Composite audio output. Composite input (CVBS)

Modern computers have ample opportunities for working with video, and their owners often watch movies on the monitor screen. And with the advent of barebone multimedia platforms, oriented to use as a home media center, the interest in connecting audio and video equipment only intensifies.
Where is it more convenient and practical to watch videos on big screen TV, especially since almost all modern video cards are equipped with a TV output.
The need to connect a TV to a computer also arises when editing amateur video. As you can easily see in practice, the image and sound on the computer are significantly different from those that you will later see and hear on TV. Therefore, all video editors allow you to view the preliminary results of editing on a television receiver directly from the working scale even before the film is created. Experienced video enthusiasts constantly control the image and sound, displaying them on a television screen, and not on a computer monitor.
Topics such as setting up video cards, choosing an image standard, as well as comparing the quality of video outputs of video cards from different manufacturers and solving the problems that arise in this case are beyond the scope of this article - here we will only consider the following questions: what connectors can be found on a TV and on a video card, how they are consistent with each other and what are the ways to connect a computer to a TV.

Display interfaces

Classic analog interface (VGA)

Computers have been using the 15-pin analog D-Sub HD15 (Mini-D-Sub) interface for quite a long time, which is traditionally called the VGA interface. The VGA interface transmits red, green, and blue (RGB) signals as well as horizontal (H-Sync) and vertical synchronization (V-Sync) information.

All modern video cards have such an interface or provide it using an adapter from the universal combined DVI-I (DVI-integrated) interface.

Thus, both digital and analog monitors can be connected to the DVI-I connector. A DVI-I to VGA adapter is usually included with many graphics cards and allows you to connect older monitors with a 15-pin D-Sub (VGA) plug.

Please note that not every DVI interface supports analog VGA signals, which can be obtained through such adapters. Some graphics cards have a DVI-D digital interface to which you can connect only digital monitors. Visually, this interface differs from DVD-I in the absence of four holes (pins) around the horizontal slot (compare the right parts of the white DVI connectors).

Often modern graphics cards are equipped with two DVI outputs, in which case they are usually universal - DVI-I. Such a video card can simultaneously work with any monitors, both analog and digital in any set.

DVI digital interface

The DVI interface (TDMS) was developed primarily for digital monitors that do not require a graphics card to translate digital signals to analog.

But since the transition from analog to digital monitors is slow, developers graphics hardware usually use these technologies in parallel. In addition, modern video cards can work with two monitors at the same time.

The universal DVI-I interface allows you to use both digital and analog connections, while DVI-D only allows you to use digital. However, the DVI-D interface is quite rare today and is usually used only in cheap video adapters.

In addition, DVI digital connectors (both DVI-I and DVI-D) have two varieties - Single Link and Dual Link, which differ in the number of pins (Dual Link uses all 24 digital pins, and Single Link uses only 18 ). Single Link is suitable for use in devices with resolutions up to 1920x1080 (full HDTV resolution), for about Higher resolutions require Dual Link, which allows you to double the number of displayed pixels.

HDMI digital interface

HDMI (High Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital multimedia interface developed jointly by a number of major companies - Hitachi, Panasonic, Philips, Sony and others. ). For video transmission over high definition 29-pin Type B connectors are already required. In addition, HDMI can provide up to eight channels of 24-bit, 192 kHz audio and has a built-in Digital Rights Management (DRM) copyright protection mechanism.

The HDMI interface is relatively new, but in the computer sector it has quite a few competitors - both from the traditional DVI interface and from newer and more advanced interfaces such as UDI or DisplayPort. However, products with HDMI ports are gradually moving into the market, as modern consumer video equipment is increasingly equipped with HDMI connectors. Thus, the development of the popularity of multimedia computer platforms will stimulate the emergence of graphic and motherboards with HDMI ports, even though computer manufacturers have to buy a fairly expensive license to use this standard and still pay some fixed royalties on each HDMI product sold.

