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Even new tv's often do not have sufficient Scart sockets to enable you to use the number of items of equipment you wish. How good, reliable and easy to use are the various items available which enable use of multiple equipment into a single Scart?

Don't know about the scart 'gang socket', but you can usually link via a VCR by connecting your VCR (if it has only one scart socket) to the TV the old way, without using a scart. This can potentially cause problems with certain DVD players when playing DVDs which have lots of copy protection - the player will sense the connection to a VCR and won't play, but otherwise it works fine. Plus many VCRs have two scart sockets, one for a satellite receiver. But the scart socket meant for a satellite receiver will work with other devices too and you don't even have to use it for the satellite receiver.

But I do wish scart plugs were a bit more secure. If only they had those screw-in fittings like the ones used on computers and peripherals.

Mart

That's a good point mart. It shouldn't be diificult for the manufacturers of TV's and scarts to achieve what you wish.

Yes it is annoying isn't it. You need at least three Scarts these days....but even when you get three you often find only one of them accepts the RGB signal...which you get from Sattelite boxes, DVD players and games consoles.

You can "daisy chain" some bits of kit. One my vids goes into the the other then to the TV. Ok with videos, but you start losing picture quality if you do it with DVDs.

If you buy a multi scart box make sure it is "switchable". ie it has a switch to select a particualr input...non-switchable ones DO NOT work with RGB signals. I got a pretty good one for ?30 which has 3 inputs. You'll also have to fork out for another Scart lead to go from the box to the TV....if the box comes with one...don't get it...it's a cheapy!

Oh and make sure to specify that you want all the inputs to be able to handle RGB.....I made the mistake once of buying a 3 input box and only one of the inputs was suitable for RGB...completely defeating the object!

Involving RF connections definitely results in a poorer-quality output, so if you can cut them out of the loop, so much the better.
Magoo told me so, I didn't believe him, he was right, I was wrong.

Thank you everyone for the advice. Given that most tv makers also make the additional items of equipment that require scarts, their scrooge like attitude to equipping their sets with sufficient sockets is difficult to fathom.