Building a Component Video Switch Box

bob82274 · « **on:** 27 Jun 2003, 01:26 am »

I don't have a HDTV so this is mostly a "What if" topic but I was curious as to how hard it would be to build a high quality switch box for say under $100. Many things are coming out in high def or progressive and even on a decent receiver you have only two or three switches. The aftermarket switchboxes are cheap and cause signal loss to an unacceptable degree.

What components would you use and would there need to be any sort of circuit design or could it be completely passive? I would think that some high quality RCA plugs and a high quality switch would do the trick.

JoshK · « **Reply #1 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 01:36 am »

I would like to take a stab but then I don't know much about component video.....does every RCA have a hot and a neutral (ground), if so they a 6 pole switch would do the trick I think.

bubba966 · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 01:53 am »

In the past when I've looked at HD component video switching I found that you need very high bandwidth switching. I was recommended that a minimum of 350Mhz was neccessary to avoid signal degradation. 500+Mhz was recommended for no problems.

But a 4 in 1 out switcher of such quality (believe it was 1+Ghz) was $1,500!

Needless to say I opted for the cheap solution to run both my 'box & 'cube on Component and went with Monster's top end Y connectors and connected both Component signals to the same input on my receiver.

Dan Banquer · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Jun 2003, 05:45 pm »

Well guy's, doing a component video switchbox is not going to be easy or particularly cheap. You will need a bandwidth of at least 100 Mhz if I remember correctly, this requires special HF relays for the switching. Mechanical switches cannot be used here due to the high frequency. Since RCA connectors are never a 75 ohm impedance I have some questions as to whether there is such a thing as a high quality RCA for this application.
It's no surprise to me that the 1Ghz switchbox you were quoted was that expensive. Their is not too much of a demand for these kind of things. All that aside; you should try some of the pro video web sites and see what they have. It wouldn't surprise me to see something reasonably priced.