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In Europe, SCART was the most common method of Superseded HDMI, DisplayPort
connecting AV equipment and was a standard by
connector for such devices; it was far less common General specifications
elsewhere.
Audio Bi-directional Stereo
The official standard for SCART is CENELEC signal
document number EN 50049–1. SCART is sometimes Video Composite (bi-directional),
referred to as the IEC 933-1 standard. signal RGB (uni-directional),
S-Video (sometimes bi-
directional), or
Contents YPbPr (Component)
Pins 21 (21 wires:RGB/10
History
wires:CVBS)
Features 10 (10 wires:CVBS)
Daisy chaining
Data
Direct connections
RGB overlays Data signal D²B and widescreen switching
Device control Pinout
Design
Cables
Blanking and switching
Non-standard extensions
Implementations
Japanese RGB 21-pin connector Female connector seen from the front
0–0.4 V → composite
The signals carried by SCART include both composite 1–3 V → RGB
and RGB (with composite synchronisation) video,
Pin 17 Composite video ground (pin
stereo audio input/output and digital signalling. The
standard was extended at the end of the 1980s to 19 & 20 ground)
support the new S-Video signals. A TV can be Pin 18 Blanking signal ground (pin 16
awakened from standby mode, and it can automatically ground)
switch to appropriate AV channel, when the device
Pin 19 Composite video output
attached to it through a SCART connector is turned on.
S-Video Y output
SCART connection was also used for high definition
signals like 720p, 1080i, 1080p with YPbPr connection Pin 20 Composite video input
by some manufacturers, but to the present day this S-Video Y input
connection is very scarce due to the advent of HDMI. Pin 21 Shell/Chassis[e]
^ a rarely supported.
^ b non-standard extension.
^ c from STB to VCR when used for
unattended recording; 12V forces tv-set to
AV-channel
^ d protocol not standardised, e.g. D²B.
A VCR will often have two SCART sockets, to connect it to the TV ("up", "primary" or "1"), and for
video input from a set-top box or other device ("down", "secondary" or "2"). When idle or powered off,
VCRs will usually forward the signals from the TV to the set-top decoder and send the processed result
back to the TV. When a scrambled show is recorded, the VCR will drive the set-top box from its own tuner
and send the unscrambled signals to the TV for viewing or simple recording control. Alternatively, the
VCR could use the signals from the TV, in which case it would be inadvisable to change channels on the
TV during the recording.
The "down" socket can also be used to connect other devices, such as DVD players or game consoles. As
long as all devices have at least one "Down and "up" socket, this allows for connecting a virtually
unlimited number of devices to a single SCART socket on the TV. While audio and video signals can travel
both "up" to the TV and "down" to devices farther away from the TV, this is not true for RGB (and non-
standard YPBPR) signals, which can only travel towards the TV.
"Down" and "up" are conventional. Logically, the TV is the last device of the "up" chain-path (stream) and
the first device in the "down" chain path. Physically, the TV is under the device which sits on its top, hence
the name "set-top box" for the device. Moreover, some sockets' relative position may enforce the belief that
the TV is physically the last in the down direction.
Logically, the TV is on top and ends the "up" chain-path, translating the electrical info into an image and
sound. From the same logical point of view the info stream, wherever it originates, may need processing
such as decrypting (decoding, descrambling) or adding captioning/subtitles. In this case the info stream is
sent logically "down" to dedicated function devices. From the last processing device the info stream is sent
logically "up" to the TV, through all the chain-path. Another case is when the info stream is sent "down"
and not expected to be sent back "up", for example when sent to a recorder.
Closing a loop on either the "up" or "down" chain-path may not have useful effects and may create
instability.
Direct connections
As audio and (composite) video use the same pins on "Down and "up" connectors (and require a
crosslinked cable), it is also possible to connect two devices directly to each other without paying attention
to the type of the socket.
However, this no longer works when S-Video signals are used. As straight links (RGB red and blue up)
were re-purposed to carry chrominance information, the S-Video pinouts are different for "Down and "up"
SCART connectors.[6] Further, they are often not fully implemented.
Paying attention to the type of socket is essential when handling component RGB/YPBPR/S-video.
