RGB Connections

[ibglowin]

Not sure if this has been asked /answered before. Is there any advantage to using the RGB out connector on a Dish model 6000 HD receiver? I have an RGB input on my Panasonic HDTV.

Is this an analog or digital connection? Is it cabable of passing on HD content or SD or both?

Thanks for any help. :shrug:

[Mark Lamutt]

RGB will pass HD content only (which includes SD upconverted to HD by the 6000) just like the component connection. I've never used the RGB connection because I don't have an RGB in on my Sony.

[ibglowin]

So it will pass HD content but is the picture better, worse or the same as a component connection picture?

Anybody have any opinions??

Thanks!

[BRISTOL]

If you have it use, you wont be sorry.

[Martyva]

Yes RGB is better than component

[Mike123abc]

Actually component should be better because it is what the MPEG-2 is based on. YUV has to be converted to RGB. So, you add the YUV to RGB converter into the mix.

[MarkA]

(quite a bit of reading, the important part is at the end)

Mike 123 has a good theory. The reality is that the RGB will be better in some respects, but the component also. RGB is almost certainly the better signal - if it's delievered over 5 seperate coax cables. The twisted pair cable often used reduces quality. A wide variety of different factors influence picture in your case (cable run length being the most significant IMHO). You can run RGB almost 100m with no noticeable signal problem - we do it. On 5 seperate coaxes. Y-PR-PB (component) likely has that seperate cable advantage in your situation. Chances are you'll be carrying RGBHV over a tradtional computer monitor cable. Then you have serious opportunities for crosstalk...

Conclusion: I'm going to guess RGB will be better on a short run, while component will be better on a long run. Unless you split the HD15 connectors out to 5 BNC coax connectors and run 5 seperate cables. Then RGB will regain the advantage by far. Of course, many factors influence your result, so TRY THEM BOTH:) (FWIW (and that's very little around here :) ), I prefer RGB)

[Nick]

I've run RBG up to 75' cable length to PC monitors without fatal loss of signal strength. Longer runs to LCD and DLP projectors, most of which I believe have built-in pre-amps.

With YPrPb (component), the sync and luminance information piggy-backs on one of the color signals, but with RGB, the three colors, sync, lum and any other stuff each has its own path.

[Bill D]

Besides teh synce info being seperate or not RGB is 4:4:4, where as component is 4:2:2, in theory less color info. I would be interested if there is a noticeble difference or not..

[MarkA]

Nick, how did you run it? (What cabling type). Just trying to compare ideas. The longest RGBHV run I work with on a regular basis is probably 200-300ft (NO KIDDING!) and it's split to two high-resolution projectors (1024x768, 4000 lumen LCD) with a distribution interface (which provides amplification, a local monitor output, and an RGBHV output over BNC from an HD15 input), the signal is run to a lighting interface panel over a cable approx 30-40meters. Then it's another 30 meters or so to the projectors, and it's split with a distribution splitter to both projectors, probably another 10m of cable after the splitter to each projector.

Amazingly, we have very few problems with the signal. Sometimes you can see a little bit of a convergance error (caused by a sight timing inconsistentcy) but it's been working very well for the most part. It's RGBHV, 5 seperate coaxes all the way from the video distribution unit to the projectors.

Got a better idea? If so, tell me! Because a better image is always better... But I've been really impressed.

[mjz]

Regarding color information: remember that while RGB is 4:4:4, HDTV is sampled at 4:2:0, and most pro sdtv video is shot in 4:1:1(dv,dvcam,dvcpro) or 4:2:2 (Digital-S or DVCPRO/50), is that amount of color information is not needed for hdtv.

[MarkA]

Correct, there is no real significant advantage or disadvantage to component in most cases for television. But if RGB is available, I say - use it! If one format is going to have the advantage, it's likely to be RGB. Again, for long runs component will have the advantage over the normal RGB cables, but the best solution is to run RGB over 5 coax cables (remember, it's actually RGBHV). Like I said, I work with a video system that has several hundred feet of an RGBHV run (from a computer) and it works fine.