help with HD connections and adapters

[bld 25]

Hello, my wife and i just purchased a used projector(which is HD compatible), but doesn't have any digital inputs other than the VGA or HD15 input for a monitor. I have seen many adapters, but the whole male/female is confusing with these, so can someone help me figure out what adapter i would need to connect this to an HD satellite?

thank you

brian

[Dirk]

Is it an Infocus?

[bld 25]

Is it an Infocus?

yep, an X1

it is a little older, but it has excellent reviews, and it was only $250!

[bld 25]

i think this might work, right?

http://www.partsexpress.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?&Partnumber=181-760

[Dirk]

I don't know if that will work. The DVI signal for a TV is DVI-D, and I think that particular part will only work with DVI-A. I'm pretty sure the dongle that came with the X1 was a proprietary beast. It's important to think of that connector as NOT being a VGA input. It happens to share the same size and shape as a VGA (and can accept VGA), but it's mighty different. They call it the "M1 port".

You may like to know about this. (http://members.shaw.ca/technut/x1faq/) Which has a link to this place. (http://store.infocus.com/stores/consumer.aspx) Which will sell you one of these. (http://store.infocus.com/Stores/Consumer/Product.aspx?ProductId=%7BDB10F6C7-E73F-45D6-B710-B1156BD32AAA%7D) I think you can use the DVI version they sell there, too. Pretty sure you CAN'T use the HDMI one, though. I think that's for a newer projector that uses the same multi-purpose M1 port.

[bld 25]

thank you! I will check all of that out. If i use that adapter, will the picture be close to HD quality?

thank you again!

[philiparcario]

If the tv is sending a hdtv signal it should be hd quality. 720p or 1080i It you are using a dvd player it will be 480p unless you have blue ray. This all a definite maybe.

[Dirk]

The one kicker about the X1 is, if memory serves, that the res is only 800x600 natively. Everything HD (and most DVDs too) is in the 16:9 aspect ratio, which means that while your projo will use all 800 horizontal pixels, there will be black bars to the top and bottom a lot of the time. Pixels that can't be used for the image. Just the way things are...

16/9 = 800/X

X = 450

So you've got 450 lines of resolution. That's considered ED for "enhanced definition." Still, it'll be a very very clean image and you will not be disappointed. Just make sure that the X1 is set to accept the input as 16:9 to make sure that it does all the rescaling properly. Read that FAQ top to bottom.

[Brent_S]

Infocus may have their own name for it, but you just need a basic VGA-RGB breakout cable/adapter. I used this cable (http://www.cablesforless.com/p-500-25-foot-python-hdtv-svga-to-3-rca.aspx)to make my component video connection to an X1. They have shorter and longer lengths, if needed.

As Dirk said, the X1 is essentially a 480p projector in 16:9 mode so, you'll lose detail from an HD (720p or 1080i) source, but it's a good match for standard DVD. Downscaled HDTV broadcasts will still look much better than standard def TV.

-Brent

[Dirk]

I stand corrected on the dongle. If Brent says there's money to be saved, it's worth looking into. :D

[philiparcario]

another source for you

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/search.aspx?C=&K=3rca%20to%20hd15

from 1.5 to 75 feet 6 dollars to 50 dollars.

[bld 25]

Thank you everyone. I think this might work well also:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180288956755&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=008

[Dirk]

Hey, worth a shot. At that price, you can afford it being a dud.

[bld 25]

update.....i bought this cable:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140267779911&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=004

and nothing. It just says searching for signal. Any more ideas? Thanks guys!

[Brent_S]

update.....i bought this cable:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140267779911&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=004

and nothing. It just says searching for signal. Any more ideas? Thanks guys!

What's your source device and its output resolution? The computer input won't accept 480i. Your source device also may need to have its component outputs turned on. For example, one of my DVD player's has a control panel button (not a menu option) to activate progressive output...if that button's off (resets to off with power outage), the player is outputting 480i via component, which wouldn't work with the X1.

