Digital Video Cable

Digital Video Cable

How do TV tuner cards in PCs work with a digital reciever for digital cable?

Would the card be able to control the digital cable box? i'm confused as to how that would work. I want to be able to record the tv coming from the digital cable box with a tv tuner card and then output that signal with a s-video cable to the tv.

If you install a tuner card specifically designed for XP or Vista media center, such as one of the Hauppauge MCE cards, it will come with a remote control, USB IR receiver, and IR blaster. The IR blaster sticks on the front panel of the STB over it's IR receiver. The PC controls the STB through the IR blaster. Output to your TV has to come from your video card. If you don't have a TV output, such as an S connector, you'll need a new video card. There are tuner/video card combos, but you have to be sure that both the tuner part and the video part are MCE compatible. There are some combo boards that are only compatible on one or the other.

You can also get boards that have their own software and approximate the MCE capability, but none of them can match the MCE TV gude.

Component Video Cables Explained

In order to convey information effectively there is always a requirement for component video signals. A video signal is split into two or more components in order to transmit the information. Signals are transmitted effectively with the assistance of component video cables. Three cable components along with three RCA or co-axial jack forms are considered as high-end video interfaces today to transmit the information effectively. Component video cables can carry a wide array of signals like 576i, 480p, 576p, 480i, 1080i etc.

Component Video Cables have been transformed from being a comparatively uncommon and cryptic way to link up video devices to being in close proximity with the universal analog video signal standard for HDTV and home theaters. Earlier, S-video and composite were the most widespread and extensively functional video signal standards component which has now transpired as the leader. Since, it is the merely universal consumer analog signal type which supports progressive scan and high-definition resolutions. It has also become the standard output configuration for DVD players.

Whereas analog component video is being used for most of the consumer level applications while digital component video is still becoming popular in homes and theaters. The three component video cables used in the analog perimeter are used to safeguard the different elements of the video signal. Component video cables always consist of three cables which are electrically separate. Each member of the set of three possesses, separate 75 ohm video coaxial cable and has its own center conductor and shield. It is not out of place to mention that DVDs use component video cables while VHS tapes, laser-discs and common television signals use composite video. It is a fact that a device comprising of component video output - when connected to other devices with component video input always end up providing better quality picture as compared to devices which use composite video connections. However, component video cables can't carry data, in order to carry audio data, additional audio cables are required.

Reproduction of video signal on a display device like CRT is a simple process which is complicated by the massive amounts of signal sources. However, all devices like VHS, computers, DVD and Video game consoles process store and transmit video signals by way of using different methods. One of the ways used for clarity of signal is by unscrambling the components of a video signal so that they do not meddle with each other. When a signal is separated through this way it is often called S-video, RGB, and ‘component video’ and of course YPbPr signals comprise two or more separate signals.

Buying tips: Component Video Cables

• Choose the premier quality connections between components for optimal signal transfer.
• Try upgrading your system’s connectivity.
• Choose RCA-type plug and jack; it's finer than RF type of connections but is mediocre to S-video and component video.
• Did you know, composite video cables come bundled with a pair of stereo audio cables? These bundled cables are called "A/V" (audio/video) cables.

About the Author

Sophie Milch currently manages purchasing and inventory control for Comnauts.com. Sophie keeps herself busy by making sure our inventory is filled with quality products, the latest and the greatest. Sophie holds a B.Sc. in Mathematics from the University of Waterloo and is frequent contributor to several technology blogs and magazines. When she’s not working; in typical nerd fashion you can catch Sophie twittering friends, beating down Murlocs in World of Warcraft and watching re-runs of the X-files.

Digital Video Cable

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