pourem1

I posted this under home DVR systems but I think this might apply to a more general post: So I have a Night Owl Poseidon 8 Channel DVR and I'm having a problem. It was working just fine on an older tube style TV. Now I got a Panasonic TC-P42X3 Plasma Screen TV and now all I get is a black and white picture. Just to make sure I downloaded a couple of video clips to a USB stick and they play in color on my computer. I called Night Owl tech support but they are completely useless. Panasonic is no better. From what I understand if the DVR is not set to NTSC the picture can appear black & white. I checked and it is set to NTSC. The TV does not have a setting for NTSC / PAL but the manual shows that there are two modes: NTSC and ATSC. The DVR only has two ways to connect to the TV: One is a BNC to RCA connection (this cable was included). The other is a VGA out. Since my TV doesn't have a VGA input I am wondering if I bought a VGA to HDMI cable do you think this would solve my problem? Has anyone come across this before?

Rather than go nuts over this I will pick up a cable and try it to see if it works. I will let everyone know how it turns out. You guys have been really great. Thanks for all your input.

So I just connected the unit to a portable DVD player like you suggested and it works fine. Displays in color like its supposed to. The BNC to RCA cable that was supplied with the unit seems to be okay. I'm starting to think the TV and DVR are a mismatch. I'll try a VGA to Component cable if you think that will work.

that's what I have it connected to. Only black and white.

See attached

So the TV does have video in L&R Audio + one Video and component audio video connections (5).

I'm not sure. I will have to look. A lot of trouble to go through to figure out something that the manufacturer should provide support for. Just spoke to them earlier and they are in left field.

A friend of mine suggested a VGA to Component Cable. Would that be any better?

Something like this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119395

I will have to check when I get back. Funny how Night Owl and Panasonic didn't ask me that. I do know that there are only two RCA Video inputs and one is being used by an old DVD player. I did just recently tried to switch them and either it didn't work at all or it was still black and white. That's why I was thinking of trying a VGA to HDMI connection.

I'm using the RCA input.