Gary P Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Hey Guys, Thought I'd chime in with a mini-review of a handy little piece of gear that may have slipped under the radar for most. The Pelican System Selector Pro is an 8 input component switch (1 in the front) with a handful of other features, which for the price ($99), can't be beat. Since it's an active switch, the first thing I did was feed it a 720p signal. Bandwidth doesn't appear to be an issue as I noticed no difference in quality versus a direct connection. (includes 8 S-video/composite inputs as well) Also included with this piece is a 3 port ethernet switch and a 3 port optical switch. I haven't tried either, but as soon as I can scrape up some Cat 5 I'll let you know how it works. I have no use for the optical portion, so someone else will have to verify it's functionality. The front panel has backlit 'signs' that are swappable to let you know what input you have selected. The various panels read 'Xbox, DVD, Gamecube, etc...' and they even included some replacement panels for the N64 and some of the other older consoles ] The biggest selling point in my case was it's size. It is the standard 17" width so I couldn't pass it up. EB has this listed as shipping in October, but Gamestop started shipping theirs late last week. I highy recommend it if you're running out of inputs for your gear! Thanks, Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camp Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Wow! That's the coolest game switchbox I have ever seen. Great that it provides component, optical, & ethernet switching. Fantastic. I assume you need to run all consoles via the same connection method? That is, all component or all s-video? I doubt it converts signals. Damn...that thing is really nice. The only thing missing is coax digital audio. They're going to sell a ton of these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buck Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Must.... Resist.... Temptation..... To buy...... Why the hell did I quit my job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary P Posted September 16, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Camp, I should've addressed that. It does not upconvert the signals to all one output, but it will output the correct signal for each input when selected. If you have your PS2 connected via S-Video, it'll output through the S-Video monitor even if other stuff is connected via component inputs (the component inputs/output do not override the others) Did that just make sense? :shock: Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyjaw Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Gary, thanks for the heads-up! That is a great looking device. It has optical switching!! Something I've been trying to find in a reasonably priced switch. Is this a newly released item? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Cool, Gary. When / if my receiver runs out of inputs, this'll be perfect. As for the ethernet switch, does it SWITCH or act like a router? I ask because if it switches, it could limit one from having a PS2 and Xbox online at the same time. Oh, btw - I have the same Bell'O rack. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Camp Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Did that just make sense? Yes. That's a very elegant and inexpensive solution to that problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EnemaEms Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 Very nice. Too bad I don't need one. -Dean- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelley Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 how is the build quality on it? Is the casing metal or plastic? etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyN Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 I need to get one of those suckers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary P Posted September 17, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Hey Kelley, It's not going to win any awards for build quality, that's for sure, but it'll do. The Tivo is sitting on it with no problems and you know how heavy those are. It does have a metal case with the typical component-type paint. In fact my only real gripe about the whole unit is the flip down front panel, wow, it just screams cheap and it's so flimsy. I can see it being broken quite easily. A few other things that were brought up: I already talked to Josh about it, but the ethernet portion is strictly a switch. Each port is assigned to a specific input, so no simultaneous output. And finally, this is a newly released item. GameStop just got them in last week. Why this thing is getting so little press is beyond me. Nothing is available on the Pelican or Electro-Source websites. In fact, I almost passed up the purchase because I couldn't find any solid specs regarding the size of the thing. Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlot Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Gary, Thanks for posting this! This is exactly what I need! I've been holding off on something similar because I wasn't ready to spend the cash, but $99! Hell, I'll try it out! Looks like I'll be stopping by the local Gamestop tommorow [EDIT] I see you have one of those that Panasonic Gamecube consoles w/ the extra bells & whistles... nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamsappel Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Is that a Panasonic Q? How you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyjaw Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Just ordered the Pelican switch. No more sharing optical cables and switching audio manually! Yay! Thanks again Gary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JFo Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Congratulations on the purchase. This thing looks like a pretty good deal for those with several gaming systems in the mix. The recent addition of a PS2 to my gear list prompted me to get an Audio Authority 1154 Component Video Switcher. Since I only have 3 systems currently used with any regularity, I figured this was a good deal. It does the audio and video switching automatically, which, for a lazy fellow such as myself, works out rather well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iainl Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Lovely - if only we used Component in the UK, and not SCART cables this would be ideal. But then, I'm sure I could go off on one about Component vs. SCART generally - they sure are annoying things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry the Clown Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Interesting. Very nice given I was asking about such devices only days ago. Seems like something to have if I can ever find a British TV with component inputs that doesn't have geometry issues up the wazoo. Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Daisy Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 I've been waiting quite some time for this device. I have 4 component devices at this point, and have been wanting to get my PS2 on component as well. This will help me do that. I'll be running out to Gamestop sometime this week. Thanks, Glen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbert Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Seems like something to have if I can ever find a British TV with component inputs that doesn't have geometry issues up the wazoo. Do such things exist? The SCART vs Component trade-off is of course that the US suffers from no RGB support, something I miss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angry the Clown Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Well we have a handful of CRT sets (and the odd RPTV) that take component in now, some of those with progressive scan support, but the two sets with the highest profiles currently available- a toshiba and a panasonic- have so many performance issues its not funny. So the answer is no. Right now, such a thing does not exist. :? Daniel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyjaw Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 The Audio Authority was the one I was going to get. But the cost meant I was going to have to put it off, and I wasn't thrilled about how tall it is. But it looks well made. Auto switching is nice. I have 4 component devices at present, the 3 game systems and DVD player. The ethernet switch is a nice bonus, and might just push me into getting the PS2 online since the cabling issue is solved by this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robot Monkey Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Do you have to punch the switch for the selected component, or is there some sort of remote control compatibility? -j Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustyjaw Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 I'm assuming that you hit a button to switch inputs. The JVC I have now is like that...and since it is sandwiched between the Xbox and PS2, next to where I sit, it's not big deal for me. The worst part is having to change the audio input separately from the video, having everything change over with one button is what I've been looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary P Posted September 17, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 Yep, it is a push button switch, so I do have to drag ass over to the TV...much to my dismay In regards to the Panasonic Q, it's pretty nice. Was it worth the extra cost? No way! I rarely play imports and lately I hardly play any domestic titles either. But the ladies do dig the hip blue LED's, ya dig? Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelley Posted September 17, 2003 Report Share Posted September 17, 2003 The ethernet switch is a nice bonus, and might just push me into getting the PS2 online since the cabling issue is solved by this. You gotta get that thing online before SOCOM II hits Ed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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