What is Digg?94 Comments
- acrowe, on 10/12/2007, -1/+21It has potential, but having to try and reach around behind the equipment with those short cables would make it very difficult to switch between machines. It would be much better if it autodetected the signal.
Oh well digg for effort - mark_in_bc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+17This looks like a great idea but I think the cables that go to the devices should be a bit longer. I like to have a little space between my machines.
- android8675, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14Madcatz has been doing this for years, I have a cable that works with PS2/Dreamcast/SNESorN64 from them, it's only sVid, but back then it was the shiz. Worked good, just gotta remember do NOT turn on more than one console at a time. :)
For you purists that have to have those $100 monster cables I wouldn't recommend something like this. Personally I can't tell the difference. :) - Punisher2K, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13You live at sea or something?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+15It's not lame, it's cost effective. Adding original Xbox would require ANOTHER dongle on the end whereas PS2 and PS3 use the same connector.
- LycoLoco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12For those people who ARE thinking about buying $100 Monster Cables, I WOULD recommend this. Monster is a company who rips off their customers worse than anyone I can think of except for maybe Bose. Gold plating only helps so much, and as long as quality components are used, there isn't going to be much difference in the perceivable quality. And don't even get me started on their $100 6-foot HDMI cables. What a joke!
At least with Composite/Component cables things like gold plating actually did something for the quality of signal, but when you're talking about a digital signal, all it needs to do is send those bits, so it's not like you're worried about signal loss or anything. Even if I buy a crappy $10 cable that lasts me a year, I could buy a new cable once every 10 years and still probably come out better than if I had bought a Monster cable (since one of those probably won't last you 10 years either). Seriously, what a joke. - superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Component can do 1080p, it's a question of the output device supporting it. Most TV's that accept component can handle 1080p over component connections. What you are spreading is misinformation meant to make you support HDCP encrypted HDMI connections. If everyone stuck with component connections, movie studios could not enable the ICT flag they currently leave off in media today that controls HD playback at full resolution over analog connections.
- wild, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6I was never a fan of these type of things when they require a switch. I dont want to reach behind my TV everytime I change systems. Especially when we are in the age of turning on consoles from the controller.
Give me a remote to change connections, and its a deal. I will even spend more for it. - soupyc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6@LycoLoco:
I couldn't agree with you more. I went to Radio Shack for a DVI cable and they tried to sell me a 6 foot Monster cable for $70. Gimme a break. - whiledo, on 03/25/2009, -0/+6Yeah, they really seem to have shot themselves in the foot over cable length. Especially considering people who need this are more likely to have more complicated systems with A/V receivers and lots of cables and crap. Trying to reach inside that mess to push the little switch is going to be damn near impossible.
- HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5No, component signals are not terribly robust. Due to the high bandwidth, you need double shielded, impedance matched cables. If you don't have this, you will lose high frequency data (i.e. detail) over the cable run.
Composite and S-video are both less demanding of the cable they are on than HD component video.
Long DVI/HDMI runs are far easier to do than long component runs, because signal degredation is less of a problem. Either one is dependent on the strength of the driver circuitry used in the devices on each end and the quality of the cable. But if these are equivalent between both setups, the HDMI/DVI one will go much farther with no loss of signal.
A simple coaxial cable like you use for cable TV will carry component well and for a long way. Cable TV has about 1GHz of bandwidth, and component has far less (and composite far less again). This cable is thick and relatively expesnive. HDMI uses differential digital signalling and thus is carried (internally to the cable) over a couple simple twisted pairs.
You may have seen this coaxial vs. twisted pair saga play out in the ethernet arena before (if you remember thinnet and thicknet), and you saw which one won there.
HDMI is a much better standard for carrying large amounts of data losslessly over reasonably priced cables than component. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5I am trying to order this but unfortunately the store linked to doesn't seem to get past some lame "please accept cookies" page. Is anyone else having this problem?
- shakin, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"Edit: You have to switch the cables around? Lame."
Where did you get that from? The video shows a guy switching between consoles by flipping a switch, not by switching the cables around.
The biggest problem with this appears to be the limited number of locations you can place the switching box because it doesn't have a long lead from the consoles. There might also be a problem for some people trying to connect this to consoles that are not sitting near each other. It looks like the cables between the switcher and the console plugs is only about one foot. - unixer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4In the words of Leo, " gizmodo is dead to me"
- Jaryd2006, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Um, Has no one honestly heard of an audio/video switcher box? Seriously. I have 7 Consoles connected to one tv video AV input (Snes, n64, Gamecube, xbox, ps2, dreamcast and satellite receiver) and I never have to change cables, I just push a button on the box. Best invention ever and it cost like 10 bucks...Way better than these kinda cables here because from the looks of it all three consoles would have to be like right next to each other. THEN youd have to reach behind them every time youd want to switch. Not very effective if you have an entertainment center that would require your consoles to be separated like my old one did.