The licensing fees also make products with HDMI ports more expensive for the end-manufacturer - for example, a video card with an HDMI port will cost about $10 more. In addition, it is unlikely that an expensive HDMI cable ($10-30) will be included in the package, so you will have to purchase it separately. However, it is hoped that with the growing popularity HDMI interface the amount of such a margin will gradually decrease.

The HDMI interface uses the same TDMS signal technology as DVI-D, so inexpensive adapters are available for these interfaces.

And while the HDMI interface has not yet replaced DVI, such adapters can be used to connect video equipment via the DVI interface. Please note that HDMI cables cannot be longer than 15m.

New UDI interface

At the beginning of this year, Intel announced a new UDI (Unified Display Interface) digital interface for connecting digital monitors to a computer. So far, Intel has only announced the development of a new type of connection, but in the near future it plans to completely abandon the old analog VGA interface and connect computers to display devices through a new UDI digital interface recently developed by engineers from this company.

The creation of a new interface is due to the fact that both the analog VGA interface and even the digital DVI interface, according to Intel representatives, are hopelessly outdated today. Also, these interfaces do not support latest systems content protection on next-generation digital media such as HD-DVD and Blu-ray.

Thus, UDI is almost analogous to the HDMI interface used to connect computers to modern HDTVs. The main (and perhaps the only) difference between UDI and HDMI will be the absence of an audio channel, that is, UDI will only transmit video and is entirely designed to work with computer monitors, and not with HD TVs. Also, Intel doesn't seem to want to pay royalties for every HDMI device it makes, so UDI would be a good alternative for companies looking to make their products cheaper.

The new interface is fully compatible with HDMI, and will also support all currently known content protection systems, allowing seamless playback of new media equipped with copy protection.

New DisplayPort Interface

Another new video interface - DisplayPort - has recently received approval from companies that are members of the VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association).

The open DisplayPort standard has been developed by a number of major companies, including ATI Technologies, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, nVidia, Royal Philips Electronics, and Samsung Electronics. In the future, DisplayPort is expected to become a universal digital interface that allows you to connect displays various types(plasma, liquid crystal, CRT monitors, etc.) to household appliances and computer equipment.

The DisplayPort 1.0 specification provides for the possibility of simultaneous transmission of both video and audio streams (in this sense new interface completely analogous to HDMI). Note that the maximum bandwidth of the DisplayPort standard is 10.8 Gbps, and the transmission uses a relatively thin connecting cable with four conductors.

Another feature of DisplayPort is its support for content protection features (similar to HDMI and UDI). Built-in security controls allow the content of a document or video file to be displayed only on a limited number of "authorized" devices, theoretically reducing the chance of illegal copying of copyrighted material. Finally, connectors made according to the new standard are thinner than modern DVI and D-Sub connectors. Thanks to this, DisplayPort ports can be used in small form factor equipment and easily make multi-channel devices.

Support for the DisplayPort standard has already been announced by Dell, HP and Lenovo. Apparently, the first devices equipped with new video interfaces will appear before the end of this year.

Video connector on graphics card

On the modern video cards, in addition to connectors for connecting monitors (analogue - D-Sub or digital - DVI), there is a composite video output ("tulip"), or a 4-pin S-Video output, or a 7-pin combined video output (simultaneously with S -Video and composite inputs and outputs).

In the case of S-Video, the situation is simple - there are S-Video cables or adapters for other SCART connectors on sale.

However, when a non-standard 7-pin connector is found on video cards, then in this case it is better to keep the adapter that is included with the video card, because there are several standards for wiring such a cable.

Composite video signal (RCA)

The so-called composite video output has long been widely used to connect consumer audio and video equipment. The connector for this signal is usually referred to as RCA (Radio Corporation of America), and is popularly called a "tulip" or VHS connector. Please note that such plugs in video equipment can transmit not only composite video or audio, but also many other signals such as component video or high-definition television (HDTV). Typically, tulip plugs are color-coded to make it easier for users to navigate the tangle of wires. Common color values ​​are given in Table. one.