Damage can be caused to devices incorrectly connected as follows:
connecting SCART 1 ("up") from one device to SCART 1 ("up") of another device when both
SCARTs are configured for RGB/YPBPR/S-video-up. Pins 7, 11 and 15 are outputs.
connecting SCART 2 ("down") from one device to SCART 2 ("down") of another device
when both SCARTs are configured for S-video-down. Pin 7 is an output.
connecting SCART 1 ("up") from a device configured RGB/YPBPR, to SCART 2 ("down") of
another device configured with S-video-down. Pin 7 is an output.
Damaging pins 7, 11 or 15 may result in yellow, purple or blue/green images, due to the missing blue,
green or red components respectively. When using S-video, damaging pin 7 or 15 may result in black-white
images due to the missing chroma component ("down" and "up" respectively). Similarly, damaging pins 7
and 15 (PB and PR) while leaving pin 11 (Y) undamaged may result in black-white images when using
YPBPR. Damaging more than one of these pins may result in combined effects.
RGB overlays
SCART enables a device to command the TV to very quickly switch between signals, in order to create
overlays in the image. In order to implement captioning or subtitles, a SCART set-top box does not have to
process and send back a complete new video signal, which would require full decoding and re-encoding of
the color information, a signal-degrading and costly process, especially given the presence of different
standards in Europe. The box can instead ask the TV to stop displaying the normal signal and display a
signal it generates internally for selected image areas, with pixel-level granularity. This can also be driven
by the use of a "transparent" color in a teletext page.
Device control
SCART allows a connected device to bring it in and out of standby mode or to switch it to the AV channel.
A VCR or other playback device will optimally power on when a cassette is inserted, power on the TV (or
switch it to video mode) and then start playing immediately if the cassette's write protection tab is absent.
When turned off, the VCR will ask the TV to power off, which it will do if it had been powered on by the
VCR's request and if it remained in video mode. Only some TVs will do this—most only implement
automatic switching to and from the SCART input.
The same signal can be used by a satellite receiver or set-top box to signal a VCR that it is supposed to start
and stop recording ("pin 8 recording"). This configuration usually requires that the VCR be farther from the
TV than the source, so the signal usually travels "down".
SCART also supports automatic widescreen switching. This is an extension of the functionality of a pin
which previously only indicated to the TV that an external signal should be displayed. Ideally, a widescreen
source should offer three operating modes in order to deal with widescreen signals:
Widescreen, for TVs that are widescreen or capable of otherwise dealing with widescreen
images
Letterbox, which adds blank space (usually black) at the top and bottom of the image to give
a 4:3 aspect ratio
Pan and scan, which crops the image to achieve a 4:3 aspect ratio; only the centre portion is
displayed with the sides truncated (as if zoomed into).
In the first case, the widescreen pin allows to indicate the current signal format, which allows widescreen
TVs to adjust the image width, and widescreen-capable standard TVs to compress the scan lines of the 576i
image vertically to a letterbox shape portion of the picture tube. In the second case, the widescreen SCART
signal is never active and the signal source performs the adaptations itself so that the image has always a
standard format as a result. Some sources assume that the TV is always capable of widescreen functionality
and hence never perform the adaptations. Some sources will not even issue the widescreen signal or
maintain it at the same level all the time. Other sources might offer the option of truncating the sides, but not
of letterboxing, which requires significantly more processing. Notably, the circuitry of the early widescreen
MAC standard decoders (e.g. the Visiopass) could not letterbox. The limitations apply mostly to satellite
TVs, while DVD players can always at least letterbox and often zoom.
Design
Cables
The cables for connecting equipment together have a male plug at each end. Some of the wires such as
ground, data, switching and RGB connect to the identical pin number at each end. Others such as audio
and video are swapped so that an output signal at one end of the cable connects to an input signal at the
other end. The complete list of wires that are swapped are: pins 1 and 2, pins 3 and 6, pins 17 and 18, pins
19 and 20.
The original SCART specification provided for different cable (cordset) types denoted by a key color, but
color-coding is rarely used and cables often use different, non-standard configurations.
