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Tech Central » Connections » Connecting Cables 101

Connecting Cables 101

The sound and pictures for satellite programming are sent along the cables to the VCR, stereo and TV.

Your receiver can send this information in different ways. Think of them like different languages.

Most Star Choice receivers speak three languages. The new high-definition models speak a fourth language and the latest DVR530 HD and DSR505 HD receivers can communicate with your HD-capable TV in an all-digital language called DVI (or HDMI to DVI). Why? Well, electronic languages have improved over the years.

Your receiver has to be able to talk to a 1980s-vintage TV as well as the latest and greatest HD home-theatre system. That's why most receivers have three different kinds of jacks and the newest HD receivers have an additional fourth DVI jack.

The types of video cables, in order from newest to oldest, are DVI, component video, S-Video, RCA and coaxial.

Most Star Choice receivers take stereo sound to the next level with optical and electrical digital audio output to take advantage of modern high-end stereo systems, including surround-sound systems that create theatre-like sound when fed Dolby Digital 5.1 signals.

Sound is essentially transmitted three ways. Digital is considered to be the most efficient, with its single optical or electrical cable, while RCA cables still offer excellent stereo quality compared to coaxial.

DVI

DVI, short for Digital Video Interface, is the newest technology for video connections. This single-cable output is delivers the highest level of resolution because its a purely digital connection. The new Star Choice DVR530 HD and DSR505 HD receivers feature a DVI-D Dual Digital output for connecting to an HD-ready TV with a DVI input. The DVI connection is made with single cable with three rows of eight pins alongside a single pin. On newer TV's featuring only an HDMI interface, you can easy connect your HD receivers using an HDMI to DVI cable (available on www.starchoice.com/accessories ).

Component Video Outputs

Component video output is the latest analogue technology available for both standard-definition and high-definition TV. This high-resolution connection not only delivers superior picture quality in standard definition, but is crucial for optimizing the visual advantage of HD broadcasts on HD-ready TVs that do not have a DVI connection. The component connection consists of three cables - red, green and blue.

How do these cables work? The television picture that you receive in HD is broken down into five different streams. The cables separate the three basic colour components - red, green and blue, plus the brightness and greys. These five streams are combined in the three connections that you will see as Y, PB, PR.

The component video output cables are designed to separate the five colour components. In previous technology, these five colour components were sent as a mix in one stream of cable, or perhaps three streams (in the case of S-Video, for example), which affect picture clarity. Separating all five creates a superior picture. Star Choice DSR505 HD and DVR530 HD receivers both feature Component Video outputs for high-definition TVs. You can purchase your own component video cables direct from www.starchoice.com/accessories.

S-Video

This cable has a round end with four metal pins that push on to a square receptacle. The four prongs carry image information on a range of frequencies that delivers great colour and picture. Next to DVI and component video cables, this is your best choice for a superior video image.

RCA

Also called digital co-ax, these cables are named after the company that developed the technology in the 1970s. They are easy to recognize because these cables consist of three wires. Each wire has red, yellow and white ends. The red and white wires carry sound. White for the left speaker, red for the right. The yellow wire is for the picture.

For home-theatre systems, there is an extra RCA jack. It's orange and used to transport Dolby Digital 5.1 sound from the receiver to your stereo or Dolby Digital decoder.

Co-ax

Back in the 1980s, this was the standard for transmitting both audio and video. It is sometimes called RF cable, but coax, short for coaxial, is more common. It looks like what came out of the wall back when we had traditional cable. It's usually white, sometimes black, and is about as wide as a piece of licorice. It has a metal filament in the middle of it.

It’s designed to transmit information as radio frequencies. That’s why you need to have equipment on Channel 3 or 4 to receive the images. The channel is at the correct frequency.

It works, but is not as efficient as newer cables.

Connecting wires affect operation

Don’t forget that the cables you use to connect your components affect their operation.

Co-ax cables work on frequencies. The component that you’re going into with co-ax, needs to be on Channel 3 or 4, to get the information on the right frequency.

If you use DVI, component video, S-Video or RCA cables, you’ll need to check the audio/visual mode or the line mode of the device you’re connecting to. Often, these components have more than one in jack. That means they have more than one source of information. You use the line or A/V mode to choose the right one.

A final word about mixing cable connection types

To maximize your connections, you may want to use Component Video or S-Video to your VCR and RCA to connect the VCR and TV. This is fine. You can use any combination of cables you like.

Just remember, DVI delivers the best quality picture, followed by Component Video, S-Video, RCA and co-ax.

Also, the Channel or A/V mode depends on what you're going IN to. So, if you're using RCA cables to the VCR, the VCR will have to be in the correct A/V mode. Then, if you use co-ax to the TV, the TV will have to be on Channel 3 or 4.

Help troubleshoot

When you’re not getting an image, it’s often to do with the mode or the channel. That’s why we like you to know what and how things are connected to help troubleshoot picture problems.

Your Star Choice receiver comes with the co-ax cable to connect from the dish and the phone cord for the modem access to instant Pay Per View. You may need to purchase cables, either HDMI to DVI, Component Video, S-Video, RCA or co-ax, to make all the connections.

Sound options

Sound gets pumped out of your satellite receiver in two formats, digital and analog. Digital is the most efficient and can be sent via an electrical or optical cable capable of carrying Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. A pair of RCA cables can carry analogue sound to your stereo receiver or television. Older televisions receive sound with the co-ax cable, which is the least efficient.

The DSR317, DSR505 HD and DVR530 HD receivers all feature digital audio connections to deliver crisp Dolby Digital 5.1 home-theatre sound.