Video and Signal Converters

Two kinds of converter hide under one name

Video converters change what a picture signal looks like: HDMI to RCA, VGA or DVI to HDMI, component to HDMI, or SDI to analog. Media converters are different and move Ethernet between copper and fiber. They share a name but not a purpose. Read the direction in the listing carefully, because RCA to HDMI and HDMI to RCA are separate boxes, and so are VGA to HDMI and HDMI to VGA. Composite inputs are standard definition, so an upscaling converter only makes the picture fit an HD screen without adding detail.

Fiber links: speed, fiber type and connector must match

For Ethernet-to-fiber converters, both ends of the link have to agree. Match the speed, such as 100 Mbps or gigabit, and the fiber type: multimode fiber suits short building runs, single-mode suits longer distances. Then match the connector, commonly ST, SC or LC, because a mismatched port needs a hybrid patch lead. Multimode 100BASE-FX links reach about 2 km. A pair from the same family is the safest choice, and check whether the unit includes its power adapter.

Questions about Video and Signal Converters

Will an RCA to HDMI converter make an old console look HD?

It makes the signal readable by an HDMI display and usually scales it to 720p or 1080p, but the source detail stays standard definition. Expect a softer image on a large screen than the same game on a native HD console.

Why does my HDMI to RCA converter show no picture?

Copy protection is a common cause, as HDCP-protected sources are often blocked on analog outputs. Also check that the source resolution is one the converter accepts, that the converter has power, and that the TV is set to the correct AV input.

Do both ends of a fiber link need the same converter model?

Not always, but both must share speed, fiber type and wavelength, and each connector must suit the cabling or be bridged with a hybrid patch lead. Single-fiber bidirectional models only work as a matched A and B pair, so buy those together.