SCART Output

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gilgamesh
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Gilgamesh

I'm looking for a PC graphics card that will output on a SCART socket to a
PC.
I've seen a few circuits and adaptor cables but they are missing a key
feature. SCART pin 8 has a signal to tell the TV what aspect ratio the
picture is so it can switch between normal and widescreen. The adaptor
cables ignore this feature.
If a PC card would ouput this it would be great in a home theatre setup.
 
I'm looking for a PC graphics card that will output on a SCART socket to a
PC.
I've seen a few circuits and adaptor cables but they are missing a key
feature. SCART pin 8 has a signal to tell the TV what aspect ratio the
picture is so it can switch between normal and widescreen.
Click to expand...

Actually, SCART as such does not provide such a function.
It just allows manufacturers to (mis)use some pins to carry
another signal. Such as IIC data. Or aspect switching.

There is also a very blunt reason why you probably won't find
such a card: a SCART socket is just to fat to fit a PC-slot :-)
 
Gerard Bok said:
Actually, SCART as such does not provide such a function.
It just allows manufacturers to (mis)use some pins to carry
another signal. Such as IIC data. Or aspect switching.

There is also a very blunt reason why you probably won't find
such a card: a SCART socket is just to fat to fit a PC-slot :-)
Click to expand...

There are PCs being sold within the UK by the Aldi supermarket chain which
incorporate ATI based cards with SCART capability (ATI Radeon X740 XL card
based). Having originated from New Zealand and knowing what ATI's presence
was like there (at least 5 years ago anyway), I imagine that it'll be a long
time before they turn up in Australia though - is that where you are
Gilgamesh? I don't know much about the cards but they are made by third
party OEMs (not ATI themselves) and do have SCART connectors on the PC Case
(presumably wired internally from the card) - thats usually how card makers
get around the problem of needing to fit 101 connections onto a backplate
(just look at the ATI Radeon 8500DV with its bulky breakout box cable as
another example). My understanding of SCART is that it does permit certain
functions to be carried through the cable other than just the raw picture
and audio signals - certainly all the SCART devices I've come across permit
this sort of thing. I know what the OP means about conventional TV Cards
such as ATI's All In Wonder PAL/SECAM cards not fully supporting SCART
connections though. I wanted to connect my Radeon 8500DV up to my SCART
equipped VCR using a SCART to S-Video adapter but in the end I had to use
the composite socket on the adapter because the VCR's menu functions were
controlled/displayed through special SCART functionality, also the picture
was in black and white using the S-Video cable.

If the OP does a search for ATI Radeon X740 XL it brings up a few useful
hits (especially for those who are fluent in Chinese languages).

Paul
 
Paul Murphy said:
There are PCs being sold within the UK by the Aldi supermarket chain which
incorporate ATI based cards with SCART capability (ATI Radeon X740 XL card
based). Having originated from New Zealand and knowing what ATI's presence
was like there (at least 5 years ago anyway), I imagine that it'll be a
long time before they turn up in Australia though - is that where you are
Click to expand...

Yes I'm in Aust. Other than my current DVD player all my AV components use
SCART connectors.
Gilgamesh? I don't know much about the cards but they are made by third
party OEMs (not ATI themselves) and do have SCART connectors on the PC
Case (presumably wired internally from the card) - thats usually how card
makers get around the problem of needing to fit 101 connections onto a
backplate (just look at the ATI Radeon 8500DV with its bulky breakout box
cable as another example). My understanding of SCART is that it does
permit certain functions to be carried through the cable other than just
the raw picture and audio signals - certainly all the SCART devices I've
come across permit this sort of thing. I know what the OP means about
conventional TV Cards such as ATI's All In Wonder PAL/SECAM cards not
fully supporting SCART connections though. I wanted to connect my Radeon
8500DV up to my SCART equipped VCR using a SCART to S-Video adapter but in
the end I had to use the composite socket on the adapter because the VCR's
menu functions were controlled/displayed through special SCART
functionality, also the picture was in black and white using the S-Video
cable.

If the OP does a search for ATI Radeon X740 XL it brings up a few useful
hits (especially for those who are fluent in Chinese languages).
Click to expand...

I'll start googling. Thanks
 
Gerard Bok said:
Actually, SCART as such does not provide such a function.
It just allows manufacturers to (mis)use some pins to carry
another signal. Such as IIC data. Or aspect switching.
Click to expand...

12V on pin 8 indicates that video stream is 16:9, 5V indicates 4:3.
No voltage means you have to manually select on your TV. With any form of
adaptor plug for composite, svid, etc you won't get a signal pin 8.
 
12V on pin 8 indicates that video stream is 16:9, 5V indicates 4:3.
No voltage means you have to manually select on your TV. With any form of
adaptor plug for composite, svid, etc you won't get a signal pin 8.
Click to expand...

And what kind of standard might that be ?
(Note, that SCART originated from the late 60ties / early 70ties.
No widescreen existed then :-)
 
Gerard Bok said:
Sorry. Found it myself.
I had no idea the french were still so active in the field :-)
Click to expand...

Something coming out of France which I consider superior to other offerings.
I was dumbfounded.
 
Gilgamesh said:
Gerard Bok said:
Sorry. Found it myself.
I had no idea the french were still so active in the field :-)
Click to expand...

Something coming out of France which I consider superior to other
offerings.
I was dumbfounded.
My French made (but bought in the UK) VCR has a SCART connector which is
used for all sorts of functions other than just transferring video and
sound. I though SCART was a European development. When I was living in NZ a
few years back it wasn't around there, how long has it been in Australia?

Paul
Click to expand...
 
My French made (but bought in the UK) VCR has a SCART connector which is
used for all sorts of functions other than just transferring video and
sound. I though SCART was a European development. When I was living in NZ a
few years back it wasn't around there, how long has it been in Australia?
Click to expand...

We have being using the SCART connector for over 20 years in Europe now.
 
Ken said:
We have being using the SCART connector for over 20 years in Europe now.
Click to expand...
How long has it been in Australia - where the OP is based (not Austria or
Europe) though?

Paul
 
Paul Murphy said:
Gilgamesh said:
Something coming out of France which I consider superior to other
offerings.
I was dumbfounded.

My French made (but bought in the UK) VCR has a SCART connector which is
used for all sorts of functions other than just transferring video and
sound. I though SCART was a European development. When I was living in NZ
a few years back it wasn't around there, how long has it been in
Australia?
Click to expand...

Its only been making headway for the past 3 to 5 years (to my knowledge).
Some boxes have SCART outputs and even passthrough but a lot of kit still
only has the other adaptors. In the general market I don't think its
progressing, only for those home theatre nuts (which includes me). My TV is
european (Loewe) and only has SCART plugs on the back (though it does have a
composite plug on the side).
Click to expand...
 
Its only been making headway for the past 3 to 5 years (to my knowledge).
Some boxes have SCART outputs and even passthrough but a lot of kit still
only has the other adaptors. In the general market I don't think its
progressing, only for those home theatre nuts (which includes me). My TV
is european (Loewe) and only has SCART plugs on the back (though it does
have a composite plug on the side).
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info, if my brother in Perth asks for advice in such things,
I'm now a bit wiser to the market there.

Paul
 
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