- edzieba, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4This has nothing to do with upconverting (or any kind of converting for that matter)
- crombenevolant, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4While I can see the usefullness of this, the fact that you manually have to switch the button kills it for me. If you have to walk up and switch the button you are only a minute amount of movement away from un-plugging and plugging in cables. If they made one of these that switched via IR or RF then I might be interested.
- TheSolomon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Zorlak- Yeah, autodetect wouldn't work in instances of having two consoles on at once, but then again we're talking about hooking three devices into one component input. Given you're trying to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation, the benefits of having autodetect drastically outweigh the slight inconvenience of having only one console powered on at a time.
Having an auto-detect option AND a manual override would be sweet though. :-) - Darthmalt, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5if you need the manual override couldn't you just pull the video cord out of the system. Not much harder than flipping a switch. And more times than not you shouldn't need to override.
- rampy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5uhm... aren't there plenty of comprably price "regular" component cable input switcher thingies... I'm pretty sure you can even get one at walmart or ratshack or what have you -- pelican probably makes one. No need to get the 3 headed dongle version (unless you didn't already shell out for component cables for those 3 systems already) --
I need my regular xbox and the wii to share a component input...
no idea of the quality but a quick amazon search found this one... http://www.amazon.com/4-Way-HD-Component-AV-Selector/dp/B000BVIBGI/ - sacherjj, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I would get for my XBox and Wii as well, but no connector.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@LycoLoco
I couldn't agree more. Bestbuy wanted 100 dollars for an HDMI cable. I got mine at monoprice for 20. Works just fine. - RyanOC, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4No good if you use the HDMI for the ps3. Its much better then the component.
- HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Not on 99.9999% of TVs. They won't accept 1080p over component.
Besides, I have a component switcher, I'd rather have an HDMI switcher. Instead of 3 video cables and 1 or 2 audio cables (depending on whether this input is digital or not) per input and 6 cables on the output, I'd have only 5 cables total. - bmson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This reminded me of the little gadget that was plugged between Nintendo and the TV.
You could switch between the antenna and Nintendo. I still own mine :) - djSyndrome, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Grat2001, why would you need an HDMI switcher for gaming when neither of the other two consoles currently outputs over it?
- jedi0utkast, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Most people here seem to be missing the point of this cable. If you use component switcher you still need to spent money on component cables for the Wii, and PS2 in order to connect to the switch.
I went the other day searching for component cables for my PS2 and there can be really expensive I opted to wait for something like this to come along. I do own a 360, PS2, Gamecube and plan on purchasing a Wii soon, this will be a petty common setup for gamers in the near future, and in this case is where this cables solve a need.
Now I would be able to use one single input on my TV for all my consoles, without having to expend cash on 2 more different component cables, plus a component switch. It does have the drawback of having to manually switch but that for me is not a big deal, I normally stick to one console when playing a game, and I am not so lazy as to be mad just because I have to stand up an move my body. - ZennZero, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This is what you are looking for:
http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-Access-System-Selector-PL-970/dp/B0006TIA7K
A friend of mine has one and is pretty pleased with it. In addition to component switching, it also switches composite over RCA and s-video. Surprisingly, it appears to allow RJ-45 connected Ethernet switching as well (as in manual switching, not a network device as far as I can tell). - Kazaki, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3It's really up to the TV to accept 1080p through components or not.
- Denver80203, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4"[HDMI]'s much better then the component."
*****. There's not single shred of evidence to support that. HDMI is good for DRM and nothing else. Find me a single article that proves otherwise. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Edit: It has now been fixed and I have ordered mine. I hope they turn out to be good quality.
- BobMysterioso, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Beware of thin component cables - they will degrade performance. Component is still analog and as such can receive some interference.
- Dimensio, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2"@ choovler.. This is the method I use w/ my 360 and my dvd player (both component).. But I only have 3 Y-cables.. It works great and I don't notice any lack in PQ "
Then you aren't paying attention. That kind of setup will degrade the signal. I tried it myself after I picked up an XBox to sit next to my Gamecube. As soon as I saw what it did I grabbed an old AV switchbox and used that for switching the component signals. - HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Same here. If someone has any indications where to get one that works well, please tell me.
I don't even need composite/s-video. I just need component w/digital or analog audio and HDMI. - HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2orielbean:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10240&style=
50 foot plus HDMI cables for under a buck a foot. Have a ball.
If you saw signal degredation over a short HDMI cable as you say, you almost certainly have a problem with your equipment. I'd love to hear what degredation you saw. I have a friend who had problems with an HDMI switcher (added mosquito noise to the signal), but I've personally never seen problems caused by a bad cable. If such problems did occur, it'd be really catastrophic, you'd probably lose the entire signal.