Table 1

	Usage	Signal type
White or black	Sound, left channel	analog
	Sound, right channel	analog
	Video, composite signal	analog
	Luminance component signal (Luminance, Luma, Y)	analog
	Component Chroma (Chrominance, Chroma, Cb/Pb)	analog
	Component Chroma (Chrominance, Chroma, Cr/Pr)	analog
orange/yellow	SPDIF digital audio	Digital

The wires for transmitting a composite signal can be quite long (simple adapters can be used to extend the wires).

However, the use of low quality connections and sloppy switching "tulips" is gradually becoming a thing of the past. In addition, cheap RCA connectors on equipment often break. Today, other types of switching are increasingly used on digital audio and video equipment, and even when transmitting analog signals, it is more convenient to use SCART.

S-video

Often on the video card and on the TV there is a four-pin S-Video (Y / C, Hosiden) connector, which is used to transmit video signals of higher quality than composite. The fact is that the S-Video standard uses different lines for transmitting brightness (the signal for brightness and data synchronization is denoted by the letter Y) and color (the color signal is denoted by the letter C). Separation of luminance and color signals allows to achieve better picture quality in comparison with the composite RCA-interface ("tulip"). More high quality when transmitting analog video, only completely separate RGB or component interfaces can be provided. To receive a composite signal from S-Video, a simple S-Video to RCA adapter is used.

If you do not have such an adapter, then you can make it yourself. However, there are two options for outputting a composite signal from a video card equipped with an S-Video interface, and the choice depends on the type of video card you have. Some cards are able to switch output modes and feed a simple composite signal to the S-Video output. In the mode of supplying such a signal to S-Video, you simply need to connect the contacts to which the composite signal is applied to the corresponding “tulip” outputs.

The wiring of the RCA cable is simple: a video signal is fed through the central core, and the outer braid is the “ground”.

The S-Video pinout is as follows:

• GND - "ground" for the Y-signal;
• GND - "ground" for the C-signal;
• Y - brightness signal;
• C - color signal (contains both color differences).

If the S-Video output can operate in the composite signal supply mode, then a ground is supplied to the second pin of its connector, and a signal to the fourth. On a collapsible S-Video plug, which is required to make an adapter, the contacts are usually numbered. The socket and plug connectors are numbered in reverse order.

If the video card does not have a composite signal output mode, then to obtain it, you will have to mix the color and brightness signal from the S-Video signal through a 470 pF capacitor. The signal obtained in this way is fed to the central core, and the "ground" from the second contact is fed to the braid of the composite cord.

SCART

SCART is the most interesting combined analog interface and is widely used in Europe and Asia. Its name comes from the French abbreviation proposed in 1983 by the Association of Radio and Television Developers of France (Syndicat des Constructeurs d'Appareils, Radiorecepteurs et Televiseurs, SCART). This interface combines analog video (composite, S-Video and RGB), stereo audio and control signals. Today, every television or VCR manufactured for Europe is equipped with at least one SCART socket.

For the transmission of simple analog signals (composite and S-Video), there are many different SCART adapters on the market. This interface is convenient not only because everything is connected using only one cable, but also because it allows you to connect a high-quality RGB video source to the TV without intermediate encoding into composite or S-Video signals and get best quality images on the screen of a domestic TV (the quality of the image and sound when submitted via SCART is noticeably superior to the quality of any other analog connections). This possibility, however, is not implemented in all VCRs and TVs.

In addition, the developers have put into the SCART interface additional features by reserving a few contacts for the future. And since the SCART interface has become the standard in European countries, it has acquired several new features. For example, with the help of some signals on pin 8, you can control the TV modes via SCART (transfer it to the “monitor” mode and vice versa), switch the TV to work with RGB signals (pin 16), etc. Pins 10 and 12 are dedicated to transmitting digital data via SCART, which makes the number of commands virtually unlimited. There are several known systems exchange of information via SCART: Megalogic used by Grundig; Easy Link from Philips; SmartLink from Sony. True, their use is limited to communication between a TV and a VCR of these companies.

