View Full Version : PSP Slim AV adapter question
Canadianzombie
09-19-2007, 11:56 AM
This question may sound stupid, but I'm far from a genius when it comes to tech at times. I just got the new Daxter PSP and got the AV cable. When I plug it into the t.v. and try to play a game or watch a flick, it says the source has to be on progressive. Here's the dumb question, do I need a progressive scan t.v. or input. I ask this because my television is about 6 years old and doesn't have this.
Thanks in advance for any help
Mark
digitalpress
09-19-2007, 12:23 PM
One of Sony's dirty little tricks.
The A/V composite cable lets you play videos and photos on a non high-def TV.
The component cable lets you play that stuff PLUS the games, which means you need an HDTV to see the games on your set. As if we'd really want to buy a $20 cable just so we can watch a PSP video on a television set.
If you don't have a high-def TV you can't play your games. Unless - hopefully - someone comes up with a hack to get around this.
DaveD
09-19-2007, 01:40 PM
On top of that, even the component input is not worth getting too excited about, imho. I have a 42" High-Def TV, and just got my PSP component cables (from Fry's) last week, and was looking forward to seeing these PSP games in their full widescreen glory, but instead the games are all have large black borders on all 4 sides of the image which, for my 42" TV, resulted in about a 20" image overall. I have improved this situation somewhat by using the "zoom" feature on the TV itself, but still, I would have preferred the full screen display, thank you very much Sony.
Regardless of these issues, it is a significant improvement for playing games that are hard to see on the PSP (like Gradius Collection, Parodius, Twinbee and Salamander Portable, and other shooters that have very small sprites.) For us...ahem..."older folks," this actually makes these games playable, because you can actually see them...:)
Now I wish Sony had gone the extra mile and allowed you to plug in a PS2 controller instead of having to use the PSP itself as the controller...
Chuplayer
09-19-2007, 01:51 PM
One of Sony's dirty little tricks.
The A/V composite cable lets you play videos and photos on a non high-def TV.
The component cable lets you play that stuff PLUS the games, which means you need an HDTV to see the games on your set. As if we'd really want to buy a $20 cable just so we can watch a PSP video on a television set.
If you don't have a high-def TV you can't play your games. Unless - hopefully - someone comes up with a hack to get around this.
What? That's fucking bullshit!
Can you at least play games in 480i with component??
Gamereviewgod
09-19-2007, 02:47 PM
What? That's fucking bullshit!
Can you at least play games in 480i with component??
Nope. Games must be run in 480p, no exceptions.
but instead the games are all have large black borders on all 4 sides of the image which, for my 42" TV, resulted in about a 20" image overall.
I'm having the same issue, but I've seen numerous videos where this isn't a problem. Look at Kotaku's mini-review. They play it on a big screen, completely full. I'm going to call support later today and see what the issue is. It makes no sense that movies and the XMB are full screen.
neogamer
09-19-2007, 03:16 PM
One of Sony's dirty little tricks.
The A/V composite cable lets you play videos and photos on a non high-def TV.
The component cable lets you play that stuff PLUS the games, which means you need an HDTV to see the games on your set. As if we'd really want to buy a $20 cable just so we can watch a PSP video on a television set.
If you don't have a high-def TV you can't play your games. Unless - hopefully - someone comes up with a hack to get around this.
Thanks, as I was wondering about this myself. I am a frugal SOB, except when it comes to games, so I refuse to buy a hi def TV! Guess I can't use the PSP slim on the big screen then!
mailman187666
09-19-2007, 03:36 PM
I just tried my component cables out last night and these are the issues I have found to be the most frustrating.
1. As was stated before, the screen does in fact put black borders around your games when you play them on the TV. I also have a 42" and it shrinks it down tremendously while everything else takes the whole screen. Still looks good, and is still an improvement over the basic PSP screen in my book though, but I really wish that Sony would come up with a firmware update that will fix that. It would be so much better.
2. The component cables made by sony are not long enough. I have to sit like 3-4' away from the TV just to be able to reach the controls while playing games. I get kinda cramped doing that myself. Its god if you're gonna watch a movie and set the PSP down near the TV or something. But be prepared to sit a lil closer than you want to to play the games.
