[mythtv-users] Where to get a S/PDIF adapter?

[Rich West]

Rich West wrote:
> Steven Adeff wrote:
>   
>> On 1/29/07, Rich West <Rich.West at wesmo.com> wrote:
>>   
>>     
>>> George W Rocklein Jr wrote:
>>>     
>>>       
>>>> Mark Abreu wrote:
>>>>
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>>>> I have a Biostar M7VIG 400 motherboard that seems to work with MythTV.  This MB has a S/PDIF 3-pin header but didn't come with anything to bring it outside.  I've spent some time with Google and am surprised that I haven't been able to find the part I need.  A question sent via the Biostar site has so far gone unanswered.  I suspect my cheapest solution would be a coax version but I'd also like to find a optical option if possible.
>>>>>
>>>>> Mark.
>>>>>         
>>>>>           
>>>> I have a different Biostar motherboard that also didn't come with the
>>>> S/PDIF adapter.  I called the technical support guys at Biostar,
>>>> expecting to buy one, and the guy that answered the phone said he'd just
>>>> grab one from their inventory and send it to me on the house.  Hopefully
>>>> the guy that answers your phone call will be just as generous (if not,
>>>> they only cost around $15.00, or something.).
>>>> You can get in touch with them at one of the phone numbers listed at
>>>> www.biostar-usa.com.
>>>>       
>>>>         
>>> I don't have a Biostar motherboard, but I do have 3-pin S/PDIF connector
>>> on my motherboard.  Another person on the list referred me to this URL:
>>> http://www.vidabox.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=9
>>>
>>> It is a three pin S/PDIF connector where the individual pins can be
>>> re-arranged to match your motherboard configuration.
>>>
>>> I just ordered one.. figured I would give it a shot. :)
>>>
>>> -Rich
>>>     
>>>       
>> Wow, optical too! Please provide a "review" of it once you get it working.
>>     
>
> Will do!  My goal is to use the optical audio out to my receiver and
> remove my standalone DVD player from the entire setup. :)

Got the adapter yesterday and started tinkering with it today.  It was 
very easy to re-arrange the pins to match the orientation on my 
motherboard.  Unfortunately, with the Shuttle SK21G, the socket didn't 
quite match the connector on the SPDIF cable.  After several attempts at 
getting the cable to fit in to the socket on the motherboard, the result 
was that I had to clip off and file down a plastic orientation 'bump' in 
the molded plastic of the connector, file down the sides of the 
connector to fit in to the slightly smaller socket on the motherboard, 
and file down the end of the connector to the the point where the metal 
of the individual wire clips were exposed to provide proper contact with 
the obscenely short pins in the connector on my motherboard.

It's likely you won't have to go through the same issues since the 
Shuttle looks to have used a non-standard socket.

I was able to get 5.1 surround sound out of it almost right away (over 
the optical) via mplayer (no .asoundrc file needed).  I can't seem to 
get MythTV to talk to it at all (either via playing the same DVD video, 
watching a recording, watching live tv, or playing music).  I followed a 
couple of how-to's (I'm running FC5) and a bunch of postings on the list 
in an effort to direct all audio out via the SPDIF adapter, but I 
couldn't get anywhere with it. :(

So.. it seems like getting the adapter in place is only 1/2 of the puzzle.

-Rich