This is a testimony on the use of 21 pin SCART cables in LCD televisions. I was under the impression that any old SCART cable would do. So I would buy the cheapest one thinking that these cables are over priced or used the cable that came bunched with DVD players, video players, satellite boxes and any other TV devices. I really choose not to over spend on equipment simply to connect to the TV. Most people are like me, when buying hundreds of dollars worth of TV sets disregard the use of a proper SCART cable.

I did notice the random ghosting effects on the television especially on football or any other high speed games. I was under the impression that it was due to how the programmes were broadcast rather than a cable problem. Never realized that the cheaper cables will result in the formation of ghostly images or shimmerings superimposed on the incoming signals. I used to think this was due to the pixels not catching up with the actual pictures.

I realised that this was as a result of the use of a partially wired cheap SCART cable carrying only composite video hence causing the loss of image quality. However, a proper SCART cable is composed of coax cables for good video signal transmission. A coaxial cable is a cable composed of a wire that is covered by an insulating spacer, a conducting sheath, and finally surrounded by an insulating layer called the jacket.

I decided to bite the bullet and bought a really expensive Gold-plated SCART and plugged in into the TV and the satellite receiver. The image improved immediately, noticed the blurring was gone. However the salesman never disclosed to me that it should ideally be connected to a gold plated socket which in my case should be the TV socket otherwise it might cause the nickel-plated connector to corrode at a more rapid rate. Nevertheless I do authenticate that they do make a huge difference to the picture and sound quality. It seems as if someone has cleaned my pair of glasses.

However, a cheaper alternative would be to remove the 19 pin that relays video-out from the socket that is plugged in the TV. This can be done by pushing the pin inside the socket or by completely removing it. Alternatively chuck away you old SCART lead and replace it with a good one.

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