By the way, the standard provides for four types of SCART cables: type U - universal, providing all connections, V - without audio signals, C - without RGB signals, A - without video signals and RGB. Unfortunately, modern component modes (Y, Cb/Pb, Cr/Pr) are not supported in the SCART standard. However, some manufacturers of DVD players and large format TVs build in the ability to transmit via SCART and component video, which is transmitted through the pins used in the RGB signal standard (however, this is practically the same as connecting via RGB).

Various adapters are commercially available for connecting composite or S-Video sources to SCART. Many of them are universal (bidirectional) with an input-output switch.

There are also simple unidirectional adapters, adapters for connecting mono or stereo audio, and connectors for switching control. In the case when it is necessary to connect two devices at once to one device, you can use a SCART splitter in two or three directions. Those who are not satisfied or who are not available to the proposed options can make their own in accordance with the assignment of contacts in SCART, given in Table. 2.

The pin numbering is usually indicated on the connector:

Of course, computers do not use a SCART connector, however, knowing its specification, you can always make an appropriate adapter to use an analog computer monitor as a video receiver from a tape recorder or, conversely, to feed a video signal from a computer to a TV equipped with a SCART connector.

For example, in order to input or output a composite signal from the SCART connector, you need to take coaxial cable with a wave impedance of 75 Ohm and distribute the outer braid ("ground") and the inner core (composite signal) on the SCART connector.

Outputting a video signal from a computer to a TV (TV-OUT):

• the composite signal is fed to the 20th pin of the SCART connector;

To input video from a VCR to a computer (TV-IN):

• composite signal - to the 19th pin of the SCART connector;
• "ground" - on the 17th pin of the SCART connector.

The correspondence of contacts in the manufacture of an adapter for S-Video is also indicated in Table. 2.

Video output from a computer to a TV set via S-Video (TV-OUT):

• 3rd pin S-Video - 20th pin SCART;

Inputting video signal from a VCR to a computer via S-Video (TV-IN):

• 1st pin S-Video - 17th pin SCART;
• 2nd pin S-Video - 13th pin SCART;
• 3rd pin S-Video - 19th pin SCART;
• 4th S-Video pin - 15th SCART pin.

To connect a computer to a TV using RGB, the computer must output the RGB signal in a way that the TV can understand. Sometimes the RGB signal is fed through a dedicated 7-, 8-, or 9-pin combo video output. In this case, in the settings of the video card, it should be possible to switch the video output to RGB mode. If the video output on the video card has seven pins (such a plug is called a mini-DIN 7-pin), then in normal mode the S-Video signal is sent to exactly the same pins as in a regular four-pin S-Video connector. And in RGB mode, signals can be distributed across contacts different ways depending on the manufacturer of the video card.

As an example, the pins of one of these 7-pin connectors correspond to SCART (this wiring is used on some video cards based on the NVIDIA chip, but it may be different on your video card):

• 1st pin mini-DIN 7-pin (GND, "ground") - 17th pin SCART;
• 2nd pin mini-DIN 7-pin (Green, green) - 11th pin SCART;
• 3rd pin mini-DIN 7-pin (Sync, sweep) - 20th pin SCART;
• 4th pin mini-DIN 7-pin (Blue, blue) - 7th pin SCART;
• 5th pin mini-DIN 7-pin (GND, "ground") - 17th pin SCART;
• 6th pin mini-DIN 7-pin (Red, red) - 15th pin SCART;
• 7th mini-DIN 7-pin (+3 V RGB mode control) - 16th SCART pin.

For any kind of adapters, you need to use quality cables with a resistance of 75 ohms.

