Frequently asked questions about VGA to Tv converters
Will spending more money give me better picture quality?
This not always necessarily true with converters, there is very little difference in picture quality between our converters. They main difference is in the features.
Model I, II, III - Basic models for anyone simply wishing to plug their PC into their TV to watch a movie or presentation. They all Support resolutions up to 1280x1024 converted into composite, S-video and RGB scart. All Cables are supplied except Audio cables that are sold separately.
Ultimate XP Pro -Includes high-resolution component video and an IR remote for menu adjustments. Scart cable, S- Video cables are also supplied.
Ultimate Wireless- Includes a 2.4 GHz wireless transmitter and receiver for wireless PC to TV. Wireless signal is composite video, Cables also included including RGB Scart
Can I use my television as a big PC monitor?
Truth: The technology of basic TV is essentially the same as when it was first introduced...over 60 years ago! The VGA or computer display technology was developed much later, and thus able to take advantage of the latest technology of the day.
The PAL standard (the current standard for TV in the UK) has a fixed vertical resolution of 625-line/50 Hz with varying amounts of "lines" making up the horizontal resolution, depending on the electronics and formats involved. There are 59.94 fields displayed per second. A field is a set of even lines, or odd lines. The odd and even fields are displayed sequentially, thus interlacing the full frame. One full frame, therefore, is made of two interlaced fields, and is displayed about every 1/30 of a second.
The VGA standard can support a wide variety of resolutions and refresh rates that far surpass the 625 horizontal lines of TV. Also, a VGA display does not compose the display out of "lines", but out of pixels. By increasing the number of pixels from 640x480 to 1024x769, the display can obtain a greater clarity. A TV's clarity is, by contrast, fixed to a certain extent.
When you convert the progressive pixel-based image into the interlace TV image, there is a limit to how clear the display can be. Typically, the image looks slightly fuzzy and the detail is softer.
Why, you might ask, are there PC to TV converters if you cannot turn a TV into a monitor? As imperfect a technology as TV is, they are much more plentiful and inexpensive than a 32 inch monitor. Whether playing multimedia (DVDs, internet downloads, etc.), slide shows or PC games, a PC to TV converter can enhance the experience by taking advantage of the large size of a typical TV.
Does the type of connector I will use make a difference?
Coax is what you typically use to connect traditional cable TV to your VCR or TV. It is a threaded F-type connector. The picture quality of a coax signal is limited, but it is useful because the cable can be run long distances.
The typical PC to TV converter does not have a coax output. If your TV only has a coax input, then you must use an RF modulator to convert the PC to TV converter's composite video output into coax. Most VCRs can be used for this purpose as well.
Composite video is traditionally what you would use to plug your VCR or video camera into your TV. It typically has yellow RCA-type connectors. The picture is slightly better than coax, but is still limited in terms of color clarity and detail. Composite video can be run 35 - 50 feet before the signal begins to lose noticeable clarity.
S-video became more common on TVs with the advent of DVD players a few years ago. S-video can be found on most TVs larger than 27 inches. It is a round 4-pin mini-DIN connector. S-video signals offer a clarity about 20% better than composite video in terms of color and detail. It is the recommended method for connecting PC to TV converters, unless you have...
Component video has become the most common connection method for digital television, HDTV and high-end DVD players. Component video consists of three RCA-type connectors (red, green and blue). Component video offers a clarity about 15% clearer than S-video when using a PC to TV converter. Component video is not yet common, so check your TV to see if you have it. If the TV is over 3 years old, it's a safe bet that you don't. If you do, then you want the Ultimate XP Pro: for the best picture quality available on a non-high-definition TV with component video inputs.
Scart In Europe, SCART is the most common method of connecting audio-visual equipment together, and has become the standard connector for such devices (even more so than the phono plug. SCART attempts to make connecting video devices together much simpler, by providing one plug that contains all the necessary signals (refer to the Pinout to the right for details), and is standard across different manufacturers. SCART makes connecting such devices very simple, because one cable can connect any two SCART-compatible devices, and the connector is designed so that it cannot be inserted incorrectly.