Information:
A video switcher is needed when a person owns a television that sports only one A/V connection (as shown in the picture above), but needs to connect more than one device to it. Various connections might include a DVD player, video game console, digital camcorder or any other device that uses an A/V connection - meaning the yellow composite video cable and red-white RCA stereo audio cables.
A video switcher makes it possible to connect more than one device to a single A/V port. The user only needs to change the active port on the video switcher to see that particular device on the television - assuming the TV is turned to the A/V or Video 1 channel.
Note: The video switcher is an optional addition to a home entertainment system. It is not mandatory for the operation of any device, but it will eliminate the need to manually plug in each device when requiring use.
Connect Cable, Satellite or an Antenna to Television
This step is for cable and satellite subscribers only. Those who rely on an antenna for their TV signal can go directly to the next step.
Take the coaxial cable from the wall and connect it the 'satellite/cable in' or 'antenna in' port on the cable box/satellite receiver. Many boxes and receivers will have similar language. The key word is 'in'.
Run a second coaxial cable from the cable box or satellite receiver to the television. In this picture, the receiver says, "Out to TV." Many boxes and receivers will have similar language. The key word is 'out'.
Connect Coaxial Cable to Television
Cable and satellite customers will connect the cable coming 'out' from their box or receiver to the TV 'antenna in' or 'cable in' port on the television. Antenna owners will connect their antenna to the same 'antenna in' or 'cable in' port.
Handling the Video Switcher
Many video switchers will look similar to the model pictured above. Regardless of their physical appearance, a video switcher will always have one group of connections (ports) designated for output and at least two connections (ports) designated for input of external devices.
The output port will connect directly to the television. The input ports will connect directly to an external device, like a DVD player or video game console.
This particular video switcher has three input ports, which means three devices can be used through the one A/V port on the television. The user can turn the knob between Port 1, Port 2 and Port 3 to determine what device to show on the television.
Connect Cables to Output Port on Video Switcher
Connect the yellow composite video and red-white RCA stereo audio cables to the color-coded ports on the video switcher connections labeled output.
Connect Video Switcher to Television
Connect the cable plugged to the output port on the video switcher to the television's A/V input. The input will be color-coded like the video switcher meaning yellow connects to yellow, red to red and white to white. In the picture above, it is labeled video and audio in.
Be sure the cables plugging into the television are the same ones that are connected to the output port on the video switcher. If they aren't, you will not get a picture from the video switcher.
Connect A/V Cables to Devices
A DVD player is used for this particular example. Other devices that can be plugged into the video switcher include a video game console, digital camcorder, VCR, digital camera or any other device that uses composite video and stereo audio cables.
Connect the yellow composite video cable to the video out port on the DVD player. Connect the red-white RCA stereo audio cables to the color-coded audio out ports on the DVD player.
Note: This video switcher does not accommodate S-Video connections, like shown in the picture above.
Connect Device to Video Switcher
Take the cable from the device used in Step 7 to any available input port on the video switcher.
In this example, I am connecting a DVD player to input port 1. First, I am double-checking that I have the same cable that is plugged into the DVD player. Once certain, I am matching the colors from the cable to the input Port 1 on the video switcher and connecting yellow to yellow, red to red and white to white.
How Video Switcher Appears When Connected
Ideally, a video switcher will have at least two devices connected into it. However, that is not a hard rule as there are many reasons why only one port might be connected permanantly. For example, maybe I only want a DVD player connected to this video switcher, but want the option of quick-connecting a digital camcorder to review video while avoiding the hassle of unplugging the DVD player.
Regardless, the video switcher will have a set of A/V cables going to the television and other sets of A/V cables going to external devices. It should easily rest on top of a television or on top of a device.
Similarly you can also add another device, if require.
How to Operate Video Switcher?
As long as this configuration stays the same, I will be able to watch a DVD whenever I turn the knob on the video switcher to Port 1. Should I connect other devices to Port 2 and Port 3, I will only need to turn the knob to their port to receive their signal on the television.
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