Graphics card does not have a video connector

If your video card does not have a TV output, then, in principle, the TV can be connected to a regular VGA connector. However, in this case you will need circuit diagram signal conditioning (in general case, however, is simple). There are special devices on the market that convert a regular computer VGA signal into RGB and into a scan (synchronization) signal for a TV. Such a device is connected to the VGA cable between the computer and the monitor and duplicates the signal that goes through the VGA output.

In principle, such a device can be made independently. The correspondence between VGA and SCART signals will be as follows:

• VGA SCART PIN SCART Description;
• VGA RED - to the 15th SCART pin;
• VGA GREEN - on the 11th SCART pin;
• VGA BLUE - on the 7th SCART pin;
• VGA RGB GROUND - on the 13th, or 9th, or 5th SCART pin;
• VGA HSYNC & VSYNC - on the 16th and 20th SCART pins.

You will also need to apply +1-3 V to the 16th SCART pin and 12 V to the 8th SCART pin to switch to AV mode with an aspect ratio of 4:3.

However, a direct connection will most likely not work and you will need to make a wiring diagram for synchronization, as shown at http://www.tkk.fi/Misc/Electronics/circuits/vga2tv/circuit.html or http://www.e.kth .se/~pontusf/index2.html .

Through a TV (except TV) you can watch programs whose sources are external devices connected to the TV through separate inputs provided for this. Such program sources are DVD player, VCR, video player, most camcorders, game console, satellite receiver, various pay TV decoders, etc. The compatibility of the TV and these external devices is determined by examining the specifications and operating instructions for the TV and the external device. The first one says what exactly can be connected to the TV, and the second one says what properties the TV must have in order to be able to connect this device to it.

How to determine which signal standards the TV must "understand" in order for it to suit you?

If you need a TV just to watch regular TV, in the meter or decimeter range, any TV that is sold in stores will do.

If you also want to watch videos from external devices, many questions immediately arise. It is very important when choosing a TV to keep in mind all the devices that you want to connect to it, not only now, but also in the future, and follow so that your TV is equipped with a sufficient number of necessary connectors. Otherwise, you will only have to regret the wrong choice (and, unfortunately, there are many such cases).

However, TVs have many different connectors, and not everyone can understand them. Before the user of a TV set equipped with all conceivable connectors, another problem will arise - to choose from the many options for connecting through these connectors the most correct and best.

Let's try to figure out how best to connect when there is a choice by analyzing the paths of standard external signals on the TV.

The color image is formed from the main color signals R G B, that is, red signals R, green G and blue B colors, based on the color and brightness data of each point in the image. If you are going to connect an external device to the TV that has an RGB output signal, it will be correct to use RGB input on the TV is a convenient way to ensure a good signal transmission. At TVs RGB input usually implemented via a SCART connector.

The high quality of connecting devices via the RGB input is quite comparable with another connection option - via component input that TVs may be equipped with. Component signals received name the combination of the luminance signal ("Y" component) and color difference signals indicating the amount of color (the blue component "Pb" and the red component "Pr"). Various digital program sources can be connected to the TV via component and RGB inputs: DVD player, digital satellite tuner, computer, decoders digital television, game console, etc.

The component input connection is optimal for a DVD player because all the information on DVDs contained in the component format, and the DVD player is the source of the component signal.

Component connectors can be made with "tulips" (RCA), or bayonets (BNC), usually there are appropriate designations Y Pb Pr. So, if you have a DVD player or other device with a component output, when choosing a TV, pay special attention to models that are equipped with a component input ( RCA component. Y Pb Pr).

Another standard for connecting to a TV is S-video(Separate Video, i.e., "separate video").

It should not be confused with the S-VHS standard (Super VHS, - a further development of the VHS cassette recording standard).

The S-video connection standard was developed when video players appeared on the market that were superior in quality to the terrestrial signal standard, so that you could see their advantages over TV shows on your TV screen. We are talking mainly about VCRs and camcorders of S-VHS, Hi8 standards, which use separate brightness and color channels for recording and playback. The idea was simple and ingenious: to transmit these luminance and chrominance signals and then separately, to the TV input. This, in addition to simplifying the video player and TV circuits, gave a big gain in image quality. So, if your VCR or camcorder has an S-Video output, we recommend choosing a TV with the same input.

