TV-Out cards/ports

Factual Questions
1

Wow, I’m just full of computing questions today.

My board has Tv-out capability, but it has an integrated video card without the actual TV-out module (ie. the actual thingy with the S-video and coaxial outputs).

Apparently you can buy standalone modules that are installed in PCI slots, which plug directly into the board’s TV-out port. However, I can’t find these anywhere- any suggestions on where to buy, and which one?

Also, someone else mentioned that anything other than an HDTV will be extremely blurry even at high resolution… true or false?

2

Actually, I said that it will be blurry especially at high resolutions. The higher the resolution goes, the smaller (and thus blurrier and harder to read) the text gets.

'Fraid I can’t help you on the other question, though. I’ve never used a card like that.

3

Let’s see if I can understand the OP before I even try to help.

That seems to be contradictory. Your motherboard has integrated video and you say it “has Tv-out capability” . . . “without the actual TV-out module”. it sounds to me like it does not have TV out then.

Again, this makes no sense to me. Can you explain? you want to plug what where? You want to plug into a (non-existant) “TV port”? No comprendo. PCI plugs into the PCI bus.

And, yes, TV sets make terrible computer displays. seeing how cheap monitors are I would not even mess with TV.

4

Okay… I’ll try making this clearer…

My motherboard supports tv-out. However, it doesn’t have a coaxial or S-video output on the thing that sticks out of the back of the case (which has the PS/2, serial, monitor ports and such).

Instead, there’s a connector actually on the board (3 rows of 6 pins, I think) which the manual refers to as a tv-out port and says you need an optional tv-out module to actually use. From what it shows in the manual, the module is a PCI card with an S-video output and a coax output. It doesn’t say where to get one, though, and AOpen doesn’t seem to make one.

In other words, there’s a spot on the board the card should plug into but no card.

5

It still makes no sense. What motherboard is it? Where can I download the manual?

6

AOpen AK-79VN… you can download the manual here: http://www.aopen.com/products/mb/AK79G-VN.htm

The TV-out capability is described on page 39.

7

You need to buy what’s called a daughterboard, which is directly and exclusively made by your motherboard manufacturer.

The appropriately-named daughterboard supplies a motherboard with the extra ports / cheap circuitry necessary to activate and/or use extra features that utilize the basic chipset that’s already supplied on a standard motherboard. Why don’t motherboard manufacturers add the necessary ports for these fringe features if most of the work is being done with the chipset that’s already on the motherboard? Good question. More and more motherboard manufacturers are using modular daughterboards for fringe features that few customers are likely to use (such as TV-out, Bluetooth etc.) as a cost-cutting and heat-reducing measure. Believe it or not, even a 50-cent S-Video port becomes a cost-cutting measure when you scale up to millions of units. You can’t blame them. It makes business sense and very few customers complain.

Basically you’ll have to call AOpen, tell them where you’re located, and ask them where you can get a TV-Out daughterboard for motherboard model blah blah.

P.S. I very much doubt that your motherboard has onboard HDTV functionality. You’ll have to pay extra to get a graphics card or TV card that supports that. Hauppage is the brand that I would recommend for HDTV-enabled TV cards.

8

dutchboy208, part of the confusion arose because you were referring to the needed module as a PCI card, which it isn’t. It’s literally just a rear-panel bracket with a RCA phono jack and an S-video connector. No other circuitry at all, so I’d even question whether it deserves the title of daughterboard.

It does, however, take up a slot on the PC’s rear panel that would otherwise be used by a PCI or AGP card, which is why they make it optional. Most users would rather have the option of having all five PCI slots (and one AGP slot) available rather than have a dedicated TV out connector taking up that rear-panel real estate.

Of course in an ideal world they would include this rear-panel bracket in the box with the motherboard. However, as transitionality points out, the 50 cent saving keeps AOpen’s accountants happy.

You should be able to get the right part easily by calling AOpen, but you may find that it’s too much hassle. That 50 cent part may become $20 with profit margin, shipping etc, and you may have to wait several weeks.

Fortunately, you can build such a thing yourself (or get a friend to do it for you). How are your soldering skills? The manual for which you provided the link shows the pinout of the 6-pin connector (2 rows of 3) on the MB. If you want regular coax video out, just solder a coaxial cable to the connector with the signal to pin 1 (“composite”) and the shield to pin 3 (“ground”). Buy an RCA female panel-mount connector from Radio Shack, and drill a hole for it in the back of the PC Case (this is easier than making up a rear-panel bracket since PC cases are usually aluminum but blank PC brackets are stainless steel – the former is much easier to drill).

Be sure that the PC is disconnected from the 110V (not just turned off) before doing this!

If your DIY skills are not up to stripping and soldering coaxial cable, use regular unshielded hookup wire – it’s unlikely that much noise will be picked up in the couple of inches between MB and case.

If you want to use the S-video, it’s a bit more work, but the same principle applies. An S-video connector uses two signals (“Chrom” and “Luma” on page 38 of the manual) and two grounds. You just need to be able to physically connect to the 6-pin “TV output connector” pins – there is no extra circuitry needed.

9

Good Lord… not just an answer, but do-it-yourself instructions too!

transitionality and Antonius… thank you both. I probably won’t go the DIY route… its been a while since I last soldered anything.

Time to start sniffing around the AOpen website some more.

10

dutchboy208, please bump this thread up in a couple of days with news of whether or not you received a suitable response from AOpen.

Also, do you really need the S-Video capability or would a simple RCA phono “composite” connector (i.e. compatible with the yellow “video” connector in the standard A/V yellow/white/red = video/audio left/audio right triad) suffice?