iPod What type of TV connections are common in Europe?

Check with the hotel for best result.

European SDTV typically has component and S-video like North American sets.

most common connector in europe is...

SCART, U.S. equivalent is EIA interface.
For instance: My original xbox has a SCART connector, but the red/yellow/white connectors (video-in, audio left+right) you mentioned are plugged into it. Sometimes TV's also have S-Video. I just checked mine, it has 4x SCART, red/white/yellow and S-video.

Since the early nineties all tv-sets have at least 1 SCART connector. I don't know about the newest tv's, they have HDMI and probably SCART too.

Also...sometimes I see really strange tv's in hotels, especially in cheap chain hotels like Formule1, nhhotels. I think they get custom tv's with anti-theft constructions etc.. Maybe they only have coaxial input, i don't know, never checked (I don't watch tv).

Anyway: I'd recommend a cable like my xbox has. And, have fun over here!!

Note: I think this SCART plug is the worst invention ever, since you have to look at the back of the tv to make it fit, which is horrible when your tv is 90 pounds and somewhere in the corner. Not seeing what you're doing may result in minutes of trying to get it right and is like a lottery.

powerbook911 said:

Thanks. In the U.S., composite is the safest bet because all cheap Tvs have composite, yellow, white, and red.

Sounds like component might be the better bet in Europe.

There is not a SCART connector it seems for ipod output, so that isn't an option.

Many thanks.

Click to expand...

Component's not really a good idea -- it's not particularly common (at least in the UK).

Your best bet is a composite (Yellow, Red, White) cable for the iPod. Then, get a SCART adapter - it's just a SCART plug with 3 phono connectors for the composite, left and right audio. Just plug the iPod cable into that.

These kinds of SCART adapters are really, really common (for example, the Xbox 360 comes bundled with one in the UK and presumably Europe). Here's a link to what I'm talking about!

(as a side-note, SCART connectors are the most fiendishly infuriating connector known to mankind. Sure, they're bi-directional and carry RGB as well as composite, with cool tricks such as widescreen signalling... but... They have a habit of coming slightly loose. It can take a few hours of 'hmm, this doesn't sound right' before realising you've lost your left or right audio channel 'cos your SCART's not been wobbled just right. Oh, and try plugging one in without looking -- much entertainment will ensue - plus a few grounding 'buzz' shocks if the equipment's still plugged in). Best thing about moving my satellite TV, Mac Mini and Xbox to HDMI was becoming SCART-free. Well, all but the old Atari Jaguar, but I'll forgive it!)

[edit] One last thing - many US product manuals I've read which mention SCART leads or cables tend to use the connector's 'other' name -- a Peritel connector. Perhaps Peritel is a more common term for SCART in the US.

yeah i agree with some of the posters above. composite (yellow,white and red) is standard, if not then scart is, so just get a composite to scart adapter, and plug it in.

component never really turned up in europe, and is already on its way out.