Connecting an Xbox so it comes on automatically

June 12, 2007 8:20 AM

When I had a Playstation, I could just turn it on and it would appear on the TV. I now have an XBox hooked up to the same TV through the same scart connection, but have to cycle through all of the inputs on my TV to get the XBox screen to appear. Is there a way to make it automatic like it was with the Playstation?

Same goes for turning it off. When I turned off the PS2, the TV would come back on. Now, when I turn off Xbox, I have to repeatedly hit the input button to get the TV back. I haven't changed any settings on the TV since switching the games so am curious if this is a limitation of the Xbox or am I perhaps missing a setting somewhere?

posted by gfrobe to technology (4 comments total)

This is because a SCART lead has a wire in it which signals to the TV when the device is on. But the lead which comes with an XBox only uses composite connections, so has no way of sending this SCART signal.

Apparently you can buy a third party XBox SCART lead that includes the extra wire - a friend suggests the fully wired SCART cable from http://www.mrmodchips.co.uk/. You can try emailing the site to double check that it will do what you need.
posted by OldMansHands at 9:03 AM on June 12, 2007

Thanks. So I have to buy an xbox compatible RGB scart cable?
posted by gfrobe at 9:54 AM on June 12, 2007

For what it's worth, people in the US (AFAIK) always have to do this. I was amazed when I went to Germany, and the TV would just switch by itself to the right input.
posted by !Jim at 12:27 PM on June 12, 2007

It doesn't actually have to be RGB, though if your TV supports it then you may as well.

The phrase you should look for is 'Fully Wired SCART', which should include the signal pin.
posted by OldMansHands at 4:36 AM on June 13, 2007