HTPC Setup question

[todd3835]

Hi, I'm building a new machine to use as a PVR box. I have all the hardware I need but just realized, I'm not sure how to get the sound from the machine to my TV. I have an older TV that only supports an analog input, and my videocard for the PVR box has a S-VIDEO output. I was going to get a converter to attach it to the TV, but then I got to wondering, How do I get the sound to the TV? (Or even the sterio for surround sound!). Does S-VIDEO support sound also? Or just Video? And if it doesn't support sound, does anyone have any thoughts on how to get the sound from the PC to the TV?

-Todd

[merrypig]

svideo is video only. Your only options for sound on your tv - sounds like you 'll have to get an RF converter box. You might be better of using a seperate audio method (stereo etc) and either RCA cables or spdif output from your pc.

Using RF for the connection to the tv will really lose you some video quality compared to svideo or rgb connections, so I'd try to find a stereo audio solution rather than throw video quality away to use that tv as is.

[todd3835]

Well, It looks like I can get a cable from bestbuy to go from the regular headphone jack (from the back of the sound card) to the L/R RCA cables. Thats really the best I can hope for anyways right? I want this to function strictly through the tv/surround sound, as opposed to using computer speakers. I'm not even sure you could do it any other way, I haven't seen a sound card with RCA outputs......

-Todd

[Bigbird999]

todd
I assume you mean that youir older TV has only a coxial cable input. If so, you will need and RF converter from someplace like radio shack (about $20). Get one that supports svideo in.
You get the sound out of your PC via the sound card. You can connect it to a set of PC speakers, to your tuner/amp or to your TV. Connect your svideo and two sound cables to the RF converter and a short piece of coax cable from the RF converter to the TV. The RF converter will combine the svideo signal and the audio and output it via the coax cable to your TV.

If you can't find an RF converter with svideo in, you can get a svideo to RCA converter and use an RCA cable for your video to the RF converter

BB

[todd3835]

Yeah, Just picked up a 4 componant RF switch, and the "Audio Y Cable" (headphone jack to L/R RCA jacks). Gonna try to set it up in the morning. But if anyone else is looking for the audio cable, Walmart has it for 3 or 4 dollars, where-as Best Buy had it for 8.99 (Glad they were closed before I got there, forcing me to go to walmart!). I already had a S-Video cable (came with the Vid Card), so hopefully everything will be easy to setup!

Thanks for the help!

-Todd