Question about combining RCA signals

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 9:09 pm

All my video and gaming devices use RCA hookups. I have an extremely difficult time remembering the various settings for each device to show on the TV. For example, VCR is TV channel 3, DVD is TV front, N64 is TV rear and VCR front...

Since I never have more than one device in use at a time, can they be combined to go into the same jack? I have the hardware to do it, I just don't know if having three devices plugged into one jack is going to be a problem. I only use one at a time, but I'm just not sure. If anyone has any input, I'd appreciate it.

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:33 pm

Hmm, I don't know the "official" answer but I don't see how it would be a problem if you only turn one on at a time. It's just an analog signal, so perhaps all you would lose is signal strength? I dunno...

17daysolderthannes · Post by **17daysolderthannes** » Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:42 pm

you mean like a switchbox? I know they make a switchbox that automatically detects which device is on and switches to that device, though they can be kinda pricey, somewhere from $50-$100 if I remember correctly (though I think its good for up to 7 or 8 devices). Or there's the low-end switchbox like I have where you can plug in 3 devices and turn a dial to switch between them, I got it on sale at Target for $8. Radio shack has a 4 device one for $20. I'm guessing thats what you meant, I had a similar problem only my problem was not enough inputs for all the game systems I wanted to hook up at once. I still don't have enough, my N64 is completely unplugged and my Genesis is suffering with its coaxial old school cable, also in part because I don't want to pay $15 for the A/V cable either.

Bibin · Post by **Bibin** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 6:33 pm

They should be fine if combined, with RCA, RF, or mostly any connection.

I FOUND OUT THE HARD WAY THOUGH that combining my cable box with the sega genesis is bad, since my cable box is always outputting a signal, even if "off", as it outputs a "blank" signal. STUPID! I had to build a switch.

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:02 pm

Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Bibin, thanks for the warning. Maybe I'd better grab a tester and make sure there's no signal coming from any device. Worst case scenario, I've got enough adapters laying around to build a box and put a few switches in.

Thanks again, everyone.

Website · Post by **Life of Brian** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 8:25 pm

Tibia wrote:Maybe I'd better grab a tester and make sure there's no signal coming from any device.

That sounds like a very smart thing to do.

17daysolderthannes · Post by **17daysolderthannes** » Mon Mar 10, 2008 9:17 pm

Tibia wrote:Thanks for the replies, everyone.

Bibin, thanks for the warning. Maybe I'd better grab a tester and make sure there's no signal coming from any device. Worst case scenario, I've got enough adapters laying around to build a box and put a few switches in.

Thanks again, everyone.

or you could buy one for $10-$20 (maybe less online), just saying, instead of spending 10 hours of fiddling and reworking (exaggerated, but ya know what I mean).

http://cgi.ebay.com/Philips-A-V-Audio-V ... dZViewItem

bam! autoselects too, thats not a bad price either, if I didn't already have one I would jump on that.

Tibia · Post by **Tibia** » Tue Mar 11, 2008 4:25 pm

17daysolderthannes wrote: or you could buy one for $10-$20 (maybe less online), just saying, instead of spending 10 hours of fiddling and reworking (exaggerated, but ya know what I mean).

Good point! Found one I like for half the price. More time for gaming.

Thanks again, everyone!