What Video Connections Do You Use Most?

[gradualmeltdown]

RF signal and composite signal are different. All game systems output a composite signal initially. It depends on the adaptor/cable you use out of the system. RF is a modulated video signal with both sound and video on a specific channel. The RF cable and adaptor are external and create noise on the signal due modulation and the presense of other radio and television signals using RF. I think the reason for RF was to modulate the signal to a specific carrier channel (TV channel) to tune both audio and video on one cable.


For instance:

Sega Genesis using RF converter = RF modulated signal
Sega Genesis using RCA and audio stereo pair = composite video signal

S-Video is an entirely different type of signal. Some people consider it the lowest quality of component because of the way it splits luminance and color onto two cables/pins. The big difference between S-Vid and composite is this same split.

[CantStrafeRight]

Just now my most things are plugged into my tv using Composite or RF

I plan on getting everything using svideo in a few months but I only have one svideo port so I need a switch.

[metaleggman]

RF signal and composite signal are different. All game systems output a composite signal initially. It depends on the adaptor/cable you use out of the system. RF is a modulated video signal with both sound and video on a specific channel. The RF cable and adaptor are external and create noise on the signal due modulation and the presense of other radio and television signals using RF. I think the reason for RF was to modulate the signal to a specific carrier channel (TV channel) to tune both audio and video on one cable.


For instance:

Sega Genesis using RF converter = RF modulated signal
Sega Genesis using RCA and audio stereo pair = composite video signal

S-Video is an entirely different type of signal. Some people consider it the lowest quality of component because of the way it splits luminance and color onto two cables/pins. The big difference between S-Vid and composite is this same split.

No, but composite is the same signal being sent on RF, "composite", S-video, and Component. It's just the way it's being split which is different. It's all analog video based on YUV instead of RGB. Thoughts, LoD?

[lordofduct]

RF signal and composite signal are different. All game systems output a composite signal initially. It depends on the adaptor/cable you use out of the system. RF is a modulated video signal with both sound and video on a specific channel. The RF cable and adaptor are external and create noise on the signal due modulation and the presense of other radio and television signals using RF. I think the reason for RF was to modulate the signal to a specific carrier channel (TV channel) to tune both audio and video on one cable.


For instance:

Sega Genesis using RF converter = RF modulated signal
Sega Genesis using RCA and audio stereo pair = composite video signal

S-Video is an entirely different type of signal. Some people consider it the lowest quality of component because of the way it splits luminance and color onto two cables/pins. The big difference between S-Vid and composite is this same split.

No, but composite is the same signal being sent on RF, "composite", S-video, and Component. It's just the way it's being split which is different. It's all analog video based on YUV instead of RGB. Thoughts, LoD?

HAHAHAHA

I don't need to get into this one again. So I'll just give a rough outline and not speak on it again in this topic.

it's a matter of definition of the word composite. All composite means (in referrence to video) is a process of sending video information combined in some manner through the YUV signalling process via wire OR wireless in a radio signal. RF is included as the video is composite, with the audio layed into a lower unused frequency band on the bandwidth used.

Composite signalling was initially created to utilize the means of sending video via wireless technologies at the times of the NTSC standards inception... i.e. radio frequencies just like 'music radio'. (I say NTSC as PAL, SECAM and other standards created their own ideas, named them their own things and used different technologies... over the years all standards began adopting technologies from each other... hence why the RCA cable can be found under almost ALL television standards.)


As technologies got better... composite grew into several different formats (several RF, RCA, S-vid... etc.). As the list of composite YUV signals increased the word 'composite' was trimmed down and became the nickname for the type of video transferred via the RCA couplings (the yellow in "Red White and Yellow"). In general though... composite is the broad name for all those technologies.


Go ahead and question my information. I won't be speaking about it again here... I've already been in enough debates about it. I've been repairing, working, and researching television's for the majority of my life since childhood. I fixed my first TV at 8 so That is about 15 years of experience since that first repair.

[Mozgus]

Go ahead and question my information.

You should write PBS specials.

[metaleggman]

I fixed my first TV at 8

How did that go? What exactly was wrong with the TV in question? Did you do this based on watching your father or a friend or did you have outside help?

[lordofduct]

I fixed my first TV at 8

How did that go? What exactly was wrong with the TV in question? Did you do this based on watching your father or a friend or did you have outside help?

I said I wasn't commenting more... and it was all on my own. My father was an electrician and I used the basics of his work to figure out the problem. It was only a minor problem with the power supply.

[cowgod]

i'm only playing ps2, snes, n64, and gamecube now and all of those use composite. that's the only input i have on the front of my tv.

[ramzeva]

After going component its tough going back to anything in the past, I play Dreamcast through VGA, and the ancient stuff such as SNES, NES or Genesis through my Xbox (emulator) that runs at 720p, crisp giant blocks for the win.

[baphomet_irl]

aww i didnt get to vote :s

Id be strictly RGB if possible, and I object to you lumping RGB in with your inferior stateside composite connections

Ive often thought of getting RGB for my DC, but the picture from my RGB scart for it is very, very good IMO, and my crappy tv wouldnt run at 1024x768 or whatever res the DC VGA goes up to, I could use it with my PC I suppose, but my main speakers are downstairs (and the DC has the privilege of it's phono cables going directly into my amp ) (unlike the other consoles who go 'through' the TV to the amplifier)