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Component Video Cable: More Than Meets The Eye

The change in technology has brought about the need for even more cables running from the television to other multi media devices. In order to save on at least a bit of space, using a component video cable provides many connections while only needing a single cable. These cables can be split into two or even three different connections, depending on what they are supposed to be attached to. Analog video needs a cable with three ends, since there are three separate signals transmitted, while a cable that has only a left and right audio connection will require just two ends.

On the backside of most newer televisions there are connecting points for S-Video, YPbPr, and RGB. Each of these connecting points requires a color-coded connector. The splits that coincide with these connections on the back of the TV are usually either red, yellow, white, blue, or green. Color-coding ensures that the proper cord is connected to the right point on the television. These same components can also be found on the back of many DVD players.

Not only are there component video connections on the back of TVs and DVD players, but also on VHS units, game consoles, and computers. The color coding is standard, no matter what type of machine the cables are being connected to. For instance, the YPbPr cables are always green, blue, and red, respectively. Audio connectors typically consist of one red and one white end, while video components have a yellow end on the cable.

The reason for each of these signals needing their own connection is so that the signal remains clear. Separating the signals out, so that they don't cause interference with one another, is where the term 'component' comes into play with these video cables. Any cable transmitting two or more signals that are separate are termed component video signals. With people putting in their own home theaters in their living rooms, these cables are becoming more necessary. Signals that can be carried by component cables include 1080p, 1080i, 720p, 576p, 576i, 480p, and 480i.

RGB component video cables don't use compression, so they don't alter the color or resolution within a picture. However, they do need a large bandwidth provided so they can carry the data-rich signal. There is a lot of redundant data running through RGB cables, due to the black and white image on every channel. Computers use these cables when sending a signal from the VGA port and European televisions send signals through these from the SCART connectors. Even arcade games use RGB monitors.

In the United States, S-Video is much more popular than RGB, especially among the consumers of most technology equipment. When using RGB with SCART connectors, the connecting piece is usually a 17-pin plug, but can be up to 19 or 20 pins too. The VGA connector requires RGB plugs at one end and a 15-pin connector at the other. There are a total of four wires used for the connecting of the RGB and SCART, with five being necessary for connecting the RGB and the VGA. While SCART is common in Europe, VGA is used worldwide, making the connecting cables between RGB and VGA universal.

The YPbPr cables are commonly called Yipper cables, since saying each individual letter is a bit of a mouthful. YPbPr is separated into three parts when it is converted from the RGB signal. The Y carries the brightness of the picture and the necessary sync information, Pr transmits the difference between the brightness and R, and Pb transmits the difference between the brightness and B of the RGB signal. An advantage to using these Yipper cables is that bandwidth requirements are much less, but the image quality produced is still amazing.

S-Video is another type of signal transferred along component cables. Since there are fewer wires used for this type of signal, the quality is often poor. Due to this, most high definition televisions and other types of equipment don't use S-Video. The 's' stands for Separate and the cable has 4 pins, each for a separate signal. An S-Video cable is able to carry video, usually 576i or 480i resolution, but no audio. With RGB having a broader range and more complex video schemes, it is often used instead of S-Video.

While S-Video used to be a standard on the back of televisions, for being able to connect VHS players, other component video sources have since taken higher priority over S-Video connections. They are still placed on the back of televisions, since many DVD players come equipped for this connection as well. 4-pin cables are standard for S-Video, but there are also 7-pin and 9-pin available too. 7-pin connectors are used on laptops and on video cards. The 7-pin slot will work with a 4-pin connector, but there's no way that the 4-pin can accept the 7-pin. The 9-pin connectors are used with video cards as well.

Even though S-Video is considered to produce a lesser quality signal, it is still very popular. These connectors are found on game consoles, digital television receivers, DVD players, graphics cards, televisions, DVRs, and some higher-end cassette recorders for video. These connecting cables can be used to connect some computers to televisions for personal or business purposes, but it isn't suitable for high-definition signals. The popularity of S-Video is seen more around the United States, since SCART connections dominate most of Europe.

When searching for a new component video cable, be sure to know the difference between component and composite. Many people have been known to confuse these two, even thought composite is a much older format it is also more widely known than component. A composite connector usually refers to NTSC, PAL, or SECAM video. These connections usually require only a single pin connector, as opposed to the many cables and pins used by component video connections. Composite only deals with a picture signal and must be added to an RF carrier in order for sound to be transferred for the video. Knowing the difference between component and composite will save a lot of confusion when searching for the correct connecting cables.