Video Asylum

Posted by jamesgarvin (A) on July 28, 2005 at 12:25:59

My V.C.R is on it's last legs, and since I never really use it anymore, I decided to take it out of the system. I use a Harman Kardon AVP-1 strictly as a video switcher to swith between digital cable, and the d.v.d. player.

When I took the v.c.r. out of the system, I noticed that I never disconnected the r.c.a. cable from the processor that ran to the television. I took it out. I started to watch a movie, and noticed that the s-video feed, which I always use, was now deteriorated. Watching cable, and wwitching between the s-video and r.f. cable, I noticed very little difference, with the exception of slightly less video noise through the s-video. Otherwise, colors, contrast, etc. were identical. There was no difference if I ran the s-video straight from the cable to the television rather than through the processor.

On a lark, I reconnected the r.c.a. cable back to the processor to the television. Guess what? The s-video feed became signifantly better. There is no signal going through the r.c.a. cable, which I confirmed by pulling the s-video out, at which time the signal was gone. So I know the signal is being transmitted through the s-video.

Because of the length between the equipment and the television, I had to patch several r.c.a. cables together with connectors. If I disconnect the cable further down the line, same problem. Reconnect, it looks better.

Any ideas? Not a big deal, but I sure am perplexed.