Freeview through your tft

DJMK4 · 27 Dec 2006 at 18:35

Is there anyway of using a normal tft monitor as a tv? i.e getting a scart to vga cable and connecting a digital freeview box to the monitor?

Baddass · 27 Dec 2006 at 19:52

that should do the trick since the tuner is built into the freeview box...just need to connect it up correctly to the screen. not sure if a Scart > VGA would work, but maybe someone else can advise

DJMK4 · 27 Dec 2006 at 19:57

Baddass said:
that should do the trick since the tuner is built into the freeview box...just need to connect it up correctly to the screen. not sure if a Scart > VGA would work, but maybe someone else can advise

It is possible to do though?

Danners · 27 Dec 2006 at 20:05

I know a site that sells exactly what you need, but I dunno if I can post it here? Overclockers don't sell them I don't think so I'm assuming it's ok?

Edit: problem is freeview (and most other boxes, sky etc) only output in PAL or RGB and VGA to my knowledge is YUV, so you'd need a RGB > YUV converter which are around £60. does your monitor not have composite input?

Baddass · 27 Dec 2006 at 20:14

you can post links as long as they dont sell any products which compete with ocuk....

GFresh · 27 Dec 2006 at 20:24

The RGB signal from SCART is compatible with VGA, but the vertical and horizontal sync are carried on separate conductors with VGA, where as with SCART they are carried as one composite signal.
So you need additional circuitry to separate the signals.

DJMK4 · 27 Dec 2006 at 20:46

GFresh said:
So you need additional circuitry to separate the signals.

Anymore details on this please?

Surely someone on here must have tried it before?

GFresh · 27 Dec 2006 at 20:49

Cant remember the exact circuit, but it involves a few resistors, i have been looking for a circuit diagram. Damn my lack of practice in electronics recently :mad:

GFresh · 27 Dec 2006 at 20:56

Ok, found the circuit diagram for merging the sync signals HERE

DJMK4 · 27 Dec 2006 at 21:33

GFresh said:
Ok, found the circuit diagram for merging the sync signals HERE

That means absolutly squat to me

Thought it would be a case of just using a converter cable

Behemoth · 27 Dec 2006 at 21:48

The best way to do it is buy a freeview PCI card to put into your PC

GFresh · 27 Dec 2006 at 21:50

Well, it is that simple if you are willing to spend £50 upwards to do it. But if you would rather do it for a few quid then this is how it has to be done.

GFresh · 27 Dec 2006 at 21:55

If you're not electronics savvy, then Behemoth's suggestion is probably your best bet

Bananadude · 28 Dec 2006 at 12:36

I don't know what the reception is like on these things, and if you need any kind of booster aerial? My sister had one and reception was awful, yet on her actual TV it was ok. I guess it depends what area you're in and what part of the house the PC is. Hit and miss I guess.

Trip Hazard · 28 Dec 2006 at 12:53

I was in a similar quandry, in the end I bought one of these dvbt-stb7 and hooked it up to the spare vga input on my TFT.
However this is only works if you don't already have a digibox.

Phil99 · 28 Dec 2006 at 13:04

GFresh said:
Ok, found the circuit diagram for merging the sync signals HERE

That's going from VGA -> Scart though, it wouldn't work the other way round (the diodes wouldn't allow it)

You need to split the sync signals to plug an RGB Scart source in to VGA.

neocon · 28 Dec 2006 at 13:18

Scart to VGA SyncBlaster Cable

Connect RGB scart equipment directly to Plasma and LCD screens/projectors
• Incorporates a full functional sync separator and amplifier
• All essential components built into one neat lead
• No additional power supply needed (for most applications)

neocon · 28 Dec 2006 at 13:26

Im thinking about selling my 20inch lcd tv and 19inch lcd monitor, buying a 22inch lcd monitor and conecting PC and SKy to it using that cable.

DJMK4 · 28 Dec 2006 at 13:45

neocon said:
Scart to VGA SyncBlaster Cable

Connect RGB scart equipment directly to Plasma and LCD screens/projectors
• Incorporates a full functional sync separator and amplifier
• All essential components built into one neat lead
• No additional power supply needed (for most applications)

This would defenatly work? no need for tv cards, no need for any other bit and pops, just plug one end from freeview box and one end into vga socket on tft monitor?

Whats this cable called

GFresh · 28 Dec 2006 at 13:52

Phil99 said:
That's going from VGA -> Scart though, it wouldn't work the other way round (the diodes wouldn't allow it)

You need to split the sync signals to plug an RGB Scart source in to VGA.

This diagram is for merging the sync, SCART needs a merged (composite) sync signal.
You should be able to see from the direction of the diodes that they are merging the sync.