フレームマイスター Framemister Xrgb mini/ English firmware/39000 yen shipped

Thanks. Yes, I got your message. I was in bed when you sent it though so I replied this morning when I woke up.

 

Thank you so much. You are a great man

 

I just realized the Framemeister mini only has HDMI output.
My "new" HD TV only has component input QQ

 

I guess you could always use a component to HDMI box.

 

My monitor actually does audio over DVI as well as HDMI, so might be worth a shot before buying an adaptor. DVI and HDMI are basically the same connector just with more pins on the DVI side to support analogue.

 

The recent units no longer come with the microSD card. Since when did they remove it?

 

They removed the SD card about 6 months ago. I really should update the first post to point that out. It's not even printed on the box anymore. Lb

 

Yakumo, any ideas what the latest FW update changes/fixes??

Really wish they would try and sort and the resolution sync down time, and get it to under a second nothing worse than getting a black screen for a few seconds whilst playing your game

 

Nothing significant:

● If you operate the menu screen the "POWER", to improve the problem that "CLASSIC_MODE" feature to work on its own after a reboot.
● Added "KOR" and "LANGUAGE" function in order to respond to Korean.
(Displays in English now, even if set to "KOR" in the preparing the Korean font)

I'm guessing Classic Mode is refering to the retro mode, which perhaps doesn't persist on reboots? I don't ever use that function myself.
And it sounds like they added a language menu with the option for Korean, but Korean doesn't work yet (1.08 is latest stable firmware, 1.10 and 1.11 are beta builds)

I'm pretty sure it's a limitation of the processor and can't be updated in the firmware, unfortunately.

 

yep, updated mine to 1.11 last night and there's nothing of importance. Retro mode never did reset for me so I have no idea whatthat update is for. The Korean language mode option is present but in English as mentioned amd err, that's bout it really. No real changes to speak of.

 

I'm interested in purchasing one!

 

I'll send you a PM as soon as I reach my computer at work.

 

potentially interested in buying one, have a few questions as i'm trying to decide if its the right move for me or not...

most likely going to be using s-video for a few consoles (N64, PC Engine, etc)... will be buying scart (probably euro scart) cables eventually for other systems that i can and for now i'll be using one or two via composite (NES is the main example here)... also a few others via component (YUV i assume - Omega CMVS, Xbox, PS2, Wii)

question is... how is the xrgb mini with s-video and composite... i understand composite is the worst possible scenario but how horrible is it via the xrgb?

right now i've got 2 CRT's (one HD and one SD)... when i picked up my HD CRT (for free i might add) i didn't realise that you can't use lightguns with them so now i'm a little annoyed and tempted to keep my SD CRT for the rare times i want to play a lightgun game, get rid of the HD CRT and use an xrgb mini via a LED/LCD TV... any thoughts/opinions on this?

I've got about 12-14 consoles.... pretty much everything major from NES up to PS2/XBOX/Dreamcast... majority are PAL systems as I'm from Australia but also have a couple of NTSC systems

any comments/advice/direction would be greatly appreciated... as well as a total price including potential cables/adapters

cheers

 

Why did they remove the SD card option? I got mine I guess about 9 months ago. How do you update them now then?

 

The SD card option isn't removed just the SD card is. Micomsoft used to give you a 2gb micro SD card with the Framemeister but now they don't so you have to supply your own. But even if they did remove the SD card slot you could still update the firmware via the mini USB port. Doing it by SD card is much easier and so simple. I can't understand how anyone could mess that up. Just copy the unzipped file from the Micomsoft site in the root of a micro SD card. Put it in to the Framemeister and power it up. Sit back and watch the pretty light show as the Framemeister updates it's self. After it's done it will switch it's self off and then you can remove the SD card.

 

Of course the image via s-video and composite won't look as good as RGB but the Framemeister does a good job with the signals. It will make those machines look much better than what they would using just a HD TV. I run my PC Engine via composite (really need to RGB mod that) and it looks much better through the Framemeister than direct to the TV.

Nope, there's not much you can do really. If you want to play light gun games on retro consoles then you will need a SD CRT screen unless someone makes some sort of universal retro game gun for use on retro consoles via HD TVs.

I actually owned a HD CRT TV and the picture quality on that for Retro Consoles was worse than a HD LCD screen. Probably because of the older upscan software and hardware used in it. Mine was made by JVC and could display up to 720p. Over all it was a pretty poor TV.

For the PAL systems you will need to buy a special Framemeister RGB converter cable. These are cheap and easy to import from the UK. For your NTSC systems you can just use the RGB cable that comes with the Framemeister. The systems running via composite, S-Video or Component (D-Terminal) are all universal so no need for any special cables there.

If you are planning on running a PSP via the Framemeister you'll need the Component to D-Terminal cable. I sell these for 1000 yen when bought with the Framemeister. For your PAL stuff in RGB you'll need the Framemeister Euro scart converter cable. I don't sell those but they are very easy to buy from retrogamingcables in the UK. Only about 12 pounds or so.

A brand new Framemeister from me with the latest English firmware (1.11) shipped to Australia is 37'000 yen (No tracking or insurance) or 39000 yen shipped via EMS speed post with tracking and insurance. All my units come with a 6 months warranty too.

Yakumo

 

To be safe expect RGB cables marketed at English speaking users are SCART unless specified otherwise.

 

thanks for the reply... I did a comparison today of the NES via composite on my HD and SD CRT's and it looked much nicer (still not great though) on my HD CRT... i'm really thinking i'll keep my SD CRT around "just in case i want to shoot things" and go for a xrgb setup with a nice LCD... have you ever compared composite/s-video on a CRT vs LCD via xrgb? i'm definitely not trying to hook the consoles directly up to an LCD at this point... so its CRT or XRGB+LCD for me... just need to make the decision...

also... you may not want to answer this for obvious reasons... but i'm actually going to Japan later this year... any idea if the xrgb can be picked up any cheaper seeing as i'll be over there? or is it about the same anyway? once again i understand if you don't want to answer...

cheers

 

I can confirm that. The difference is still impressive.

 

what about compared to a decent CRT? if CRT is an option for me, is it still better? thats kinda what i'm trying to work out