gscartsw: automatic 8:1 SCART-RGB switch

I'm too vested with JP21 cables myself to switch to SCART. What I would be willing to do, if would help get this batch pushed through, pay an extra $25-50. Just like you said, I highly doubt that the other 21 would be willing to do the same.

 

This JP21 batch will go for sure. But as I've said it could be the last one.

 

superg,

I previously mentioned about an increased buzz from the audio output of my systems. My friend who made the male to male JP21 modified the cable. The cable is now using individually shielded wire, one for each audio in/out line, four shielded wires total, and they are also wrapped in grounded foil separating them from the other lines as much as possible inside of the scart casings. The audio lines are also running outside the main scart cable which is also shielded. The buzz is still persisting.

He wants to know if the buzz could be from having all grounds shared (as per your diagram). Thank you for any help you can give in troubleshooting this issue.

 

Hmm, no idea what could be wrong. All grounds have to be connected because this is kind of additional shield. Big polygon on the gscartsw PCB is connecting them together anyway. Switch itself doesn't have big audio track lengths to significantly affect the audio signal. What cables do you use for audio-video wires? What console do you use for testing? Is it a bit better when you splitted audio/video to separate cables? What is your setup, XRGB, BVM/PVM, are there any other devices in a chain?

You can also try some troubleshooting:
1. do you hear the same amount of buzz while using 3.5 audio jack? (SCART/jack audio circuits are exactly the same)
2. try to disconnect "AV Control, YM and YS" and see if it makes a difference
3. try to shorten the cable length

 

Here's a detail of my setup:
Upscaler: XRGB Mini Framemeister

Systems: NES (NESRGB modded, JP21 multiout cable), SNES (unmodded, JP21 multiout cable), Genesis 1 (unmodded, JP21 9-pin cable), Saturn (unmodded, Saturn-specific cable), Nintendo 64 (modded, JP21 multiout cable), TG-16 (uses EXT cable for SCART; JP21 adapter used to connect to gscartw/XRGB), Dreamcast (uses Hanzo/Kensei for SCART; also uses JP21 adapter to connect to gscartw/XRGB)

Cabling: All cabling was purchased from retro_console_accessories except the male/male JP21 which my friend put together. The TG-16 EXT cable was purchased from a seller in Europe and the DC boxes from beharbros (I used 2 boxes instead of the single box because the single box didn't exist when I bought both, d'oh).

Setup Chain: Samsung LCD TV to HDMI to Framemeister to MiniDIN cable to male/male JP21 cable to JP21 gscartw to Systems (as listed above). Both HDMI ports on the XRGB and the D-Terminal port are in use on the Mini.

Testing: Every system produces different levels of buzzing; some worse than others. The NES was the benchmark as it was the system I first used with the gscartw. While the system directly plugged into the XRGB Mini produced some buzz (my friend told me this is a symptom of the NES itself), it was fairly muted and always overridden by the music of the game. Through the switch, it was somewhere between 2x-3x louder. The other systems produced similar, higher or lower buzzing (Saturn, much louder. SNES, quieter. Every other system, same as NES). I assume the varying quality of the cables is the reason for the variance.

1. I haven't used the 3.5 jack yet but that would be a good way to rule out the gscartw. I will get back to you on that.
2. I will open up the male/male cable and cut those three and see what happens. I will probably do this on the weekend.
3. The cable is a foot long - any shorter and it may be tough to get it connected!

I will reply back once I have taken the steps in 1&2. My friend is also planning on building an entirely new JP21 cable for me (he is, to say the least, very good like that).

 

What an extended reply
Yes, NES is terrible, you can improve it by separating NES audio/video signals from it's side as well.
When you do your audio testing, let's say 3.5 audio jack - the basic idea is to disconnect everything you can, even XRGB, all the console inputs but one. Also check if input 8 buzz is different from input 1. Physically input 8 traces are closer to output than input 1.
Foot long cable is short enough, yet I don't know how good it is
If you'll pay the shipping I can send you perfect 4ft video cable chunk (double individually shielded Belden 5-wire) which I use for my setup. PM me.

 

Hello, firstly let me say this is an awesome product and I am really glad you put the effort into developing it.

Secondly, I have a feature suggestion. I noticed this product has a built in sync strip option so I was wondering if you could build in a switch for rgsb output so we could get 480p scart for ps2, wii, and the original gamecube.

 

Hey drbananahammock, my setup with the scart version of the switch has a similar problem. I am also using the Framemeister and when I connect the consoles directly to it, there is only some slight buzz. When I plug the consoles into the gscartsw the buzz gets much louder. It is the same with different scart cables as well (some even just 40cm long). But I could get around it by using the audio jack on the gscartsw that I connected directly to the red and white cinch ports on the front of the Framemeister. Firmware version is 2.03a (don't know if that feature is new, so I thought it is worth mentioning).
The buzz level now seems to be normal again.

