I'm routing all my video components (DVD, VCR, Dish, PlayStation) through my receiver (which does video switching) to my TV's video inputs. The only problem is my VCR is the only component that doesn't put out a S-Video signal and I have to keep switching the TV's input from S-Video to its Composite video.

Not a big deal for me, but the wife hates it.

I've seen some converters that convert the composite to s-video in the $150 range - anyone with any experience? I know it won't do anything to help the quality, I just want the convenience. (I know, $150 or push a button and do it myself - but hey if we're also paying $300 for fancy remote controls...)
Thanks

Have you seen the Entech (inline) composite to S-video converter? Check it out at [Link: smarthome.com]. It beats having to pay extra for a remote control or having to go over to a component to push a button (s-video switcher). Also, if it is the same Entech that is owned by Monster Cable, then it must be pretty good.

Just another alternative.

Yeah, that's the one I'm thinking about getting. It does look like a nice unit. I especially like that it is inline, and not another box I have to pile behind the stereo...
I was just wondering if anyone has any experience / advice about it.

Chester,

I can't tell from your post if you own a pronto or similar. If so, I have the same issue, which is easily solved via macros on the remote.

Assuming this isn't possible for you for one reason or another - based on the recommendation of someone else on this board, I just ordered a SIMA SVS-4. It does composite to S-video conversion and can be had for $120 shipped from www.cameraworld.com. It's much more than just a converter, though - it's a remote-controllable 4-input A/V switch. My main reason for buying it was because I ran out of inputs on my receiver.

I haven't received the unit yet, so I can't comment on the quality. I would guess that the Entech does a better job at the conversion, but I'd also guess that it's not too visible with a VCR as the source. Also, since I have multiple composite signals and, as I mentioned, am out of inputs, $120 for 4 switchable vs. $150/per is a no-brainer in my case.

Also consider that S-VHS VCRs can be had for around $250 and have the S-video output built in ;)

Why do these converters cost so much when the $250 VCR mentioned by Todd has both Composit and S-Video built in (same for TVs)? Similarly, I have found that the standard advice for people with cable boxes is to use the demodulator built into the VCR. I would prefer to have TV and VCR use two seperate inputs on my reciever, instead of putting them both on the "VCR1" Input, yet it seems demodulators start at $180. Is there any reason for this? Are the stand alone demodulators or S-Video converters of much higher quality, or is it just that the TV/VCR manufacturers buy these things in such bulk that it doesn't add to the cost?

Chester,

I had the same situation as you and it drove me nuts (as well as the wife).

What I did to get around it was to purchase a Cinema 7 remote ($20-25). I programmed macros to switch my receiver from one mode to another, letting it change the TV channel for me. The tricky part is the the Video Input channels on my TV are not directly accessable through the number keys on the remote. The only way to get to them is by using the channel up and down keys. So, in the macro on the Cinema 7 I set the TV channel to 02 using the number keys and then press the channel down botton once for VCR (input 1) or channel down twice for DVD (input 2). The macro is:
For VCR - RCVR device, VCR1 input, TV device, 02, channel down, VCR device
For DVD - RCVR device, DVD input, TV device, 02, channel down, channel down, DVD device

Originally I had only the two Input channels programmed into my TV so that the channel up and down buttons only went to Input 1 and Input 2. Then as a part of the macro I just did a channel up. But this caused problems when I would hit the macro buttons two times in a row becuase each time I hit the button it would switch the TV channel thus causing it to go to the other input channel. The 02 channel trick solved that problem.

Anyway, my point being is that I solved the problem with a $25 remote. Sure beats spending $150 for a converter or upgrading to an SVHS VCR.

Chester,
You have several options as to how you want to solve your delima (sp?). 1 buy a new svhs vcr, which can be had nowadays for like $250 for the Panasonic PVM9671. A bargain in SVHS vcrs!! 2. get a composite to s converter.. there are several that i've heard of and know about. there is the stand-alone wire converter (which has adjustments for both chrominace and luminance) for about $100 by monster cable.. another, if you want to go the high end route, use to Entech CVSC which converts all composite signals into a "true S" signal.. it also does auto a/v switching too which is cool if your receiver does not do video, or you run out of inputs. $350 for the box. 3. get a learning remote with macros and you'll be all set!! Any questions as to where to get some of this stuff.. let me know!!
John

Well, I received the Sima SVS-4 last week and I have to say I'm less than impressed with the composite -> S-video performance - it makes the picture very blurry.

I am happy with its performance as a switch, though. There is little or no visible signal degradation as long as I don't try to let the switch convert from composite to S. This is just a matter of selecting the right input on the TV for me... but of course that doesn't solve Chester's original problem at all.

For that I'd go back to my other original suggestion - buy a JVC 3600 or 4600 SVHS VCR; IMO paying $250 or 270 for a really good VCR beats paying $150 for a converter!

What a great flood of ideas!

I do indeed own a Cinema 7 (as of a week ago), and was hoping to discover discrete input selector signals for my TV - which it doesn't have...

BUT... Bruce's idea above may just be the ideal solution. If I force the TV into its own tuner mode, then selecting VIDEO 1 or VIDEO 2 will always be just one or two presses of the INPUT SELECT button away!

BRILLIANT!

Thanks, y'all. I hope I can be of similar help to any of you some day soon.

Chester

Tributaries makes a good composite to S-video converter. Unlike other pasive converters, this one has an RCA jack on the converter itself which feeds into an attached cable with an S-video plug. This design is superior IMHO because it does not require a cable on both sides of the converter thus reducing the number of conections involved in the signal path. I think this item is in the $100 price range.

That being said an active converter would probably be better, but by how much?

another alternative is a cheap convertor(you said signal quality was a moot point) You can get a simple composite to s-video convertor from radio shack for $19.99 and it will handle the job. Picture quality definitely won't be as good as with the $180.00 unit but it will take care of your wife's complaint.

Most of the composite to s-video convectors noticably darken the picture. You can get a Mitsubishi SVHS for $180 (HSU 746) that will slove the switching problems.

JVC sells some S-VHS VCRS at even lower price points than the Mitsubishi unit you quoted. Also note that Japan Victor Company is the patent holder for VHS, S-VHS and now D-VHS. As such, I think they would probably make the best product in said class.