Also, S-Video is a great option for anyone with a DVD player that doesn't have component or RGB jacks.

The most common (but not the best) connection standard additional devices to the TV is composite signal. It is a combination of all components containing video information into one signal. It is the composite signal that is obtained at the output of the television tuner (i.e., the receiver of the on-air television signal). Composite video outputs are equipped with VCRs, camcorders, DVD players, etc. Actually, it is difficult to find a device that does not have these outputs. The advantages of the composite method are clear - combining signals allows you to get the most capacious and convenient signal for transmission, which requires only one wire. However, when the original RGB or component signal is converted to composite, part of the information is lost, and when the composite signal is converted back to RGB on the TV, it is no longer possible to restore the information. As a result, the resulting image is noticeably worse in quality.

On the other hand, if you are not going to connect a component signal source device (DVD player, etc.) to the TV, this circumstance should not worry you, and composite connectors will be quite enough. The composite connector is made in the form of RCA, and is usually adjacent to the audio connector (one if mono, and two if it is a stereo TV). Traditionally, they are listed together - RCA audio / video. TV can be equipped RCA audio/video input and RCA audio/video output.

Very interesting universal connector SCART, which can allow you to connect signals at a time: composite, RGB and stereo sound, and the connection is bidirectional. In addition, a control line is provided between the connected devices. In later versions of SCART, both S-Video and component signals are provided, while the functions of transmitting a composite signal and RGB are limited - the number of pins in the SCART connector is limited. For S-Video and component connections, the TV must have 2 additional SCART sockets installed.

Connecting cables using a SCART connector may not be soldered completely - always check with the seller whether a particular cable will suit you or not.

The TV can also be equipped with separate audio RCA connectors. For example, the RCA audio output (R and L) on a TV allows you to connect a stereo system equipped with the appropriate inputs to it and play the TV sound through the stereo system, which greatly exceeds the sound power of the TV itself.

Some TVs are equipped with special connectors VGA, or D-Sub that allow you to connect a computer to them and use them as monitors. However, it should be borne in mind that TVs are not designed to work continuously for many hours like monitors, and cannot replace them in this regard. Connecting a TV to a computer can be used, for example, to computer games and the like.

Please note that even if you have connected all the cables correctly, the connected devices may require additional additional setting TV inputs, the procedure for which in this case will be described in the operating instructions.

When choosing a TV, pay attention not only to the number of connectors (recall, there should be no less of them than the devices you want to connect), but also to the location of the connectors.

The connectors on the back of the TV are intended for stationary connection of equipment. It is desirable to have as many of them as the number of devices will be constantly connected to the TV (plus one for the possibility of expanding the system). The connectors on the front (front) or side of the TV are intended for episodic and, as a rule, short-term connection of equipment (camcorders and game consoles). It is not worth considering them as an option for a fixed connection, as this, in most cases, is inconvenient and not very aesthetically pleasing.

When choosing equipment, we recommend that you try to ensure that the connectors are of the same type (for example, SCART on a TV, DVD, and VCR), this will greatly simplify switching and eliminate the problems associated with finding specific cables, adapters, etc. .

Suppose you just bought a brand new TV, printed it out, saw a huge number of incomprehensible connectors on the back panel? Having taken out the instruction, they found the absence of the Russian language in it. Questions immediately arose, in which connectors to connect a DVD player, how to connect sound acoustics to external speakers, is it possible to connect this TV to a computer? In reality, if you look, there is no difficulty in connecting additional peripherals to the TV. And if you study in detail the tangled bunch of connectors, a simple and understandable scheme emerges. In this topic, we will not consider specific connectors used for equipment maintenance, but we will minimize the description of TV connectors to the following, which connector is intended for what.

