CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

andyknebs · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Queen Creek

I have a G70 in my home theater and I recently added DirecTV HD to my system. It doesn't work at all. I know I need something to make it all work.
Here is what I have: Receiver is a Proceed AVP, DVD player is a Progressive Scan Yamaha S1500, DirecTV HD satellite, Focus Enhancements Centerstage CS-HD line quadrupler, Krell KAV500 AMP, Adcom GFA2535 60 watt amp for rear speakers, Pyle Pro amp for by butt shakers, Adcom ACE515 Enhancer. I also have a Sony LD player but I hardly ever use it because the picture quality seems to be terrible.

Questions: Should I get rid of my Centerstage? I have a 30 foot cable running to my projector. It is the HD-15F out from the Centerstage. I am a novice at this, so I need it to be fairly simple.
I want to also hook up my Wii to play on the big screen. So far, I can't figure out how to do that either.
Thanks in advance for any help any gives.
Andy

**Curt Palme** · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject:

Here, written just for you!

http://www.curtpalme.com/CRTPrimer_17.shtm

Person99 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4901 Location: Flower Mound, TX

The centerstage will not process HD signals. So, if you are running your HD signal to it, that is your problem.

You G70 will accept component input, so you can either send the component output of the DirecTV HD box to your PJ, transcode the component output to RGBHV for your PJ, or use one of the DVI/HDMI input cards/boxes to route the signal to your PJ.

andyknebs · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Queen Creek

Belieive it or not, I already read that. I don't get it. Do I need 1 or 2 additonal pieces?
Do I need the Sony converter and does that sit on my stereo equipment or do I put it into my projector somewhere. I know I don't want extra wires running for 30 feet to reach my projector.

I'll read it again, and though you made it very simple to read, it is very intimidating because I thought when I bought the Centerstage it would take care of everything. Now I find out that the ceterstage isn't very good and I really don't need it unless I do hook up my Wii.

Okay, ideally I would like my DVD, HD satellite and my Wii hooked up to my projector. If possible I will keep m LD if I could somehow get a better picture from it. So what configuration is that I should be looking at and what piece or pieces do I need to make it awesome?

Thanks, and sorry for not being too smart at this stuff, yet.
I've had this thing for 2 years and only have watched DVD's in there because the regular satellite and the LD picture totally stunk. I am trying to get with the times and fully utilize the Sony G70. I want to blow away people when they come over.

andyknebs · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Queen Creek

Dave,
I don't want to run 30 feet of RGB through my ceiling to the PJ. So what is my next best option?

**ecrabb** · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject:

Good HD on the G70 will certainly blow people away. It will match - or even rival in some ways - the PQ from whatever the $5,000 digital projector of the month is. To make it shine, you need a really high quality source. HD DVD and Blu-ray are the best two sources right now with which to 'blow away' your guests. DirecTV HD would be a distant 3rd, but still far superior to standard def (I prefer to call it 'low def') DVD.

Others will have an opinion, but the simplest and cheapest upgrade you could do would be an HD Fury connected to the VGA pass-thru on the Centerstage (with a gender changer, I think), and an HDMI switch to connect the DirecTV receiver and a Blu-ray and/or HD DVD player. That configuration would look like this, except the component transcoder would be an HD Fury HDMI-RGB converter instead:

http://www.curtpalme.com/HDFury.shtm

Alternately, a higher-quality (but more costly and involved) solution would be an HDMI card for the G70. That would be about twice the price, and you'd need a long HDMI run to the projector, which can be problematic for some installations. The advantage is of course, that your high-res full digital signal runs right to the projector.

SC

Person99 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4901 Location: Flower Mound, TX

Person99 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4901 Location: Flower Mound, TX

**ecrabb** · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 11:20 pm Post subject:

Dave's right. Snap a photo or describe how your setup is installed so we can go from there.

Most likely, with my suggestion you can just leave the SD devices (Wii, LD, DVD) connected to the Centerstage as-is and use the pass-thru for any HD devices.

SC

andyknebs · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Queen Creek

Thanks for the replys, I really appreciate it. SC I think that is what I might do. I may ask more in a minute.

Dave, I have my componet from my DVD to my Centerstage. I have the digital out to my AVP. My LD has RCA cables to my AVP and S-video to my AVP. I have a S-video from my AVP to the centerstage. The centerstage has a HD-15F cable going to the RGBVH inputs on the G70.
I think that is it because everything else is audio.
I still want to hook up my Wii if possible.

andyknebs · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Queen Creek

I think I need a wire that goes from the HDMI out on the HD satellite to the VGA/HDTV input on the ceterstage.
Or do I need the componet wires to go into the HDFURY and plug into the VGA input.

andyknebs · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Queen Creek

So what cables go from the DirecTV HD and where do I hook up the HD FURY. I'll order it all right now if you guys can figure out how it needs to get it into the Centerstage.

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 2:54 am Post subject:

Andy, the one thing you need to find out is if the output of the Centrestage is buffered (amplified ) from the pass through port. If not that would mean the HD-Fury would have to drive the 30+ feet of cable which it won't do. Do you have the manual or better yet a link to it in pdf format?

**ecrabb** · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 4:38 am Post subject:

According to this article:
http://www.laaudiofile.com/cs2.html
...and the manual I found, the VGA pass-through is indeed active/buffered. So, you should be good to go.

Now, the HD Fury has a male HD15 connector and the CS HD has a male HD15 connector, so you'll need a F-F HD 15 gender changer - like this:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10416&cs_id=1041601&p_id=1172
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=104&cp_id=10416&cs_id=1041602&p_id=1191

So, all you need is the HD Fury and a gender changer. I'd spend the extra $50 and get the HD Fury with a power supply in case you want to try 1080p. As for version, I'd go Blue w/US Power Supply - $199.

http://www.curtpalme.com/HDFury.shtm

Queen Creek - that AZ?

SC

Person99 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4901 Location: Flower Mound, TX

SC's suggestion is your easiest and cheapest solution. Do what he says. Smile

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:10 pm Post subject:

Obey the crab. Very Happy

'Lest he shoot lightening bolts at you. Laughing

**ecrabb** · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 5:15 pm Post subject:

I can't shoot lighting bolts! I'm not Zeus!!!

The high-tension arcs are mostly controlled and only jump between my claws. I have lost some of the hair on my head though - from all the UV exposure, I think.

SC

andyknebs · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Queen Creek

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate it. I am going to order it all today. And yes it is AZ

andyknebs · Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 33 Location: Queen Creek

So one last question. I hooked up my Wii this morning and it works fine but is very dark and not worth having connected if the picture is going to be that dark and grainy. I have it hooked into my Centerstage with a regular RCA cable and the output on the centerstage is 720P. Is there anything I can do? Or does the Wii have to go back on my 27" Mitsubishi?

Person99 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4901 Location: Flower Mound, TX