Qosmio G20 : D-video pinout ?

Question

Hi Qosmio users, I've been trying to output D1, D2, D3, D4 resolutions on a HD-ready LCD TV with no success. I can output standard PAL through the D-out plug at the back of the Qosmio, using the provided D-to-Scart cable, but when I output 480p, 720p, 1080i,... the LCD TV is out of sync.
I know the TV is able to receive 1080i signals, I have tested it with a HD camera video recorder (using component outputs).
So, I have checked the D-to-Scart cable and found that it only carries a composite video signal (plus the left and right audio signals).
Some people have suggested to buy a D-to-component cable in Japan, but I can't understand how it could work because it seems the D-out plug on the Qosmio is not the standard D4 connector as described on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D4_video_connector
(there's no audio signals on these D4 connectors).
So, I'm looking for the pinout of the Qosmio D-connector...
Also, I am wondering if the Japanese D1, D2, D3, D4 analog HD standards are supported by european HD-ready TVs ?
Thanks for any answer,
Fabrice

Answer 1

Hey Fab,
> I've been trying to output D1, D2, D3, D4 resolutions
> on a HD-ready LCD TV with no success. I can output
> standard PAL through the D-out plug at the back of the
> Qosmio, using the provided D-to-Scart cable, but when
> I output 480p, 720p, 1080i,... the LCD TV is out of
> sync
First of all, what cable did you use for this test?
The D-video to scart cable provided with euro Qosmios is absolutely unable to do this, so it's no big surprise it didn't work. the Component signal is just not transmitted via Scart input on european TVs.
But that's not all..
> So, I have checked the D-to-Scart cable and found that
> it only carries a composite video signal (plus the
> left and right audio signals)
Yeah that's right, unfortunately, read below...
> Some people have suggested to buy a D-to-component
> cable in Japan, but I can't understand how it could
> work because it seems the D-out plug on the Qosmio is
> not the standard D4 connector as described on
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D4_video_connector
> (there's no audio signals on these D4 connectors).
You're absolutely right. It seems Toshiba Europe decided that we, european users, would have no use for the Component output so they made the D-Connector just a plug to output rotten composite through the "D-video to scart cable".
If you bought your Qosmio G20 in the US or in Japan, it would be able to output Component. (cables supplied with US&JP qosmios are the "D-connector to component" type.)
Even if the nVidia driver gives us the option for D1 -D4, the plug on our european units apparently just won't allow it.
Talk about misleading advertising, or worse, the marketing guys have strictly no idea what they're talking about.
I do have a Euro Qosmio, the E10, with D-connector plug and I have bought the "D-connector to Component" cable in Japan. I have no TV or HD screen to test it yet, but I strongly assume it will not work for the reason stated above.
It seems the D-connector plug output has been "adapted" for european needs (read: its original purpose has been totally destroyed).
What IS THE POINT of using this output plug for conveying a composite signal is beyond me. Especially since we already have S-VHS output which is fantastic compared to composite. No, i think Toshiba did this so that mr n00b-i-don't-care-about-quality makes it work easily on his TV by just having to plug the scart for both video + audio.
Very, extremely sad.
Our only hope would be that the 4 signals (1 ground and 1 composite for video + audio left, audio right and ground for audio (prolly shared with ground for video)) leave some of the pins free for the component signal output.
I have yet to test on HDTV but i would be extremely surprised if it worked.
I would *love* anyone to prove me wrong on that one.
Later,
Alcahest
Edit: check this out.
From : http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe.com/Contents/Toshiba_teg/EU/WORKSHOP/files/EXP-2005-04-Qosmio-Screen-EN-EMEA.pdf
---> http://videoff7.free.fr/qos.gif :(
Message was edited by: Alcahest