3. The cables connect to the bottom of the PSP so unless you are playing it upside down, the cable may interfere with the holding position of the system (this one really isn't that big of a deal but I figured it was worth mentioning.)
It seems the PSP to TV idea wasn't very well thought through. Most companies when it goes through quality control would figure these things out. Especially with the length of the cables. Maybe they didn't take into consideration that some people's cables would be running to the back of thier tvs rather than the front or side. All in all though with all the bad points aside, I think it is worth it to be able to use on the TV if need be. For me, it was worth the $20 (although they shoulda made them 10' long).
3.
Gamereviewgod
09-19-2007, 04:05 PM
2. The component cables made by sony are not long enough. I have to sit like 3-4' away from the TV just to be able to reach the controls while playing games. I get kinda cramped doing that myself. Its god if you're gonna watch a movie and set the PSP down near the TV or something. But be prepared to sit a lil closer than you want to to play the games.
3.
I thought the length was fine, somewhere around 10 feet at least. I imagine if you have a big TV and need to wrap alot of it around something, then you'll have an issue, but I've got more breathing room than I ever needed.
Also, I shot an e-mail to our Sony rep about the screen filling issue with a request for an explanation as to why it only affects games. I'll let you know if I hear anything.
DaveD
09-19-2007, 04:32 PM
Many thanks for checking into that for us, Gamereviewgod...
Although my additional input here does not really advance this thread any significant way, I will second that about the issue of the length of the cable being too short. My couch is just far away enough so that in order to use the PSP component cable I have to pull up a (less comfortable) chair and sit basically right in front of the TV (another reason I wanted the option to plug in a Ps2 controller to use...that would have bought everybody an extra 6' or so and solved the whole problem.....doh...) Not the situation I would have ideally liked, but nonetheless acceptable...<and no, I am not gonna move my couch every time I want play...grrrr..>
Trebuken
09-19-2007, 05:00 PM
I got used to the idea of the borders after playing GBA games on the Gameboy Palyer with the Gamecube.
I believe I have read that not all games have the border. There are some for some reason do not. My cable has been ordered and will test all my games as soon as I get it...
Gamereviewgod
09-19-2007, 05:48 PM
For those who may not know how bad this is, here's a grab with my cell camera:
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2366/pspscreentj3.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pspscreentj3.jpg)
That's using my TVs stretch feature to enlarge it somewhat.
After seeing that, I don't feel left out at all. I was expecting something much more....better.
meancode
09-19-2007, 06:04 PM
You know I am having second thoughts on getting a PSP Slim.
a 20" game screen on a 42" TV set is not *that* bad. But hells bells, I have a 26" LCD!
I am also not a fan of the cheap plastic casing, or the UMD door... sigh. I am just dissapointed in general.
Kitsune Sniper
09-19-2007, 08:24 PM
For those who may not know how bad this is, here's a grab with my cell camera:
http://img205.imageshack.us/img205/2366/pspscreentj3.th.jpg (http://img205.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pspscreentj3.jpg)
That's using my TVs stretch feature to enlarge it somewhat.
Well shit, this does suck ass.
Guess I won't be buying a PSP until they fix this.
neogamer
09-19-2007, 08:25 PM
I always felt the PSP felt "cheap" in comparison to the DS!
For the record, I own and like both, but I must say that even the plastic game cases Sony uses to pack PSP games in feel "cheap" in comparison to DS game cases.
I have yet to find a true mint manual in a new Sony PSP game, because there is only one plastic tab in the PSP case that holds the manual in place. This, as a collector, annoys me.
It just seems Sony could of done a better job with theis product line. I personally like the PS3 better than my 360, so I am by no means a "Sony basher", I just think the PSP could of been built and designed better overall.
davidbrit2
09-19-2007, 09:25 PM
The component cable lets you play that stuff PLUS the games, which means you need an HDTV to see the games on your set. As if we'd really want to buy a $20 cable just so we can watch a PSP video on a television set.
If you don't have a high-def TV you can't play your games.