Are you 100% sure you connected to the "computer" input? There are two VGA type connectors on the X1, but one's an output for monitor pass through.

It's possible to have a bad cable. Unfortunately, you need another display device that accepts component video via VGA connector to confirm. Or another cable.

-Brent

[bld 25]

thanks, i will check the settings on my dvd player. It is a little older, but it does have component outs. I am pretty sure i am connected to the right input, but i will check again.

[bld 25]

i checked, and i changed the menu to component out on the DVD player, and it still comes out of the s-video output. I guess i will try hooking other things up until i rule out the problem.

[Brent_S]

i checked, and i changed the menu to component out on the DVD player, and it still comes out of the s-video output. I guess i will try hooking other things up until i rule out the problem.

It's not unusual for all video outputs to be hot at the same time, so far all of my players have displayed this.

However, having a component output, especially on an older DVD player, does not necessarily mean you're getting a progressive signal. Your player may only be outputting 480i via component and the X1 doesn't accept 480i on its VGA (computer) input. I'm not sure what behavior it exhibits if you do.

To view 480i via component on the X1 you need their proprietary S-video to component adapter, if it's even still available. I actually think this is the adapter Dirk was referring too. Infocus put extra pins on their S-vid jack that allows the X1 to accept interlaced component video. Opposite of the computer input, the s-vid-to-component input won't accept progressive video.

What's the make/model of your player?

-Brent

[bld 25]

update---i got a divx upscaling dvd player, and with progressive scan it works well! Unfortunately, i can't select any of the upscaling options on the DVD player, which i am assuming is because i don't have HDMI cables plugged into the back. If i plugged in a cable in the back so it would sense it, would i be able to upscale it still using the rgb component cable? here is my dvd player:

http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/us/consumer/cc/_productid_DVP3962_37_US_CONSUMER/DVD-player+DVP3962-37

thanks you guys! You have been a huge help!

[bld 25]

anyone know if i can use the upconvert features with a component (rgb) cable?

[Brent_S]

update---i got a divx upscaling dvd player, and with progressive scan it works well! Unfortunately, i can't select any of the upscaling options on the DVD player, which i am assuming is because i don't have HDMI cables plugged into the back. If i plugged in a cable in the back so it would sense it, would i be able to upscale it still using the rgb component cable? here is my dvd player:

http://www.consumer.philips.com/consumer/en/us/consumer/cc/_productid_DVP3962_37_US_CONSUMER/DVD-player+DVP3962-37

thanks you guys! You have been a huge help!

Your player is only advertised as upscaling over HDMI, as you've discovered. It looks like Philips wants to adhere to the strictest level of not offering higher than SD quality video via unprotected analog.

HDMI is a two way communication protocol. The display device tells the source device what resolutions it can accept. Without a display device, the Philips would likely not know the cable was even connected. And, it looks like it doesn't have the hardware to do component upscaling even if it did.

Finally, upscaling to the X1 will probably produce worse PQ than straight 480i/p. The real goal is to match the source resolution to the display. In your case, DVD is recorded at 480i and your X1 is "only" 480p capable. The only improvement needed for DVD is deinterlacing to turn that "i" into a "p". Likely, either the Philips or X1 will do a good job here, but you'd need that special component->s-vid adapter from Infocus to feed the X1 480i via component.

Sounds like you're under the common impression that upscaling is always better. However, upscaling cannot add information to the image, it simply duplicates or interpolates information already there. It's purpose is to match resolutions between different devices. For a fixed pixel display (DLP, LCD, LCOS, Plasma) the image *must* be up/down scaled, if needed, to the display's native resolution. This can be done in the player, some receivers, or the display itself (ignoring outboad scalers).

IOW, don't worry...480p via component to the X1 will give you the best image you're capable of getting from DVD on the X1.

-Brent

[bld 25]

thanks brent. It actually looks very very nice with the 480p through the component. i paid $235 for the projector and $35 for the dvd player, so it is pretty sweet for the money.

thank you again for your help!