gcompsw - 4:1 automatic composite/component switch

The prototype / case is finished and I'm doing some final testing. It may be available in a few months.

 

A few questions:
1) Is a component to 15 pin vga cable without quality loss, external power, or lag something that exists?
2) If not would you consider adding vga output to this switch like with your scart switch?
3) You mentioned there were some good hdmi switches, would you mind suggesting them to me? I've been looking for a good one that doesn't have any upscaling, lag, or autoswitching (usually causes a few seconds of screen blackout whenever resolution changes because it thinks the signal has been lost and switches through all the inputs every time) features?

 

1. There are adapter boxes, not cables. The circuit has to be powered.
2. No.
3. What I can suggest is not to buy Kinivo. I've seen some solid looking HDMI switches locally ($100+) (MicroCenter), haven't tested those yet. The main issue is build quality, Kinivo is too light and I've had autodetection problems with it. Not to mention that one of input HDMI ports is faulty, it accepts the signal under a certain angle.

 

If it is not too much trouble I would greatly appreciate if you could give me feedback on my setup:
Upscaler/converter/main switch - Xrgb Mini
1) Rgb In - Gscartsw
2) D Terminal - Gcompsw
3) Hdmi - IOGEAR 8 port https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005S0YNNM (direct pass-through & auto-switch can be disabled)
4) S-Video - Goldstar CD-i Gpi 1100m (CD-i player, it's my only s-video console)

Scart - Gscartsw
1) Atari 2600 (mod)
2) TurboDuo(mod)
3) Snes
4) Genesis (power base converter/cd&32x) (using the retro_console_accessories Genesis Model 1 to 2 female adapter cord so I only need to run a single Genesis 2 scart cable to the console and switch between the 32x & Gen1 when using the power base converter)
5) Saturn
6) PS1
7) Deamcast + Toro
8) PS2 + sync stripping scart to vga cable (if it is possible to have one of those made by retro_console_accessories on ebay, if not then I will have to use the sync strike) + Extron rxi 203 + bnc to scart cable

Component - Gcompsw
1) PSP
2) Xbox
3) Wii (depending on if I can get the wii to output in 480p scart or not over homebrew, I'm told the wii only supports 480i over scart but I will have the setup from my ps2 anyways so might as well see if I can get it working with RGsB or RGBhv bnc connectors)

Hdmi - IOGEAR 8 port (leaves room for future hdmi mods/inputs like if the ps vita ever gets an hdmi out, or if the ps vita and nintendo 3ds capture card mods ever get switched from usb out to hdmi)
1) PS3
2) Xbox 360
3) Gamecube(mod)
4) Wii U
5) GameGear(mod in development)

All previous hdmi consoles do not output at 1080p so I plan to route them through the xrgb mini and upscale them. This next batch all output at 1080p or will output at 4k 60hz hdmi 2.0 standards when they are released. I'm fairly certain that hdmi 2.0 uses the same hdmi cable but on a different standard and only requires a device that can output hdmi 2.0 and a display that can show 4k at 60hz. I will test this on my first IOGEAR before buying a second and if it does not work I may need to shop around to find something that works. Either way no sense routing 1080p and above through the xrgb mini for no reason so this will go directly into the 2nd hdmi 2.0 port on my monitor. (1st is for my computer and 3rd will be for the xrgb mini)
Hdmi - IOGEAR 8 port
1) NES(mod)
2) N64(mod)
3) Reserved for Nintendo NX
4) Reserved for PS4.5
5) Reserved for Xbox1.5

Sorry for the long reply but I have done a ton of research trying to get this setup working and I am near the finish and it is just such a crapton of information.

 

Wolf - For the PS2, just use a basic, sync-on-luma RGB SCART cable and put it in port 1 of the gscartsw. Then, put the Extron rxi 203 at the end of the chain: gscartsw VGA out --> Extron RXi 203 --> BNCtoSCART cable --> Framemeister
This will allow you to add two other VGA devices to the RXi and route them through the Framemesiter, should you ever need to. Also, the BNCtoSCART is directional, so make sure you choose that one properly.

 

Wouldn't I then need to have everything go out of the rxi? Can the Atari2600, Turboduo, SNES, Genesis, Saturn, Dreamcast, and PS1 all be output via the RGsB to scart cable or would some of them need a different combination or something? I don't want to have to plug/unplug/switch any cables if possible.

 

Yes, everything will then be running through the rxi, but it's all compatible and you won't loose any picture quality running through it.

 

So one RGsB bnc to scart cable is all I will need to have all those scart systems go through the rxi to the xrgb mini without ever having to plug or unplug anything?

 

There's no such thing as an RGsB BNC cable. You're over-thinking this...I realize all these acronyms and cable types can be confusing, but don't worry, all you need is the RGB consoles you listed above with a SCART cable (including PS2), then:

- VGA cable from the gscartsw into the Extron Rxi.

- One of these from the RXi to the mini (select output): https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk...-x-rca-converter-cable?tracking=5543fb4c077bb

- One of these to connect audio from the switch into the SCART/BNC cable: http://www.ebay.com/itm/400720055445

 

Okay thank you. I just realized that this means I can connect my toro box directly to the rxi which frees up a scart switch. Maybe for the wii if I can get that working in scart 480p or perhaps a neo geo if it ever gets an everdrive because the games are just too expensive to collect.

Anyways I think I've derailed the thread a bit figuring out what the heck I'm doing but thanks for the help everyone.

 

So... any clue when pre-orders will be open on this? I have no problem over paying now if you are not certain on the price and want to set it high and refund the difference later.

 

I'm working on some signal detection issues on my prototype board. Will take a week-two.

 

Thanks for the update and sorry for my lack of patience but the stakes are high when a crucial setup for your rig could be an extra several months away if I bungle the availability window =p

 

Curious about combining component and composite inputs. Say I have a component system on input 1 and a composite system on input 2. Will I have to connect the component output AND the composite output to two different inputs on my TV, as well as use a splitter for the audio channels?

 

Just curious but what composite system are you using? While I can't answer your question I can inform you of better alternatives you may not be aware of.

 

Yeah, you'll have to use two different TV inputs.
Here's how it was, I was working on component switch, but there were nice component connectors which had a composite one (yellow), and by coincident there was one unoccupied channel on the multiplexer ICs used so basically composite functionality is a free add-on.

 

At the moment, all my systems are RGB moded or component/HDMI. The question was geared more towards understanding the inner workings of the switch in case I later add a composite system, but thank you for the offer to help

Understood, thank you for the answer.

 

Fantastic looking board.

Would it be capable of switching digital audio over the composite video channel?

 

That I don't know, haven't had any experience with that.

 

Fit as far as space or fit as far as philosophy? I have S-Video cables for most of my old consoles, but not a lot of them have component out.

That said I use these types of switches on a CRT. On an HDTV s-video obviously serves no purpose, so I can see why you dropped it.