Also, to Superkendall, you can't use any composite switcher to switch HD component. I even had a mechanical MadCatz component switcher (old model) that wouldn't switch HD component right. The bandwidth requirements of HD component are much higher than composite. - jmreid, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I want a box that I plug all my stuff into (component, HDMI, composite) and it has ONE output to the TV through a HDMI cable.
- Nocturnalis, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3They should be gold plated to prevent corrosion. But nice idea anyway.
- balls187, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Not a bad solution, I guess, but with the switcher in the back? No thanks. Auto-detection is the way to go. I got stuck buying the Monster Component cables because thats all ***** carried. Getting a PS3 the day before xmas with no componentcables FTW!
- Taorluath, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1The real question is: who has enough money for all three?
- joevill, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Awesome! I just need to get a PS3 or Xbox360 now!
- dodgyd55, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i need this :D but i remember the scart version a few years back and it had really bad interference with the picture, i wonder if this will have any image noise?
- rnelsonee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1A couple ideas -
1) The composite video signal and the three component video signals each have their own contact (http://nfggames.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:wii_multi_av_pinout). So the device you want can be built. I doubt there's enough market for them to be mass-produced, but you could have a Wii plug on one end, and 4 video + 2 audio RCA plugs on the other. If you're good with taking things apart and putting them together, you could even just try to make one. Take the dealie that came with the Wii, plus a Wii component dealie ($9 on play-asia.com), and use wires to connect from the Wii to each dealie.
2) I'm not sure what you're trying to do - I don't think putting one connection into the other will work. The composite video carries all chroma and hue information - basically what colors to use where, along with how light/dark they should be. Component has 3 cables - one just for red chroma, one for blue chroma, and one that carries both green chroma and the black-and-white signal. Plugging the green component into your composite video will get you the most realistic image, but it'll still be black and white I believe. - Asianwaste, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If you have enough money to buy at least 2 of the 3, you don't need a wallet friendly price of 29.99. The sought out consumer probably would've bought the cable for another $10-$15 and wouldn't have known the difference.
- Dimensio, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Bad idea. This will cause noticeable signal degredation, even if only splitting between two consoles. You're creating a second ground point (the turned off consoles).
- imtigger2, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Eh... I'm diggin' my Pelican switch box ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16878104209 ) I thought for a moment about this being useful, but having a switch on the cable itself? I dunno... plus, having to have the boxes that close to each other, not cool. I have all mine in a rack (not an expensive one, just a nice, cheaper one) and there's no way these connectors are all going to fit between my machines.
Even this Pelican cable here does more for less: http://www.amazon.com/Pelican-Access-System-Selector-PL-970/dp/B0006TIA7K Not sure on the quality of either tho'. You DO get what you pay for. - HappyScrappy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I know those exist. I didn't know they were so affordable though (never looked for KVMs on monoprice). But since only one console currently does HDMI, it's not useful to me.
I guess I should have said I would rather if it were possible that I could use an HDMI switcher instead. - rnelsonee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1A legit question: can you auto-sense with 3rd-gen consoles? A lot of devices still put out a low-level signal even when in standby. I don't know why - maybe it's expensive to have a circuit that completely grounds it or something, but I know my DVD player puts out a small signal, which interferes with my switcher. And the Wii certainly is always 'on' in a sense - that thing gets hot. So, maybe these guys tested it and found they couldn't build an auto-sensing device for their price point. Or, maybe they just designed a bad product :) It's certainly agreed that it's not a great idea to have a switch. All 3rd gen consoles can be powered on via the wireless controllers, so there's little need to get up.
- rnelsonee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yeah, a receiver that has 3+ component inputs and upconverts is going to cost you $500 minimum. This is $40.
This is meant for people that a) can't throw hundreds of dollars on a piece of equipment that won't be utilized, or b) do have a receiver, but, they now own more component-enabled devices than the number of inputs that are available on the their receiver/display device. My projector has one component input, so I have to use something like this so I can watch DVDs, HDTV, play games on my systems... etc. I'm certainly not going to go out and buy a whole new receiver when a $30 switcher from monoprice does the job. - Deluxe247, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Looks great, and there are similar products out on the market (linked earlier in other comments.)
Why the hell is the video of the product so choppy? It looks like between every switch the camera was shut off, the console on the screen changed, and the camera turned back on. Pretty shady if you ask me.
(Nevermind, I couldn't find it on the XCM website.. Apparently im blind, because it was on the front page!)
I'd rather buy from a trusted vendor however... I'll look for it on Newegg or Amazon or something :) - n4cr2k, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Cool idea, but a good receiver that does video up converting is the way to go.
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