Page 1 of What is Macrovision?

And does it affect the way that you connect the DVD player ie whether you have enough available SCART sockets etc?

Hi there Woodyboy.

Essentially Macrovision is a copy protection system to prevent us taping our DVDs onto VHS. Some budget players enable you to defeat this option, enabling you, if you so desire to route the signal from your DVD player through your VCR.

I personally would never recommend it - it`s always better to route the signal directly to the TV if you can. If you only have two SCART sockets (like me) in the back of your telly, and you need three (a further two for say VCR and a digibox) let me know - there`s a very easy workround.

If you want more info on Macrovision, I recommend you tap it into the search box at the top of this forum - there have been a few discussions about it of late.

Similarly, you may want to search for either `SCART` or `Digibox` in all forums - I`ve written several long essays in the past about the best way to hook up your gadgets and gizmoes.

Clayts, Moderator

Hi Clayts - can you impart some of your substantial knowledge to me please?! I have an Aiwa 21" TV/Video combo, Sky digibox and Yelo DVD player. The TV only has 1 SCART so I`ve used a 3 ways Scart splitter to input the Sky and the DVD into the TV. I`ve noticed that there are lines moving across the screen from left right when playing DVDs - they`re almost transparent, and sometimes they`re actualy shapes. Do you think this could be because I`m using a Scart slpitter and the DVD`s picking up interference from the Digibox, even when the digibox is switched off? Any info will be greatly appreciated, and if you`ve got any suggestions for a better set up that would be cool too.....

Cheers, Al man

Unfortunately, with only one SCART socket your choices are limited.

It sounds as if the Macrovision copy protection is kicking in (just in case you got the idea of recording your DVDs onto VCR !), which will always be a problem with TV/Video combis, sad to say.

Have you tried a SCART straight from your Yelo to your telly ? I strongly suspect this won`t make much of a difference (if it does, then you`re probably either got a dodgy splitter, or you`re into lead swapping land !).

Has anyone else out there got a TV/Vid combi hooked up to a DVD and if so do you have problems with lines/shapes across the screen ?

If funds allow, you may want to consider upgrading to a standalone TV, or renting (like I do - if you have a Martin Dawes near you, there`s usually some good deals)

Thanks for your advice. In fact I have three SCARTS which are all being used, and I haven`t bought a DVD player yet! I am using one for the VCR, one for the Sky decoder and a SCART to phono for the prologic sound. How do you suggest I connect up the DVD when It arrives?

The lines you are describing moving from left to right could be AC hum bars. It is the result of AC power plugs not all being plugged in the same way. I recommend you unplug your Sky, if that doesn`t change it, then plug it back in and then unplug it`s Scart.

If neither of those work, then (if you can) unplug your dvd or tv and reverse the AC plug, then plug back in and see if there is a change.
(yes, for those who will remind me (grin), I know some are polarized...)

Bottom line, process of elimination will verify what is causing your problem...

Stan

Hi Stan and Clayts - cheers for the excellent info. I actually had a hunch it might be the splitter box (cheapo Argos affair I`m afraid) so I plugged the DVD Scart straight into the TV and hey presto the lines had gone. In a bit of a quandary what to do now - I don`t want to have to keep swapping the Scarts between the DVD and Sky everytime I want to change over. Do you guys think a better quality splitter would help? Any suggestions on make/type?

Also, the Macrovision seems to be disabled already on my player - I just had a quick play to see if I could record on the TV/Vid combo and it worked fine (I`m not particularly interested in backing up on VHS anyway).

Cheers guys....Arlic.