Type Ring color Pins Description Symmetric
U Universal black 1–20, 21 Fully wired cable. no
V Video only white 17–20, 21 Only composite wires. yes
C Combined grey 1–4, 6, 17–20, 21 Composite Video and Audio yes
A Audio only yellow 1–4, 6, 21 Audio yes
B Bus green 10, 12, 21 Only data connections Depends on protocol used
Due to the relatively high signal voltages used in SCART, "hot plugging" (connecting or disconnecting
devices while they are on) is not recommended. Although there is no risk of personal injury, there is the
possibility of damaging electronics within the devices if the connector is inserted improperly. Also, since
many TVs are Class II (double-insulated) rather than earthed, the large exposed shield on the SCART
connector will be held at approximately half mains voltage if it is plugged into a powered TV with the other
end unplugged. If the cable is then plugged into an earthed device with a metal case, inadvertent contact
with the SCART cable shield while the earthed device is touched with the other hand can cause a painful
electric shock. For this reason the device end of the cable should always be plugged in first and the TV end
plugged in last.[7][8][9]
Quality differences exist in SCART cables. While a proper SCART cable uses miniature coaxial cables for
the video signals, cheap SCART cables often use plain wires for all signals, resulting in a loss of image
quality and greatly reducing the maximum cable length. A common problem on a cheap SCART cable is
that a TV outputs a composite video signal from its internal tuner and this is induced or crosstalked onto an
incoming video signal due to inadequate or non-existent screening; the result is ghostly images or
shimmering superimposed on the incoming signal. To non-destructively verify if a SCART cable uses
coaxial cables, unscrew the strain relief at the SCART connector and fold open the plastic shell.
Using higher-quality cables such as those with ribbon cords that have properly shielded coaxial cables
inside might help in reducing a 'ghosting' effect, but it does not always eliminate it due to various factors. A
more permanent method is to remove pin 19 (Video Out) from the SCART plug that is put into the TV,
preventing a signal from being broadcast by the TV into the cable, so it cannot cross-talk with the incoming
signal.
Pin 8, the switch signal pin, carries a DC voltage from the source that indicates the type of video present.
Pin 16, the blanking signal pin, carries a signal from the source that indicates that the signal is either RGB
or composite.
There is no switching signal to indicate S-Video. Some TVs can auto-detect the presence of the S-Video
signal but more commonly the S-Video input needs to be manually selected. The same for the rare
component YPbPr, which is in many cases implemented over a composite or RGB SCART.
Non-standard extensions
The use of the data pins was not standardised in the original
SCART specification, resulting in the use of several different
protocols, both proprietary protocols and semi-proprietary protocols
based on standards such as D²B.
SCART connection was also used, in limited cases, as a high definition connection by using an YPbPr
connection over scart by some television and audio video equipment (set top boxes, DVD players, Blu-ray
players, etc.) manufacturers. By using an YPbPr connection, SCART could be used for high definition
signals, like 720i, 720p, 1080i, 1080p. Some manufacturers were using as Y the video composite
connection, while others were using the green connection as Y. With the advent of HDMI, and because the
connection was not standardized (as was S-video) and limited only to a certain manufacturer, devices
supporting high definition channels over SCART with YPbPr connection became scarce, if not extinct. In
many cases, it was implemented over a RGB SCART or CVBS SCART and the YPbPr mode of SCART
was manually switched. YPbPr became used as an independent connection, and SCART was left only for
standard definition content.
Implementations
Nearly all modern DVD players and set-top boxes with SCART
sockets can output RGB signal, which offers superior picture
quality to composite signal. However, many devices do not have
RGB output turned on by default, instead defaulting to composite
video: RGB often has to be set up manually in the menu or via
switches on the back of the device.
Some versions of legacy consoles such as Sega's Master System, Mega Drive/Genesis and Nintendo's
SNES are capable of outputting RGB signals, and many older home computers (Amstrad CPC, later ZX
Spectrum models, MSX, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST, BBC Micro and Acorn Archimedes, etc.) output
RGB with composite sync suitable for SCART use, but most used varying non-standard DIN plugs.
Standard-resolution arcade monitors use RGB signals with a composite sync, which is SCART-compatible.
