The technical specification page of the Vero V lists video output via CVBS in standard definition 480i/576i. Is this actually supported?
Could I hook up the Vero V to an SD CRT television set to playback DVD or VHS content? And if so, does this also include support for the OSMC GUI in 480i?
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It worked last time I looked. Output is 576p or 480p. I can check if you haven’t got a Vero to test. Not on a CRT though.
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Yes, it should be working just fine.
@grahamh spent a lot of time on the hardware as the default AMLogic spec gets things the wrong way around for standard cables.
That was the audio. Video should be right if you have the right cable. You need an OMTP cable as explained here
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Please, if you could check whenever you have the time.
I’m assuming your display deinterlaces the 480i/576i signal to 480p/576p.
But if this works, including properly scaled GUI at 4:3 resolution, it would make the Vero the only modern media player hardware that supports such a thing, and on top of features like eARC or Dolby Vision mkvs (which not even my Oppo can handle correctly).
The Vero sounds like the perfect media player for all my use cases, the obscure ones included 
It turns out “last time I looked” must have been at least 5 years ago. CVBS needs to be interlaced and we stopped supporting interlaced output back then. I can’t remember exactly why. We’re just checking see if it’s something that’s easily restored.
I just found a post of yours from two years ago in a somewhat related thread, which offers an explanation for why interlaced support was eventually dropped. I’m assuming it still applies?
Thanks for finding that. I think 2020 must’ve been when we moved from the 3.14 kernel up to 4.9. We are scratching our heads to see if there’s a quick fix but you can see there’s not been much interest in CVBS recently. Even that thread you found wasn’t about CVBS, the user was taking HDMI and converting to VGA.
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No worries, it is very niche after all.
I also found a thread on Reddit where someone created a CRT streaming box / media player using OSMC on a Pi3. An all-in-one solution would be nice, but I suppose this might be a viable alternative for anyone who is interested in such a feature, if you can’t easily get it working on the Vero V.
We are having a chat about it. Will keep you posted.
Sam
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I just purchased a Vero V because I noticed the specs say CVBS / 480i is supported - is that not the case?
I’m in the same boat is OP, I’m just looking for a modern media player to hook up to my CRT that supports 4:3 & 480i and this seemed like the only one but now I’m not so sure.
I see many posts online about this but all solutions are complex / outdated.
I can refund this, just let me know your order number.
Looks like things aren’t working as expected currently.
There hasn’t been a lot of demand for this.
I suggest we do some testing end/early next week and hold your order. We can then refund if we can’t get this working to your satisfaction. Please let me know your order number so I can do this for you
Cheers,
Sam
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Thanks for the offer - you can proceed with my order.
I hope you’re able to solve it, either way I will only be using this on a CRT - but I own a downscaler so I will use that. I hope there is progress as I would love to remove my downscaler from my hardware stack.
Although, I think there has not been a lot of demand because most believe this is not possible / don’t know that there is product to look for that can do this. I can think of 4 communities that would be excited for this if it were possible.
For example, extremely outdated Roku Express dongles are selling for $100+ on eBay solely because they support composite (Roku Express 3910x for sale | eBay). I own one and they are awful, but it is currently the “best” plug and play solution.
If a new, modern plug in play solution was possible I would without a doubt spread the word on this because the many retro CRT communities would love to stop hacking RPis and overpaying for Rokus just to stream video.
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@grahamh has been looking in to this.
It can sort of work currently. I am looking and working out when and where it broke.
It does seem to be a software issue.
Sam
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Just an update: definitely looks like a software issue.
We need to go back to see when it worked and also evaluate interest in this.
Is the use case just for video playback?
Sam
For CVBS, I’m mostly just interested in video playback (of native SD material like DVD isos/folders & VHS rips). If you could support OSMC’s GUI at 480i or 576i resolution, that would be nice.
Also, in my case I had planned for the HDMI out of the OSMC to go into a projector, while CVBS would go into the CRT.
Would it be possible to use both outputs at the same time, with each one at a distinct resolution (480i & 4K respectively), or optionally even running as a separate instance each?
Only video playback is the use case here (CVBS / Composite). For me, this would be mostly used for playing modern codecs for old content 4:3 content that has been remasted (Like Cowboy Bebop), with subtitle support.
I think 4:3 aspect GUI ratios are already supported?
But a nice benefit would be if the GUI text that was readable in 480i (I’m assuming smaller text will not be legible). By no means a deal-breaker though and hard to expect everything is reworked for that.
No idea if it’s possible, but s-video and component support would be cool as well.
No. You might be able to achieve that with an HDMI splitter and a converter.