TV video connectors

The abbreviation stands for High-Definition Multimedia Interface (high-definition multimedia interface). On the this moment HDMI is the best option connecting video equipment to TV, as it allows you to transmit digital video of any resolution, including HD, as well as digital audio up to 8 channels. All modern TVs are equipped with at least one, and more often several such connectors. In turn, it is present in almost every model of household equipment capable of outputting a video signal: DVD and Blu-ray players, laptops, game consoles, video cards for stationary PCs, camcorders, and even some smartphones.

Connector family D-sub (D-subminiature), used to connect a computer to a TV. This connector carries an analog signal, which results in inferior picture quality to that obtained with a digital connection. It is used in cases where the PC does not have an HDMI or DVI output.

European standard developed in the late 70s. in France to unify the connection of various devices. Through SCART, you can transmit not only analog video and audio, but also control signals. In terms of image quality, it is comparable to a component connection, but, of course, inferior to HDMI.

The abbreviation stands for Separate Video (separate video). It is called so because in this case the video signal is transmitted as two separate signals, brightness and color. In terms of image quality, it is between composite and component connections, at the moment it is practically not used anywhere.

TV component jacks (Y/Pb/Pr)

The best option for connecting an analog video source to your TV. It uses 3 separate cables for video transmission: luminance level (Y), difference between blue level and luminance (Pb) and red level and luminance (Pr). The lack of signal mixing used in S-Video and composite connections allows for the highest possible picture quality for an analog signal. Two additional connectors located in the same block are designed for analog audio transmission.

Composite TV Connector (CVBS)

The composite connection offers the worst picture quality - three analog signals (brightness, hue and saturation) are carried on one wire at once - and should only be used when there are simply no other options. As a rule, next to the video connector (yellow) are the audio inputs.

TV audio jack

TVs can be equipped with analog audio inputs - usually a pair of RCA connectors (popularly called "tulips"), of which white is used for mono or left channel in stereo, and red for the right channel. There is also a mini-jack (official name TRS) for connecting portable audio equipment.

In addition to inputs, TVs can also have audio outputs - again, a mini-jack for an analog stereo signal (for example, headphones), as well as digital ones for coaxial and optical cables. The first is a conventional RCA connector (the same as those discussed above for transmitting analog signal), the second - TOSLINK - is designed for connection using optical fiber.

Other TV connectors

This is where the TV antenna is connected. In addition, some devices can also transmit video (for example, older VCRs).

network port. It connects the TV to local network or the Internet. In the first case, the connection can be used to play multimedia files from a home PC, in the second case, to access online services.

Recently, TVs are increasingly equipped with media player functions, and the USB connector is used to connect external drives to them. The designation USB (HDD) means that this port has enough power to work hard disk.

PCMCIA connector for connecting the Common Interface module, into which a smart card of a digital television provider is inserted, which is used to gain access to encrypted media content.

After reading this topic, you will get basic knowledge, learn to understand the TV connectors, stop adding additional peripherals to the TV at random. A similar instruction, but already about PC connectors can be found here "".

I am glad to have new communication with my readers and today we will talk about the good old RCA connector. For some, it will be nostalgia for the first experience of using audio-video equipment. Well, I will tell the younger generation what kind of unprecedented curiosity it is, which is still found on some devices.

To begin with, according to tradition, a small digression into the history of radio electronics.

Back in 1940, it became necessary to connect phonographs to amplifiers, and the Radio Corporation of America (RCA), still known today, proposed using a connector in the form of a shielded axial contact. Which later inherited the same name and gained immense popularity.

By the way, the principle itself, when one of the contacts acts as an external protection, has been further developed and is successfully used in more modern connectors.

subject of conversation

Now let's take a closer look at the RCA connector and figure out what it is. To begin with, let's pay attention to the element that is inserted (therefore called "dad") and placed on the cable itself. Since a two-wire wire is used, the connector, respectively, consists of 2 contacts. The first (main) is a pin 15 mm long and 3.2 mm in diameter with a rounded head (for easy entry into the socket).

