Scart splitter\extension adapters ruin picture quality

Stardust · 26 July 2018, 19:37

I have a 32" flatscreen that has a single SCART input socket. It is mounted on the wall and so removing one RGB to SCART lead for one of my retro computers for another RGB scart lead is very fiddly.

I have brought a cheap SCART splitter. A SCART female to female adapter to use with a regular SCART cable. Both of these would let me easily plug one of my RGB - SCART leads to the TV through a SCART splitter or adapter. But the problem is both of them ruin picture quality.

But I don't understand why the cheap SCART splitter and SCART adapter mess with the picture quality because I have taken them apart and I can see that all the SCART pins are wired correctly and they have the same build quality as the RGB - SCART connectors that give a great picture quality for my Amiga, BBC Model B and Amstrad CPC 464. The only different thing with the SCART splitter and adapter is that they don't have a surrounding metal rectangular D make connector. Well that is the extent of my novice electronics knowledge.

What am I not doing right to preserve the good picture quality?

Paulee_Bow · 26 July 2018, 19:45

The splitter sounds like a passive multiple. I bet the signal is losing voltage as it goes through. I am guessing and using my knowledge of Modular synthesis where signals often need to be split. It sounds like you need a powered, buffered scary splitter.

The wiring in side could also be crap.

Stardust · 26 July 2018, 20:17

The SCART splitter is by far the worse in giving a very faint distorted image. The adapter though gives a slightly distorted image that has a blue hue. This is the wiring of it https://imgur.com/a/kBy9Ylr

Daedalus · 27 July 2018, 10:44

Ugh... Well there's your problem. Analogue signals are very sensitive to their wiring, and especially video signals need to have the correct impedance and be screened for as much of their length as physically possible. Without the shields connected, you're losing your screening, and possibly your ground reference too.

The splitter might also be not switching every signal - it might be wired just for composite for example, and the RGB is getting pulled down by anything else that's plugged in. But even if it's switching each line, as was pointed out, the signal will degrade with every contact it encounters. Purely mechanical switches like that with many poles are rarely of sufficient quality or isolation to transmit a signal well. If it's an electronic switch it should be better, but again, the lack of screening or the lengths of the unscreened sections might be letting it down.

Stardust · 27 July 2018, 12:47

Ok can someone then recommend a good SCART to HDMI converter that will handle the separate RGB signals.

sneeker · 27 July 2018, 13:27

Im using a bainbridge scart switch box with all my retro stuff and a decent belkin scart cable from the splitter to the tv, all works with a great picture quality, had cheap ones in the past, I remember a passive one that if my amiga was on, my saturns power light would glow slightly because the voltage was seeping back into the saturn via its scart cable.

Toni Wilen · 27 July 2018, 14:05

I also have tried few passive switches (15+ years ago), all of them were completely unusable, horrible amount of ghosting and blurriness. Only active scart switchers didn't have any image quality problems.

Stardust · 27 July 2018, 16:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneeker

Im using a bainbridge scart switch box with all my retro stuff and a decent belkin scart cable from the splitter to the tv, all works with a great picture quality, had cheap ones in the past, I remember a passive one that if my amiga was on, my saturns power light would glow slightly because the voltage was seeping back into the saturn via its scart cable.

Is your powered scart switch box the same as this one? https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0015YSK...a-304379114860

sneeker · 28 July 2018, 02:13

Its the 5 input one here, works perfectly for me.
- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bandridge-P...4S53F16FY2APF3

Hewitson · 28 July 2018, 13:44

I had a passive SCART splitter many years ago which had no noticeable impact on picture quality. I can't give you a brand name or model number, but it was only a cheap one. They do exist.

Nibbler · 28 July 2018, 14:22

I recommend the Bandridge SVB7725, as you can see here in this video.
[ Show youtube player ]

Its really great AND i did not have the "power issue" like these guys. (and i use all the ports it have) Highly recommended

Stardust · 29 July 2018, 08:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hewitson

I had a passive SCART splitter many years ago which had no noticeable impact on picture quality. I can't give you a brand name or model number, but it was only a cheap one. They do exist.

Yes please.

Hewitson · 29 July 2018, 16:29

Sorry Xav, I actually said I can't give you a brand name or model number... I don't even know where the device is anymore. I decided to eliminate as many SCART connections as possible from my setup, the connectors are just too unreliable.

