iScan Pro
iScan Pro FAQs
- What is the iScan Pro?
- What video inputs does the iScan Pro have?
- What signal does the iScan Pro output?
- What kind of aspect ratio control does the iScan Pro offer?
- How does the iScan Pro detect incoming signals?
- What kind of power supply does the iScan Pro come with?
- I have an A/V receiver to handle the switching of my A/V sources. How should I hook up the iScan Pro in my set-up?
- Does the iScan Pro support progressive scan and High Definition sources?
- Will the iScan Pro improve the picture quality of standard definition channels from my satellite system (DSS)?
- What are the differences between the iScan HD, iScan Ultra and iScan Pro models?
The iScan Pro is a high performance 480i to 480p and 576i to 576p video processor. With a total of 3 auto-switching inputs, the iScan Pro is optimized for use as an AV Receiver video post-processor, making it the perfect "missing link" for connecting the rest of your system to a progressive-scan capable display. The iScan Pro also features state-of-the-art PureProgressive video deinterlacing, and has fully adjustable picture controls.
2. What video inputs does the iScan Pro have?
The iScan Pro has the following inputs:
| 1 Composite video inputs |  |
| 1 S-Video (Y/C) inputs |  |
| 1 Component video (YPbPr) inputs |  |
The composite, S-video and component inputs accept standard
definition NTSC (480i) and PAL/SECAM (576i) signals. These
standard definition signals are deinterlaced by the iScan
Pro. Note that the component inputs of the iScan Pro do not
process nor pass through progressive signals (480p/576p) nor
high definition signals (720p/1080i). These types of signals
should be sent to the analog passthrough input of the iScan
Pro, or to the display directly. See iScan
Pro FAQ #8 for more information.
3. What signal does the iScan Pro output?
The iScan Pro outputs a 480p signal if the incoming video source is 480i (NTSC), or a 576p signal if the incoming video source is 576i (PAL/SECAM).
The iScan Pro uses a standard analog VGA HD-15 connector for its output.
The colorspace of the output signal can be either RGB or component (YPbPr). The output colorspace can be selected with a switch located on the front panel of the iScan Pro unit.
The default sync for the RGB output colorspace is separate
H & V. It can be changed to composite sync or sync-on-green
by moving a jumper on the iScan Pro motherboard. Note that
the sync on a component (YPbPr) signal is always combined
with the Y signal.
4. What kind of aspect ratio control does the iScan Pro offer?
The iScan Pro has an "Aspect Ratio" switch located on the front panel. There are three positions for that switch: Normal, Squeeze (black) and Squeeze (gray). The Normal setting (top position) passes any video input through with no modifications to the aspect ratio.
The squeeze mode feature on the iScan Pro allows a 4:3 aspect
ratio image to be correctly displayed in a 4:3 portion of
a 16:9 screen. Most widescreen (16:9) television sets provide
a button on the remote control that allows the user to change
the aspect ratio of the displayed image. This allows viewing
of normal material (4:3) in a smaller region in the center
of the screen with black or gray bars to the left and right
of the image. However, some of these sets disable this control
when receiving a high definition (HDTV) signal or a progressive
signal from a line doubler.
When receiving the 480p progressive signal at 31.5kHz from
an iScan unit, those TVs will always scan the signal across
the whole width of the screen and will always display all
480 active lines from the top to the bottom of the screen.
For anamorphic DVDs, this is OK since the 16:9 aspect ratio
of the DVD output matches the aspect ratio of the screen but
for letterboxed and 4:3 material the image appears too wide
(effect of short and wide faces).
The two squeeze settings correct the aspect ratio problem by compressing horizontally the video image so that it fits into a smaller portion of the frame. The only difference between these two settings is that one (bottom position) puts up black bars on the sides of the image whereas the other (middle position) puts up gray bars.
To find out which TVs have an aspect ratio limitation for
progressive video sources, please check our list of iScan
compatible devices. Those particular models have a special
note regarding the aspect ratio limitation with use of an
iScan.
5. How does the iScan Pro detect incoming signals?
The iScan Pro detects which of the three possible input devices are turned on, and it switches to this input. With this capability, the user can switch inputs simply by turning one input device on or by turning another device off. The input priority switch on the front panel of iScan Pro specifies which of the inputs to use when there are multiple active inputs. If the iScan Pro is processing video from one input when a higher priority input becomes active, it will automatically switch to the new input.
6. What kind of power supply does the iScan Pro come with?
The iScan Pro comes with a universal 6V/2A AC to DC external
power adapter, which accepts 100-240 VAC at 50/60Hz.
7. I have an A/V receiver to handle the switching of my A/V sources. How should I hook up the iScan Pro in my set-up?
A common way to connect the iScan Pro is to send the output
of the A/V Receiver through it. This will apply the iScan's
processing to all video devices that are running through the
A/V receiver. The benefit of this is that the operation of
the system remains the same, while the quality of the signal
improves.
8. Does the iScan Pro support progressive scan and High Definition sources?
The component input of the iScan Pro only accepts standard definition 480i (NTSC) or 576i (PAL/SECAM) signals. It does not process nor passes through progressive scan (480p or 576p) or High Definition (1080i, 720p) signals.
Connecting a progressive or high definition source to the component input of the iScan Pro will result in a split, unstable or scrambled image.
Most progressive scan DVD players can output both 480i and 480p signals through their component output. We suggest that you set up your progressive scan DVD player to 480i output, and hook it up to the iScan Pro unit through the component connection. In that case, the iScan Pro unit will convert the 480i signal from the DVD player to a 480p signal feeding your display.
Today's HDTV receivers output High Definition signals (1080i, 720p) through either DVI, component or RGB. This output should be connected to your display directly.
Some High Definition receivers also have a separate S-video
output for standard definition channels. We recommend that
you connect this output to the iScan Pro unit. The iScan Pro
will convert the 480i signal coming out of the receiver to
480p.
9. Will the iScan Pro improve the picture quality of standard definition channels from my satellite system (DSS)?
Picture improvement of standard definition satellite channels is often very subjective, and depends a great deal on exactly which aspects of the image are objectionable.
If you have a standard definition satellite feed which is loaded with compression artifacts or is blurry because of bandwidth limitations, then the iScan Pro (or most other video processors, for that matter) may not bring much improvement to the picture.
However, the iScan Pro may react better to this type of problem than your display would, but that depends on the specific display you use. If your source is reasonably clean, then the iScan Pro should do a good job of making it look good on the big screen.
If your complaints are in regards to the display's deinterlacing
capabilities, then the iScan Pro should bring a noticeable
improvement.
For additional product support, contact Anchor Bay:
Toll free: 1-866-423-DVDO (3836)
Email: help@anchorbaytech.com
Office hours are 9am-5pm PST Monday-Friday excluding holidays.