It is located inside a cylindrical screen contact with a diameter of 8 mm, and protrudes from it by 9 mm. The nest, called, respectively, "mother", is made in the form of a sleeve. Its outer part is a screen contact, and inside there is a hole for the pin to enter.

In both halves of the connector, the space between the central and outer contact is filled with a dielectric material. In inexpensive models, ordinary plastic (polyethylene) is used for this purpose, and in more expensive variations, textolite washers are used. Well, in the most trump performance - Teflon or ceramics.

We found out the physics of the process. Let's move on to the lyrical-floral part of our review. This is not just a literary turn, but a hint at the second name of the RCA connector, which is commonly called a tulip. A very accurate figurative hit since three connectors are usually used: one for the video signal, the other two for stereo sound. To distinguish them, the plastic shell of each connector has its own strictly defined color:

• Yellow - video;
• Red - right audio channel;
• White - left sound channel;

Take a cable in your hand, at the end of which there are 3 RCA plugs. Isn't it very reminiscent of a bouquet of tulips?

So far, no one has argued with this.

For sound 2 and for video 1 plug

You can ask a logical question. How is it that there are already 2 connectors for sound, and only one for technologically more complex video?

The fact is that in the “yellow tulip” there is a composite signal that combines all the information:

• Brightness;
• Chromaticity;
• Extinguishing;
• Line, frame and color synchronization;

But there are also blue and green "tulips". These are already component plugs for transmitting individual color video streams.

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Since we have moved on to such complex technical details, it's time to talk about the technical aspects of using the RCA connector.

Its main purpose is the transmission of an analog audio-video signal. And he brilliantly coped with this task until the advent of digital standards. At one time tulips were the only way connecting TVs to VCRs or DVD players.

Convenient connection was actively used in audio equipment and amplifiers. Computer hardware manufacturers even made such outputs on the sound card.

And the craftsmen performed a special RCA wiring for connecting TVs as a monitor to a PC.

Over time, a lot of industrial cables and adapters have appeared that allow you to connect TV to more modern gadgets. For example, using an RCA-mini jack cable, it was possible to output content from some smartphones.

Now the RCA connector can still be found on modern TVs or projectors designed to be connected to certain video playback devices. However, on screens with a maximum resolution of 4K and above, transmitting an analog signal through RCA looks pointless. Why?

Yes, because the usual composite (rca) can output a maximum of Full HD.

And therefore, manufacturers are abandoning it in favor of more modern standards for information transfer.

As you understand, my dear readers, the era of RCA connectors is coming to an end. But it is still necessary to pay tribute to them. I hope you have more modern technology. And the one with tulips will simply remind you of the fleeting progress of technology.

On this I say goodbye and promise that we will continue the conversation about different connectors.

See you soon.

> Composite input

Composite input (CVBS)

One of the most popular entrances during the dominance of CRT televisions.

AT household appliances uses coaxial connector type RCA (« tulip"). However, the cable used in household cords may not be coaxial, which negatively affects the image quality. In some cases, TV manufacturers use a 4-pin coaxial mini-jack connector for the composite input, and the cable with RCA connectors is connected through a special adapter.

The picture on the right shows cable with 3 RCA connectors, yellow connector transmits composite video(sometimes the abbreviation is used) CVBS- Color, Video, Blank and Sync), consisting of a signal of brightness, color, sync and blanking pulses. The white connector carries mono audio or stereo left channel, the red connector carries stereo right channel.

By using composite input can be connected most different devices- VHS VCRs, DVD players, gaming consoles, satellite receivers. However, the quality of the transmitted video signal leaves much to be desired. First, like most analog connectors, the maximum video resolution is 720x576. Those. high-definition video cannot be transmitted over it. And secondly, the real resolution of the signal is much lower, especially for the color component - color clarity is at best no more than 150 TVL.