Flicky horizontal white distorted lines on Saturn

I've got this problem, which I uploaded to youtube. It pretty much makes the Saturn unplayable:

Sega Saturn RGB SCART to Samsung HDTV wavy white horizontal lines problem: https://youtu.be/RQiynDMuslY

However, the issue is only present on my Samsung HDTV using SCART. It's not there on the Samsung TV using an RF cable, or when using the Dreamcast through SCART on the same TV. It's also not there using the Saturn through SCART on a smaller Panasonic HDTV I have. The problem is still there when I moved the Saturn and TV to try them in the same wall sockets where the Panasonic showed no issue.

It's weird. I know the Saturn itself is fine, and the RF and SCART cables are fine, as they all work on one or other of the TVs. I know the Samsung's SCART input is fine as the Dreamcast works no problem.

I don't know if this is the same problem that I've heard many Model 2 Saturns have; it is a Model 2. I do see a slight wave when the Saturn loads a disc on the Panasonic, but that isn't white distorted lines, and doesn't affect gameplay

It's almost that the Samsung TV doesn't like the signal coming from the Saturn. Maybe the cables are not insulated well? I'm a bit unsure if using an HDMI converter would solve the problem.

I do have a working Model 1 that I can get to try at one point, and a broken Saturn that won't load discs that I can also try at one point, and probably other SCART cables.

-Edit-

I found my broke Saturn, a Model 2. It displayed much less of the white distortion that it wouldn't be a problem, but had much more of the ripple effect when the disc was loading. It played a few games quite well, then stopped working again. That was with the same SCART cable.

-Edit 2-

I decided to take apart both the Saturns, and blow away any dust on the motherboard and other parts.

My original Saturn still has the white wavy lines issue, but it's not there as much. My broke Saturn still has it's ripple shake effect thing, but loads CDs and plays games fine. It seems dust is an issue. At least they are both functioning pretty well on my Samsung TV now.

 

Since you are comfortable opening up your system, try re-seating all the cables inside. I had a similar ripple issue like what you are describing on my American Model 2 (using composite cable). The ripple pulsates in sync with movement of the laser; it annoys the heck out of me.

The system was fine before it was put in storage for awhile, so naturally I thought the capacitors were going bad that I replaced them all on the power board and the CD-rom drive. Going through all those trouble did not solve the issue.

Feeling defeated, I end up buying another working model 2 to replace it. Out of curiosity, I started swapping out sub-assemblies and was not able to recreate the ripple problem even with all the original sub-assemblies returning to their original system. Some how all the replugging seemed to have fix my problem. I say give it a try, it's the least you could do.

 

What do you mean by re-seating? When I took them apart, I took out the wires apart from within the laser module (which I didn't take apart). So getting down go the mother board and removing dust from it, I had to disconnect almost all connections. I thought about swapping parts between Saturns, but I'm not sure which part would be causing the issue. I guess the motherboard.

The ripple effect on my "broken" Saturn, not present all the time, but eg, top right corner of the menu screen bending in and rippling, or the detail on the menu flickering, is not as bad since I took it apart. My "broken" Saturn had and still has worse rippling than my other Saturn from the video, which only has slight rippling when the disc is loading.

On my Saturn in the video, the white distorted lines are not as bad after taking it apart, but are still there enough to cause issue. Actually the other Saturn has slight white lines too, but are not visible unless you look at the TV closely and at an angle.

So one has worse rippling, and one worse white lines. I've decided the Saturn with the rippling is easier viewing for my Samsung TV. The other looks great on my Panasonic as it doesn't show any white lines. I'll need to test the Saturn with the rippling on my Panasonic.

 

Re-seating as in unplugging everything and re-plugging while making sure everything is aligned. I know it's a cliche thing to recommend. We both obviously have done this, but in my case I've probably went through the motion many more times in my quest to isolate the problem. Perhaps all the reinsertions cleaned up the oxidation on the contact or it was just some dumb luck. At least in my case recapping wasn't the typical cure most people would probably suggest. I wish I could give you a more definitive solution as I understand how maddening the problem is. My system did play fine, but the ripple was such a nuisance. It was hard to ignore and can't be unseen.

 

Yeah, it's a bit annoying not having a perfect working Saturn. I'll need to get my hands on my Model 1 my brother has and see what that's like. Yesterday was the first and only time I'd taken apart these Saturns. Maybe doing so again and cleaning the connections and so on might help even more.

 

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Not original cables. My originals broke, and so did another, so these are number 3. The works much better on my Panasonic TV though.

 

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Any idea of where I can get a better cable from?

 

There is an eBay seller here in the USA by the name of retro_console_accessories and they hand make Saturn RGB SCART cables and their JP-21 counterparts as well as cables for other systems. They might be out of stock now but when they get them back in stock, definitely try their cables. I have two of them, one for my NTSC SNES and one for my Sega 32X, and they work perfectly with my SCART to HDMI converter. They have multiple cables for each system, like NTSC Saturn cables and PAL Saturn cables, C-Sync cables, sync on composite video cables, and sync on Luma cables, so be sure to get the best one for you system(usually the $21 versions). They wire their cables for both RGB and Composite so your TV will auto-select RGB if it supports it. Those cables are fully shielded and grounded. I hate to sound like a paid spokesperson but I really like their cables and they seemed to be the best ones on eBay that I could find. I've heard good praise about a UK seller on there but I haven't tried their cables yet.

 

In my situation I was using original composite cable. Never had the ripple issue prior to storage.

 

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Thanks, I'll give this one a shot.

 

I doubt it's the cable. I got a second hand Model 1 Saturn today, and it works perfectly on my old cable, with no white lines or distortion when loading the disc.

 

Try swapping parts like what I did. Do it in a systematic way while keeping track of where each part originally came from.

 

Yeah, I might try doing that. I got the new cable today, and it works just like the other cables, so at least I do know it's the Saturns, not the cable.

Interestingly, I've noticed that my second-hand Model 1, while occasionally having loading issues like one of my Model 2 had, it takes longer to load. I don't know if Sega made improvements to the Model 2 with load times?

Hopefully I'll get my original working Model 1 back soon to try. I've also noticed that the Model 1 is a bit more complex inside when taking it apart, and that some of it is different, eg, a different CD unit.

 

Might be something silly like a cold solder joint on the AV port inside the console.

 

Strange, but the problem with the white flickering seems to have gone now (still using the old cable). Possibly my taking it apart and putting it back together again, and leaving it, has made a difference, though that makes little sense. The Model 2s still have the slight ripple effect.

Anyway, I thought I'd do some speed tests as I now have two Model 2s and two Model 1s (all PAL).

The model 2's seem to be a bit quicker, and the model 1's sometimes took a bit longer to load the disc in the Saturn menu.

Marvel Super Heroes: On Saturn menu with door up. Starting at when I put the door down, and pressing start as soon as it loads, up until the title screen:
Model 1 A: 1 min:35 sec
Model 1 B: 1:40
Model 2 A: 1:28
Model 2 B: 1:28

Daytona, following same method, until title screen music finished:
Model 1 A: 1:25
Model 1 B: 1:29
Model 2 A: 1:23
Model 2 B: 1:23

Loading Bug! on the Saturn menu until it recognises the disc:
Model 1 A: 11 sec
Model 1 B: 11
Model 2 A: 11
Model 2 B: 10

In Bug! continuing on from previous, pressing start and watching the intro movie, until the title screen loads:
Model 1 A: 2:02
Model 1 B: 2:02
Model 2 A: 1:58
Model 2 B: 1:58

Model 2's are definitely faster.

 

Glad to hear my suggestion wasn't a fluke. I agree it seems to make no sense.