gscartsw: automatic 8:1 SCART-RGB switch

Magus90, I know it can seem overwhelming. Trust me, just spend time reading forum threads, watching YouTube videos, and listening to the RetroRGB podcast (etc). It will all start making sense soon enough. I was overwhelmed at first and was asking people a lot of questions too.

 

Thanks. That is what i am trying to do. As explained above, the Hsync/Vsync is what was confusing me and how it related to real VGA signal and RGBs. All i wanted to know was what Hsync/Vsync meant and how it related to the VGA switch.

 

A VGA signal is RGB + vertical Sync and horizontal Sync (the three color signals and two sync signals separated into their own separate paths). "Real VGA" is a term meant to distinguish an actual VGA signal ("real VGA", or RGBHV) from simply a "VGA" connection type (which is actually known as a DE-15 connector, and is typically used to carry a VGA signal). As far as I understand, you need to use a DE-15 connection to transmit a VGA signal.

'RGBs' refers to R + G + B + Sync, four signal paths with the two sync signals (H and V) being combined into a single path (known as 'csync', 'composite sync', or erroneously as 'pure sync'). RGBs can be transmitted over SCART and other connection types. I believe RGBs can also be transmitted over a D-15 connection which is what the gscart can do when the aforementioned switch has been switched to 'Csync' (right everyone?).

As far as I understand, you can use the D-15 terminal on the gscart to transmit a VGA (RGBHV) signal to either a VGA-compatible monitor or video processor, or you can use the D-15 terminal with some type of 'D-15 to SCART' or 'D-15 to BNC' cable to transmit an RGBs signal to an RGBs-compatible monitor or video processor. Which direction the switch is switched determines which type of signal is being output by the gscart's D-15 terminal.

 

CV - composite/vertical sync, HV - horizontal/vertical sync. All this information is implied and as I've said, I've explained it a lot to you personally and to everybody, it's all in this topic. But somehow you're unwilling to read, you keep asking the questions. And when I told you politely about it you went to shit and started calling names.

The switch is not for everyone then. By getting the switch it's expected that you know the basics. I can't imagine somebody throw away $220 without understanding what RGBS is and how it's better. Nobody owes you anything here on these forums. There is plenty of information on RGB, retrorgb.com, My Life in Gaming - it's all explained, you just have to be patient and learn the stuff.

The last thing - watch your tongue. You've already shown enough disrespect by calling me a jerk and that's something I don't tolerate. What I do here is my hobby with a hope that it's useful for the retro community. Getting the switch is your privilege, not your right. I get a little extra out of this yes, but I'm not a businessman and I prefer not to sell the device to people with an attitude similar to yours.
Not happy - stfu, return the switch and the problem is solved.

To everybody else, while I appreciate your effort to explain the basics, this is switch update/support thread and I post here important information. I don't want that information to be lost thus either take these conversations offline or at least post some links instead.

 

Magus90,
Everyone in this thread including superg been exceedingly tolerant of your questions. But you keep asking the same (off topic) questions over and over, even after they have been answered definitively. This thread is not for learning the basics of video sync signals, or for ordering custom cables from a third party seller. Please take those discussions elsewhere so we can keep this thread on topic.

 

JP21: As I've promised, all files needed to manufacture JP21 version were uploaded, please check the first post for the details. GERBERs, BOM, case drawings / case parts list.

 

Sorry for being cranky yesterday. Honestly, if i had known my questions were considered off topic i would have taken them elsewhere. I seriously am having a hard time understanding some of this, i am not just passing over the answers to be annoying. I edited all my posts so they don't clog the thread. Thanks for the support thus far.

P.S. Retro Console Accessories made the VGA wire, if anyone is interested one.

 

Thanks Superg for this wonderful device.
I currently have 2
Is there a way to send you a private message?

It's in regards to if you offer repair service?
I'm not receiving blue signal and right audio isn't working. I was careless with the unit and dropped it.

Thanks

 

PM sent.

 

I really hate to be the jerking with an annoying issue, but I received my g-scart right before the holiday and while I was gone my boyfriend threw away the box with the power supply inside by accident. Is there a way I could purchase another?

 

PM sent.

Continuation of the story: he responded with photo in a week, there was some really minor plexiglass damage but no way to check when exactly it happened because as I've said he got the unit 3 months ago. I offered him full refund after he returns the switch and he escalated his claim to PayPal stating that "it's the only proper way to return the unit".

 

Got my unit and hooked it up via SCART to Framemeister with the appropriate cables, worked perfectly with PSX, Saturn, Genesis, SNES, and NES right out of the box! Very pleased with the build quality, totally looking forward to the component switcher next!

 

So I just received the SCART switch a few days ago. I hooked up all of my systems (NES, FC, SNES, PCE, GEN), and all work perfectly except for the SNES.

If I bypass the switch, the picture comes in perfectly colorful and clear (as in the pic on the left).

If I run it through the switch, I get a really dark image with black thick lines running through it...almost like a muddy distortion. This is the second pic. (it's hard to tell how bad it is but it is unplayably bad).



Just for some info, the SNES is a Mini with an RGB mod.

 

You will have to troubleshoot your SNES cable / mod.

 

How can I troubleshoot the cable/mod? As I said, when I bypass the switch and use the exact same cable/console to go directly into the TV, it works perfectly. When I use the switch, the picture gets crappy. What could be causing this?

 

When you bypass the switch two things happen:
1. you shorten your total cable length by a lot;
2. signal doesn't go through switch multiplexers which cut everything beyond the "normal" range
Please also take into consideration that if your console is modded I have no idea about your RGBS levels. I own here 2 SNES consoles, PAL & NTSC - everything here works perfectly given that the correct cable is used (http://members.optusnet.com.au/eviltim/gamescart/gamescart.htm). I had to adjust XRGB sync level here though, but that's XRGB's problem, not gscartsw (I have the same problem even if connected directly).
Some suggestions:
a) See if clear sync switch affects anything.
b) Try different cables.
c) Make sure your mod is legit and proper (can't help you with that, maybe somebody will reply here). A lot of users are using SNES Mini here with no problems.

Hope that explains.

 

Thanks for your quick response.

a) sync switch does nothing
b) So, all the cables I use are from retro_console_accessories. The cable I got is specifically for the SNES. I'm not sure if this means anything, but I have an extra one of these exact same cables that I use for my NESRGB modded AV famicom and the image comes through perfectly for that console. I even tried using that cable with the SNES but it gives the same result.
c) not sure how to tell if my mod is "legit and proper". How many ways are there to add RGB to a SNES mini?

 

I'm unsure of their exact wiring, I use self made cables here.

Check this thread:
http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/snes-mini-rgb-measurements.53053
This has a lot of important info as well as some solutions.
It also can be helpful to read this lengthy topic backwards (or search through it) because there were a few guys who also had a problem with SNES, I don't remember if it was Mini or just original one but regardless I think everybody solved their issue.

There is a multitude of all possible mods that can be done and it's pretty much impossible to troubleshoot all these - that's why I put a disclaimer on switch order page that "RGB-modded" consoles are unsupported, although they usually work.

 

Hi can you please post the pinout used for the vga output. As I need to buy or make some vga to scart cables and need to make sure they will work. I am looking to buy a switch next time they are available.
(I know the vga is just carrying the scart signal)

 

Hope this helps. She just custom made these for me, and made an extra. Have yet to try them because they haven't gotten here yet, but they should work.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201736080235?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT