerances.

Regards,




---
Editor, PC/Home Theater
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
My Home Theater
NEC LT-150 specific page.

[SiliGoose]

I can't believe it really takes a $600 device to pass a video signal!! With that logic the component switching capability in my $1000 receiver is really all I paid for.

If a cable plugged into my receiver (or TV) can pass the signal so can a switchbox. These silly $600 devices probably do it with such great precision that the human eye can't even tell how good it is.




-Sili

[JonMarsh]

Well, you know the problem is, a component switch for standard DVD is fairly OK if its good to about 10 MHz, with no discernable droop at 7 MHz.

BUT, that's for standard component, not HD.

When you're talking HD, or HTPC's, then you need well over 30 MHz. This means no droop in the frequency response, and more importantly, maintaining VSWR out to those frequencies- no impedance discontinuities to cause reflections due to mistermination. That's the part that get's harder, and why a good Exetron box costs some moolah- whether it's a component switcher, or something a little more exotic like the Exetron 202 vsi sync processor in ThomasW's HTPC system.

Whether a given level of performance is visible or not depends a lot on the display- and how well it is setup.

Regards,

Jon




Earth First!
_______________________________
We'll screw up the other planets later....

[John Kotches]

Silligoose,

It doesn't matter what you beleive in this respect, it matters what's required to do the job correctly.

For HD signals, you actually need the -3dB point well out above 100mHz to maintain signal integrity.

Insufficient bandwidth in video applications is perceived as an artificially softened image.

Regards,




---
Editor, PC/Home Theater
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
My Home Theater
NEC LT-150 specific page.

[SiliGoose]

OK...can a decent component video cable handle a high def signal? Say, a $30 Monster brand component cable?

I assume the answer is yes?

My logic is this: if that $30 Monster cable can transport the data from my HDTV tuner to my HDTV it certainly has the bandwidth for HD signals.

Ok...why can't a switchbox be made with a mechanical switch that simply completes the circuit between the input and output? What's so hard about that? If all the internal switchbox components are as capable as the Monster cable there should be no problem. Am I right or am I ignorant?

Why do I need an electronically controlled switchbox to do what a solid physical switch can do just fine? (assuming my cable lengths aren't outrageous)




-Sili

[Lexman]

I don't see why it couldn't be done with manual contact point switches Sili. But the switch has to maintain 75 ohms. I am sure there are 75 ohm switches. After all, we put a man on the moon with about 50% mechanical switches vs. electonic switches. Don't ya guess?

Now, as to Monster's quality, well, CAT has beat Monster multiple times in the last few months on quality. So, whether that part of your suggested analogy holds up, is well, debatable. Sorry Noel.





<A HREF="http://www.catcables.com" <IMG SRC="http://www.htguide.com/lexman/other/sm_logo.gif"

[John Kotches]

Yes, you have to be very picky about the switches themselves, and the connectors and jacks, and pretty much everything.

My guess, and it's just a guess, for a simple mechanical switch with 4 components you're probably looking at $150-200 assembled.

If you don't want to switch HD component, but just progressive component maybe half that.

Regards,




---
Editor, PC/Home Theater
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
My Home Theater
NEC LT-150 specific page.

[John Kotches]

Another thing to consider, is to purchase used Siligoose.

I purchased on E-Bay an Extron 4ARxi which can handle RGB-S or Component video (up to 4 inputs) for about US$100.

This retails for about US$575 new.

So there are some deals out there, but you have to look/watch.

Regards,




---
Editor, PC/Home Theater
Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity
My Home Theater
NEC LT-150 specific page.