Dreamcast VGA box & Scanline generator

Composite is fine ... i've noticed it's just a few burned games that seem to act up with the Hanzo. The majority of my burned games work properly and all the originals work fine as well.

 

Those converters are not compatible with 15khz RGB 480i games. Only VGA mode works with them. Which region games are you playing? Are these backup games patched for VGA?

 

Ok made new backups of the few games giving me issues and they worked ok... not sure what the issue was but it seems fine now. The Hanzo is an amazing product!

The VGA -> HDMI converter i am using (the startech http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...F&cm_re=vga_to_hdmi-_-15-158-397CVF-_-Product ) is powered by USB, but i've noticed it still works properly if you don't have the USB plugged in. Is this normal with other converters? The converter came with no documentation.

In fact if the converter is powered up (ie. connected to USB) it keeps the Hanzo light on and the dreamcast fan running even when you switch off the dreamcast until you disconnect the USB.

 

Sounds like the +5V pin is wired up. That's odd since most VGA monitors/upscalers and VGA cables don't have this pin connected as it can damage most of them. Does it do this on VGA cables with pin 9 missing? There's a pinout on this Wikipedia page if you need it.

 

Hanzo can power it up. Its VGA port can output 5v through pin9. You don't need the usb cable.
I will recommend that converter, thanks.

 

Thanks for the answers everyone!

 

Ah, so my suspicion was right after all. That's a great feature since it will free up a USB port on the other device it's being powered by.

Is there a way to turn off the +5V output on the Hanzo in case you use a fully wired VGA cable and a monitor/upscaler that can be damaged by that pin?

 

You can cut the trace, or break the pin on the cable, or use a cable without that pin.

 

Ah ok. Didn't even think about that for some reason lol. Must've been tired when I typed that lol.

 

That StarTech VGA HDMI converter is actually very good for the price, the only "bad" thing is that it doesn't upscale, it just converts the VGA analog video format to the HDMI digital video format, but then again, if it upscaled 480p to 1080p, it wouldn't cost only that.

By the way, don't know if this was already posted, but I just remembered to post this because I saw some discussion about having 480p over SCART with the Dreamcast. The original SCART cable sold by Sega in Europe (and in Japan?) is apparently capable of outputting 480p, but since it is somewhat a collector's item at some point (not the one that came bundled with the console, the one sold separately), someone over at this link did one that can output 480i and 480p: game sx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:dreamcast_480i-480p_scart_cable (delete space between game and sx).

 

The toro can output 31KHz RGBS at 480p+ over SCART too. Not sure if Hanzo supports it but you can get a VGA box to output 15KHz RGBHV (VGA) at 240p or 480i by putting the system into 15KHz RGB mode. Basically you link pin 7 of the DC's AV Out port to ground. You'll need a monitor that supports 15KHz though.

 

Are there any Hanzo left in stock? I would like to buy one.

 

We don't have a stock problem however we are working hard to ship all the preorders now. After completing it we will continue to take orders. In a few weeks probably...

 

Definitely interested when more come in! Looks great!

 

New cables...

https://flic.kr/p/HPMgLu

 

That's awesome. Will you announce when we can order your product again?

 

just dug my dreamcast out of storage and would love a hanzo to hook it up to my tv. I'll buy one when they're next available.

 

Of course...

 

Just received mine, works beautifully! Thanks beharius for the great product!

 

Enjoy it!