Besides simple connection of external devices to SCART TVs, RGB SCART is used in the retrogaming
scene, even including in North America, for connecting vintage games consoles (including ones internally
modified for RGB or 60Hz RGB where necessary) to:
•the RGB SCART inputs of upscalers / analogue-to-digital converters; these output over HDMI at higher
than original resolution, to modern TVs / monitors / projectors / capture cards, or, via further conversion
(HDMI to VGA digital-to-analogue) CRT PC monitors
•RGB SCART to RGB BNC adapters and into RGB CRT professional video monitors
•RGB SCART to S-video converters, for achieving the best video quality on a combination of a TV /
monitor with S-video as its best input but with a console that cannot output S-video, but can output RGB as
its best output
When using RGB video, the red channel uses the same pins in both
standards, so red video with no audio is indicative of mismatching JP-21 SCART with EuroSCART.[15]
JP21 pinout
Pin Function Pin Function
1 Audio left channel input 2 Audio left channel output
3 Audio ground 4 Audio ground
5 Audio right channel input 6 Audio right channel output
7 Video ground 8 Video ground
9 CVBS input 10 CVBS output
11 AV control input 12 Ym input
13 Red signal ground 14 Ground
15 Red signal I/O 16 Ys input
17 Green signal ground 18 Blue signal ground
19 Green signal I/O 20 Blue signal I/O
21 Plug shield
Notes:
Newer standards
As it was designed to carry analog standard-definition content, the use of SCART has declined with the
introduction of new digital standards such as HDMI and DisplayPort, which can carry high-definition
content and multichannel audio, though it remains commonly used. HDMI-CEC is derived from SCART's
AV.link. However, SCART Connection can also support higher definition signals like 480p, 720p, 1080i,
1080p, if the SCART connection of a device is designed to support YPbPr connection, but this
configuration is rare. The same for multichannel audio, but even this configuration remains rare, as it is not
standardized.
See also
EcoSCART
List of display interfaces
RCA connector
RF connector
References
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=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/affichTexte.do%3Bjsessionid%3D72F30CF74F7243AE43E0
FC5A8452E4E1.tpdila24v_1%3FcidTexte%3DJORFTEXT000030838473%26dateTexte%3
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5. Domestic and similar electronic equipment interconnection requirements: Peritelevision
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4/http://www.camp0s.com/pc_related/svideo/svideo.php). Archived from the original (http://w
ww.camp0s.com/pc_related/svideo/svideo.php) on October 8, 2011.
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DIYnot.com. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
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0306172331/http://dtg.org.uk/dtg/press_releases/dtg_napit_201110.pdf) (PDF). Digital TV
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10.pdf) (PDF) on March 6, 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2012.
9. ":: EPE Chat Zone :: Radio Bygones Message Board ::: SCART Shock" (https://web.archive.
org/web/20160416195814/http://www.chatzones.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/show.cgi?tpc=5557&p
ost=15775). Chatzones.co.uk. Archived from the original (http://www.chatzones.co.uk/cgi-bi
n/discus/show.cgi?tpc=5557&post=15775#POST15775) on April 16, 2016. Retrieved
2012-06-15.
10. Based on a Pace Micro Technology Prima analogue receiver manual and a DATCOM AP-
500/AP-700 dish positioner manual.
11. "Game Console RGB SCART Cable Diagrams" (http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/ga
mescart/gamescart.htm#gamecube). Members.optusnet.com.au. Retrieved 2012-06-15.
12. "av:japanese_rgb-21 [NFG Games + GameSX]" (http://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:jap
anese_rgb-21). gamesx.com.
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45/_pdf) (PDF).
14. "JEITA 電子情報技術産業協会 /" (https://www.jeita.or.jp/cgi-bin/standard/search.cgi).
www.jeita.or.jp.
15. "EuroSCART versus JP21" (https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/euroscart-versus-jp21).
www.retrogamingcables.co.uk.
External links
SCART connector pinout and cables schemes (http://pinouts.ru/Home/Scart_pinout.shtml)
SCART at hardwarebook.info (http://www.hardwarebook.info/SCART)
RGB/VGA and SCART (http://www.epanorama.net/documents/vga2rgb/scart.html)
EuroSCART versus JP21 (https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/euroscart-versus-jp21)
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