I am not sure if this has been asked but I wonder if anyone uses S-Video to Composite
connectors on their 1050 since it does not route composite video into the S-Video out port. My TV has two inputs and is full.

There are two devices and I wonder if ANYONE has used these successfully with the 1050.

This question was raised when I first got my 1050 in September of last year.

The products can be found at:

http://www.smarthome.com/8299.html
http://www.smarthome.com/8290.html

I use the monster cable version, '8290', to convert my crappy at&t digital cable signal to s-video and route it through the 1050. It works perfectly passing the signal through, but the actual converted s-video signal isn't as sharp as I'd like (it's not the 1050's fault, direct to the tv isn't any clearer; the picture has a 'triangular pixel' effect to it)... I'd be curious if the 8299 does any better job.

But until AT&T gets new boxes with s-video output enabled, it's my only choice, since my tv only has one s-video input.

Digital cable doesn't even provide an s-video out? Wow! There's one more strike against it. My satellite is looking better all the time!

It's very dependent on who you get your digital cable from. I've read a number of threads on HTF that indicate that a number of cable companies have been providing digital cable boxes that only have composite and analog stereo outputs (although the boxes have spaces on the back for S-video and digital audio outputs!). Time Warner in my area provides a Scientific Atlanta box that does include S-video and coax digital outputs, but the digital audio only works for some stations.

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gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

That's exactly right.. I'm on AT&T in the SF Bay Area, and it's got an opening for s-video, and is labeled dolby digital, but there's no output. I called and asked if they had any with s-video or digital audio out, and they didn't even know what I was talking about. If I didn't have 3 roomates with TV's, I'd definitely go for direct-tv...

One more reason why there should be a standard for these things... call up your cable TV/satellite provider, say "yeah I want the DIGITAL service," and then go over to Circuit City or your favorite website and buy an STB with all your favorite inputs and outputs. Forget about paying outrageous "rental" fees to the cable company ON TOP OF the extra fee for the digital service...

I think we're slowly moving in that direction, but not fast enough for me.

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Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net