Hi everyone. I'm wanting to make a composite video selector that can choose from 4 video/audio different sources and give 1 output. I want this to have 4 tactile switches that choose the input. If a switch is pressed it will select that input until another switched is pressed.
Because of the project, the bought ones aren't really that great. They use mechanical switches, so they can't be remounted where I would like.
It would also be nice if it could remember what was it's last selected channel. So that when it is turned back on it starts on the same channel it was left on.
I don't have a scope to test weather the signal is DC coupled or AC. But I have looked inside the devises that I'm planning on switching the video from. All of then are battery powered, I can see that the outside of the video cable is tied to ground, and I can't see a way that they would be generating a negative voltage to have a ac coupled signal.
Since as far as I can tell the video is DC coupled. I'm thinking that I might be able to use a p-channel fet to switch the video. Then I would just use a arduino to turn on and off the signal. I would write to the the epprom to save what video signal was last chosen.
Am I going about this the right way? Or would I be better to use a dedicated IC for switching the video. I've also considered using relays. But they are more expensive, need a fet to drive them anyway.
I'm going to test tonight weather using fets will work.