A HT installer friend of mine convinced me to install the same coax cable used by the cable TV industry (don't remember the RG number) between my Denon AVR 5800 receiver and the Sharp XVDW100U LCD projector. The other night I was in the back of the system fiddlin' with something and when I looked at the screen, everything had a "ghost" image around it. I went back and pushed all of the RCA connectors tight into the component output connectors of the receiver and the ghosts went away. I thought this was strange...the ghosts looked like they were caused by replected signals in the component video lines to the projector. This started me thinking that maybe this cable wasn't the best choice after all. Anyone have similar experiences and if I replace these coax cables, what should I use and where should I get better? Thanks.

Wayne, my opinion is that what you have is fine. You caused a simple problem, and simply fixed it. If the concern is the stiffness of the cable (RG-6 or RG-59), the RG-59 would be a bit more flexible. Wait for others to post their opinions.

Larry

Larry, thanks for the info. I guess another factor that has me wondering is that the image from the projector using this cable seems "fuzzy" but when the projector is showing any of the setup parameters generated from within the projector itself, these are all sharp as a razor. I may try and borrow some "good" component video cables and drape them across the room and up to the beam the projector is mounted on and see if I get any noticeable improvement before I go any further. I have always worried about this "cost effective" approach this expert friend of mine made. Thanks, Wayne

The fact that it can generate very sharp images internally proves the optics of the projector are capable, at least for the color you are seeing (only red? blue? green? ...unless yours is an LCD or DLP projector, there are 3 CRT guns in your projector and ALL must be capable, so check different colors if you can). There is an internal focus adjustment for each gun, by the way, in all projectors but that can usually be changed only by a qualified, knowledgeable technician (hard to find the latter).

The fuzzy image from a "source" might be caused by the source (DVD?), or by the interconnect wires, or by the TV internal processing of the signal (separate from the on screen displays). Try viewing the new StarWars DVD and see what you get. If that is not sharp, move the DVD player on or next to the TV and use a direct short run of good component cables to see if it improves.

The DVD player might not be sharp. Try connecting another known good DVD player directly to the TV. Try direct S-video and composite video alone as a comparison, too, while you have the DVD player out. Also possible but not likely is that the receiver is distorting the image. You could rule that out by bypassing it temporarily.

Moreover, I would NOT think your cable choice would cause any problem. (I assume you soldered RCA-type connectors on each end of 3 75ohm RGxx cables and using that for component level connecting .) But let us know more when you finish experimenting.

Good luck!

This message was edited by Doug on 10/26/01 13:15.30.

Wayne, I second Dougs statements, with the following additions:

If you have sharp single-color images from the projector's generator, but fuzzy two- or three-color images, you have a convergence (aiming) problem.

The rest is a process of elimination; you have a weak link, and must find the component or connection that, when removed from the signal path, renders the sharp picture we all seek.

You can try either direction. Start with the DVD output directly into the projector, and add each component back into the chain, or remove one part at a time.

Good luck.
Larry

While visiting the Home Automation Expo (or some name like that) in Long Beach, CA last week, a rep from a high-end home audio company (don't remember the name) recommended RG-59 coax cable for use in Component connections. He specifically recommended it when the cable runs were long.