 

PS2: RGsB is non standard Sony's approach, either use component or RGsB to RGBS converter has to be built. There are other quirks and it was discussed in gscartsw shmups topic
WII: you can use either component or SCART (PAL only)
GameCube: you can use component cable or you can modify component cable and take progressive RGB signal from there.
So I don't really see a problem.
(personally I didn't compare component vs rgb in those consoles, I know there are some issues with RGBS being better than component on some systems)
http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/gcompsw-4-1-automatic-composite-component-switch.61829/

 

Using 3.5 jack is really the same as taking audio from SCART output. The real difference is that you route your audio wires totally separate from video ones.

 

I guessed so. Just wanted to give that hint to people having similar problems as me.

 

[SCART] Update: Just have gotten the news from my manufacturer that PCB's are done:

 

Firstly, apologies if this has already been asked (which I'm sure it has) but the search function doesnt allow me to search for VGA; it's too short.

Anyway, this is what I want to do.

Gscartsw scart output to my Framemeister XRGB mini

Gscartsw VGA output to my future Sony PVM 20L4 purchase via a VGA to BNC cable (a bit like this www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111402258315).

My systems are all the usual ones (NES,SNES,MD,PSX,Saturn,N64), most of my Scart cables are made by www,retrogamingcables.co.uk. Most are Csync apart from my SNES with is Luma sync.

Can I just run any of my consoles and output Scart to the Framemeister and VGA to the PVM at the same time? OR are there some more advanced steps that I will need to take in order to make this set up work as I want it?

 

I'm not sure about SNES sync on luma (95% it'll work it's just I've never tried) but other than that you're good to go.

 

Excellent, i had to use a sync on luma for my pal snes due to a weird checker board effect i was getting with my previous scart cable. Hopefully it will work fine, here's the cable im using https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk...ndo-pal-rgb-av-scart-cable-lead-cord-for-sale

 

I started off just popping headphones into the 3.5 jack and even with everything else plugged in, it was clear the switch is not the problem. The buzz was as mild as the NES directly into the XRGB (I swear it sounded softer >.>). I also had the JP21 connection active (so the male/male cable to the XRGB to the TV), listening through the TV and the buzz was as loud as ever.

I appreciate the offer to borrow your cable but with this development, I may be close to a workaround so I'd rather not inconvenience you more than I have with my posts. I feel bad enough bugging my friend who made the male/male cable (Yes Brat, I do feel bad and I know you're reading this, lol)

Is there a way to bypass the audio coming through the RGB connection to the Framemeister? Wouldn't using the RGB and red/white hook ups "mix" the two audio feeds? Or does using the red/whites override the audio coming in over RGB? Or would I need to have the wires for audio cut in the JP21 male/male cable?

Thank you very much for posting, badsector. The insight was very helpful.

 

Sorry, I wasn't clear - I was going to give you just the quality cable (I have a roll here for my cable needs), you'll still have to solder it yourself - that way you could rule out video cable quality.
Also from what I understand you've already separated audio/video cables on your JP21 cable. Try to move audio cable from video cable as far as you can and see if that affects the buzz.
Yes, you can totally cut audio channels for SCART, there are a plenty of ways to do it. Easiest thing of course would be to simply disconnect them in JP21 cable. Also I can tell you which components to unsolder to detach those permanently but to be honest that's the extreme case.
It's very likely that JP21 cable is the issue. Maybe there is some soldering problem? Try to cut audio cables one by one and see if it makes a difference. Don't forget that audio lines are crossover between two JP21 plugs, make sure there are no shorts there.

 

For the wii that is not entirely correct. Scart is disabled on a software level in non pal systems so it can be enabled via homebrew.
As for the playstation I don't understand why you wouldn't want the option to have 480p if possible via scart (not sure about the difference between rgsb and rgbs)
For the Gamecube... sure you can use a component cable for more than your product costs for a single cable. Or they could buy your product and a $20 shielded scart cable that caries stereo quality audio.

 

Are you able to do it? Can you "enable" it via homebrew?

Switch supports (and always supported) forwarding of 480p signal.

No offence but that's the key thing to understand, RGsB and RGBS are very different things, hint: the capital letters are wires, it should be written like this not to confuse anybody. I recommend first to read some theory on http://www.retrorgb.com.

I totally don't get your point. GameCube RGB-SCART is supported, but it can do only 480i. For progressive 480 you need either to modify that multi-out expensive cable or use open source gcvideo.

 

I do not know why, but when I plug in the cables into the front inputs of the Framemeister, it is the only audio that will be heard. The scart audio will not be heard anymore. I did not have to cut anything.