26 July 2018, 19:37	#1
Stardust Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: UK Posts: 72	Scart splitter\extension adapters ruin picture quality I have a 32" flatscreen that has a single SCART input socket. It is mounted on the wall and so removing one RGB to SCART lead for one of my retro computers for another RGB scart lead is very fiddly. I have brought a cheap SCART splitter. A SCART female to female adapter to use with a regular SCART cable. Both of these would let me easily plug one of my RGB - SCART leads to the TV through a SCART splitter or adapter. But the problem is both of them ruin picture quality. But I don't understand why the cheap SCART splitter and SCART adapter mess with the picture quality because I have taken them apart and I can see that all the SCART pins are wired correctly and they have the same build quality as the RGB - SCART connectors that give a great picture quality for my Amiga, BBC Model B and Amstrad CPC 464. The only different thing with the SCART splitter and adapter is that they don't have a surrounding metal rectangular D make connector. Well that is the extent of my novice electronics knowledge. What am I not doing right to preserve the good picture quality? Last edited by Stardust; 26 July 2018 at 19:43.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Amiga 1200 & RGB scart cable results in very dark picture	mrleeman	support.Hardware	15	21 April 2019 19:48
WinUAE 2.3.1 & The quality Picture !!!	meme	support.WinUAE	39	06 April 2011 16:15
yellow picture throught scart	GurjSagoo	support.Hardware	3	14 March 2011 18:42
A1200 scart lead picture wobble	WDeranged	New to Emulation or Amiga scene	9	21 March 2010 18:23
CD32 bad picture quality	chocolate_boy	support.Hardware	7	19 February 2009 18:55

26 July 2018, 19:45	#2
Paulee_Bow Registered User Join Date: Jul 2018 Location: Birmingham, UK Posts: 185	The splitter sounds like a passive multiple. I bet the signal is losing voltage as it goes through. I am guessing and using my knowledge of Modular synthesis where signals often need to be split. It sounds like you need a powered, buffered scary splitter. The wiring in side could also be crap.

26 July 2018, 20:17	#3
Stardust Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: UK Posts: 72	The SCART splitter is by far the worse in giving a very faint distorted image. The adapter though gives a slightly distorted image that has a blue hue. This is the wiring of it https://imgur.com/a/kBy9Ylr

27 July 2018, 10:44	#4
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,335	Ugh... Well there's your problem. Analogue signals are very sensitive to their wiring, and especially video signals need to have the correct impedance and be screened for as much of their length as physically possible. Without the shields connected, you're losing your screening, and possibly your ground reference too. The splitter might also be not switching every signal - it might be wired just for composite for example, and the RGB is getting pulled down by anything else that's plugged in. But even if it's switching each line, as was pointed out, the signal will degrade with every contact it encounters. Purely mechanical switches like that with many poles are rarely of sufficient quality or isolation to transmit a signal well. If it's an electronic switch it should be better, but again, the lack of screening or the lengths of the unscreened sections might be letting it down.

27 July 2018, 12:47	#5
Stardust Registered User Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: UK Posts: 72	Ok can someone then recommend a good SCART to HDMI converter that will handle the separate RGB signals.

27 July 2018, 13:27	#6
sneeker Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Manchester! Posts: 308	Im using a bainbridge scart switch box with all my retro stuff and a decent belkin scart cable from the splitter to the tv, all works with a great picture quality, had cheap ones in the past, I remember a passive one that if my amiga was on, my saturns power light would glow slightly because the voltage was seeping back into the saturn via its scart cable.

27 July 2018, 14:05	#7
Toni Wilen WinUAE developer Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Hämeenlinna/Finland Age: 49 Posts: 26,507	I also have tried few passive switches (15+ years ago), all of them were completely unusable, horrible amount of ghosting and blurriness. Only active scart switchers didn't have any image quality problems.

28 July 2018, 02:13	#9
sneeker Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Manchester! Posts: 308	Its the 5 input one here, works perfectly for me. - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bandridge-P...4S53F16FY2APF3

28 July 2018, 13:44	#10
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,773	I had a passive SCART splitter many years ago which had no noticeable impact on picture quality. I can't give you a brand name or model number, but it was only a cheap one. They do exist.

28 July 2018, 14:22	#11
Nibbler namm namm AMIGA Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Austria Age: 44 Posts: 734	I recommend the Bandridge SVB7725, as you can see here in this video. [ Show youtube player ] Its really great AND i did not have the "power issue" like these guys. (and i use all the ports it have) Highly recommended

29 July 2018, 16:29	#13
Hewitson Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 41 Posts: 3,773	Sorry Xav, I actually said I can't give you a brand name or model number... I don't even know where the device is anymore. I decided to eliminate as many SCART connections as possible from my setup, the connectors are just too unreliable.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)