I'm having some problems getting composite output to work on R5.5. Some configuration notes:

1. I have an nvidia FX5200 and a 6200LE card. I only use 1 card at a time.

2. I am using an svideo->composite adapter cable to connect to the composite input of an old TV set.

Here is what happens with the FX5200

1. If I hit "esc" at the top level menu of the front end, instead of being asked if I really want to exit, the system no longer responds to the keyboard.

Here is what happens with the FX6200:

1. If xorg.conf contains 'Option "TVOutFormat" "SVIDEO"', then I get a monochrome display. If I change "SVIDEO" to "COMPOSITE", then I do not get any output on the TV.

2. As with the FX5200, if I hit "esc" at the top level menu of the front end, instead of being asked if I really want to exit, the system no longer responds to the keyboard.

Is anyone getting composite output to work on R5.5 with either of these cards? Thanks!

Marc

Hi Marc, I have an FX5200 with R5.5. Mine has a vga, dvi and a composite out (not svideo). I got mine working by doing a clean install of r5.5 with an lcd monitor connected to vga. I did not select the tv install option.

After all the tuners and schedules were setup and working with the monitor, all I had to do was unplug the monitor and plug in the tv to the composite output and then blindly restart x by pressing cnt-alt-bkspace.

The nvidia driver automatically senses the composite connection and scales everything for the tv. This is all with the default xorg.conf that was created by the install with no editing by me.

It has been suggested that the picture will be much better on the tv when the xorg.conf is tweaked properly, but it looks fine to me. This would at least be a way to see if your card is working at some level. Perhaps if your svideo adapter doesn't mimic the load of a tv properly, this approach won't work for you. If it does, then you can start playing in xorg.conf.

I don't have any problems escaping from the top level menu, with the monitor or the tv.

To go back to the monitor, just swap the cables and then hit cnt-alt-bkspace again.

Zig

Zig, thanks for replying and providing this info. Unfortunately, I have not bee able to get this to work. The setup was for my daughter and I was trying to connect it to an old 25" TV. Since this posting, I purchased a new 50" Plasma on sale at Fry's for $850 and I'm giving her our old Samsung DLP. I'm now connecting via the HDMI input and it is working fine.

A bit more money then getting the composite out to work, but she's happier with the solution .

Marc