Ha ha, you gotta be shitting me. There goes the only reason I'd consider getting a slim. Frankly, I'd be much more impressed if I could hook a PS2 controller to the thing.
Apollo
09-19-2007, 10:02 PM
Well, I'm definitely not getting a Slim until they get their shit together. This is ridiculous for launch. Guess I'm getting another Lite...
RyanMurf
09-20-2007, 09:47 AM
I'm not to sure about this because I haven't used my slim in a while but theres is an option to set the out-put to interlaced rather than progressive in the psp setting drop down. Maybe if you set that to interlaced and use the component cables on a 480i Television set it might just work.
Gamereviewgod
09-20-2007, 10:38 AM
Many thanks for checking into that for us, Gamereviewgod...
Here's the response:
"When using video-out the games play at their native resolution (480 x 272), which is the resolution of the PSP's screen. There are no plans to change this at this point."
Horrible. Absolutely horrible.
Gamereviewgod
09-20-2007, 10:40 AM
I'm not to sure about this because I haven't used my slim in a while but theres is an option to set the out-put to interlaced rather than progressive in the psp setting drop down. Maybe if you set that to interlaced and use the component cables on a 480i Television set it might just work.
What are you referring to doing? If it's playing games, it can't be done in 480i.
mailman187666
09-20-2007, 10:49 AM
I got one of those older SCART (I think thats what its called) HD sets. So to get the cable connected to the back of the TV and bring it around, I think I'm losing at least 2' in cable length when everything is said and done. However I do think that the length will be acceptable for most people using it. Like what was said before though. I can't just sit on my couch, and have to pull up a different chair to use the thing. All in all I am satisfied with the purchase though.
RyanMurf
09-20-2007, 11:16 AM
What are you referring to doing? If it's playing games, it can't be done in 480i.
Well in the psp settings it has an option uner display that you can dispay in either interlaced or progressive. So if people have television sets that are component but only display in 480i(interlaced) then this should work. Again I havnt tried I have a HD so Im not worrying about any of this stuff.
Gamereviewgod
09-20-2007, 01:12 PM
Well in the psp settings it has an option uner display that you can dispay in either interlaced or progressive. So if people have television sets that are component but only display in 480i(interlaced) then this should work.
Nope, that option is only there for UMD movies and menu stuff. You cannot play games if it's set to 480i anyway you try it. You get an error message.
Trebuken
09-20-2007, 05:16 PM
I believe I have read that not all games have the border. There are some for some reason do not. My cable has been ordered and will test all my games as soon as I get it...
All my games have the border. I'm betting they all do...
digitalpress
09-20-2007, 07:10 PM
I can't just sit on my couch, and have to pull up a different chair to use the thing.
Damn, I thought *I* was a fussy old man.
SIT . ON . THE . FLOOR .
Folks... honestly... you'll feel like a kid again, and I promise it won't hurt your flabby old asses.
:D
ProgrammingAce
09-20-2007, 07:29 PM
Well in the psp settings it has an option uner display that you can dispay in either interlaced or progressive. So if people have television sets that are component but only display in 480i(interlaced) then this should work. Again I havnt tried I have a HD so Im not worrying about any of this stuff.
I don't think i've ever seen a TV that has component input that can't at least do 480p. Even if it did work (which i don't think it does), i'm not sure who it would benefit...
Gamereviewgod
09-20-2007, 07:52 PM
I don't think i've ever seen a TV that has component input that can't at least do 480p. Even if it did work (which i don't think it does), i'm not sure who it would benefit...
A lot of TVs don't do 480p w/ component. I own two myself. It's not that common for SDTVs.
ProgrammingAce
09-20-2007, 09:51 PM
A lot of TVs don't do 480p w/ component. I own two myself. It's not that common for SDTVs.
I guess they do exist... (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7631226&type=product&id=1130986501338) I've just never seen one before. I'm not really sure what the benefit would be.
Leo_A
09-21-2007, 12:44 AM
It helps, just like having s-video helps over composite, or composite over rf. The image is still 480i, but the seperation of the signals helps limit interferance and other things I can't explain.
Most any modern standard def television sit that isn't a $50 Wal-Mart 13" color tv set pretty much has component inputs these days.