Can I use DVI to S Video Adapter to Connect HP Monitor to Direct TV Receiver?
 

I have an HP w2007 monitor which is terrific, but woefully underused, and I want to use it as a secondary TV in my home office.

Direct TV (non-HD) DVR receivers have S-Video outputs and the HP has a DVI input. Will an S-Video to DVI adapter solve that problem -- and will there be a loss in image quality?

I have never seen a simple S-video to DVI adapter cable since the only analog signal on DVI are the component signals.

There may be a simple adapter that has a few active electronics to do the conversion but I'm thinking that you'll need a device called a scaler to convert the signal. These can range from about $150 to several thousand dollars.

There will be a difference in picture quality that's usually a factor of the quality of the piece of scaling equipment.

It would work with a device like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815100037

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggIma...100-037-14.jpg

Without something like that, not going to work.

I see the problem now -- trying to send an analog signal through a digital connection.

What about S-Video (from receiver or DVD player) to VGA (Monitor). Both are analog and, given the size of the screen (20") and the distance it will be from my desk (about 8-10 feet) the picture will be sharp enough for watching CNN (or Star Trek) while I work. :D

EDIT: Actually, i can see this will not work without a video card between or within the receiver. Since the satellite receiver is a DVR, which is essentially a PC, I figured it would work.

S-video is Y/C - luminance and chrominance. VGA is analog RGBHV. You need something to resolve the differences in the signal types even though they're all analog.

How about this:

1. Switch to HD receiver with HDMI output
2. Get HDMI to DVI cable/adapter
3. Connect cable to LCD monitor
4. Run separate audio from receiver to speakers

Would that work?

Yes, that would work.

If it was me, I'd get a cheapy S-video capture card or a TV tuner card and hook up the output of the Sat receiver to the computer then run the HP monitor as a second screen on your desktop.

You can run the video as a window or full screen on either screen or use it in dual mode when you want more computer real estate.

Something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16815100112

Read the reviews though and know what your getting.

I'll check that out.

Now my only challenge will be seeing how HD resolution will look in the monitor's 1680x1050. I assume it will be permanently letter boxed?

If it is a 22" monitor it may be able to do HD......if its 20" it will still look ok....

Also - want to check if the HD box does HDCP and if the monitor does HDCP.

OK, after all the research I will be choosing option B (or is it D by now?):

Connect a DVD player with DVI output to the monitor and just watch DVD's.

Since I won't get full HD resolution with the 20" monitor it would not make good economic sense to hook it up to an HD receiver.