gscartsw: automatic 8:1 SCART-RGB switch

That's good to hear! I was wondering how fast you'll get your unit.

 

Unfortunately I have spent all evening messing around with this without luck. I have tried two different cables and every combination of 220uf cap and resistor/no resistor possible on both. All I get is an ultra ultra dark image via the gscartsw

 

You should try to understand what's going on with your console output. Mindless tampering with electronics won't bring you any good. I usually say that modded consoles are unsupported to rule out all faulty possibilities.
On the other hand I've never gotten any report that PC Engine / Turbografx has problems with the switch so it's very likely that the problem you experience is on the console side.

It would be great if somebody else here can give some feedback on PC Engine.

 

I appreciate you building this product and taking the time to help and all but did it have to be so condescending? I wouldn't say I was mindlessly poking around like a monkey with a screwdriver.
I added the 220uf caps as was suggested by the very article provided by retro rgb.
I have consolised my neo mvs and rgb modded all my machines etc myself using appropriate amps etc and this is the only machine having an issue or where I have seen something like this from a switch.
What would be good to understand is what the gscartsw is doing to the signal that my bandridge automatic Scart does not do outside of the switchable features. It doesn't seem to be passive so something is blocking the RGB. Thanks

 

It's just this

sounds like you're experimenting with it.
The thing is that you don't alter brightness by random resistors and capacitors, there is more to it - output encoder circuit should be analyzed and level should be checked. Voltage divider may be needed. I've seen quite a few RGB guides which are incorrect and it's just I won't be physically able to troubleshoot all variety of available mods.
For instance read this: http://assemblergames.com/l/threads/snes-mini-rgb-measurements.53053 - this is exact situation with SNES mini and proper way to solve it.

gscartsw is not a passive switch.
There are two cases where switch is altering the signal:
1. Direct: Video multiplexer chips clip non-standard RGB signal
2. Indirect: when you use the switch you increase your total cable length and if cable is poor it may alter the quality.

Do you have an oscilloscope?

 

Just received my shipping notification!! You are the man superg.

 

JP21: all shipping labels were created, everything will be dropped off tomorrow morning.
Now I can finally get a beer and have some rest!

 

I received my scart switch a few weeks ago and finally got a chance to try it out. Wow! This thing is amazing. Picture quality is flawless and the automatic switching works like a charm. The audio from the 3.5 mm jack is absolutely clean with no hum or buzzing.

Obviously A lot of thought and hard work went into making this scart switch and it shows in the final product.

Truly excellent.

Thank you!

 

My two switches arrived here in Sweden yesterday! So far, after some quick first checking everything seems to work brilliantly. Very happy with the switches. Thanks superg!

 

I have just received my switch (I'm in the UK) and will test out with my 2 RGB modded PC Engines and report back.

 

Thanks, I appreciate it!

 

I have an older version of this switch and have used it on an RGB modded PC Engine Core Grafx and it was fine. I also have an unmodified Core Grafx II that I use a special RGB cable that connects to the Ext Out port on the back, again, no problems.

 

I tried the switch with my PCEs. The Turbo Duo with an internal RGB amp works fine. However the unmodified white PC Engine with an EXT cable containing an RGB amp gives sometimes a scrambled picture and sometimes a stable picture but quite dark and bad quality, like a composite image.

 

Thank you guys for your reports.

 

No problem. It's worth mentioning both the PCEs work fine in my Holdan switch.

Also, when I plugged the white PCE into the gscartw and took the output into my Sony W7 flatscreen tv I got loud squealing audio and a black screen. My TV really didnt like it! My PVM had the symptoms I described in the previous post.

 

It's likely that your modded PC Engine cable needs some additional components to work properly. Do you have SCART input directly in your TV? If there is no audio then switch doesn't detect the signal which means that sync signal is out of spec.
What happens if you connect white PCE to TV directly?

 

I have a SCART on my Sony W7 TV but the PVM is my main display for retrogaming. I have one of these SCART leads. I don't know what components it has in it though:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Scart-RGB...r-/172316636390?&_trksid=p2056016.m2516.l5255

It is made by FiddeSE and is a really professionally made product. He also modded my Turbo Duo with the same amp (as far as I know) so I am surprised one of them works differently to the other.

The white PCE works fine if I plug it into the Sony W7 directly.

 

Depending on input signals it may require different circuit for different PC Engine consoles.

 

can you put me on the waiting list please?

 

Got my switch today - and its glorious! The only thing that sucked was that i had to pay some hefty custom, but that was to be expected really. Love the product, never again tinkering with cables behind my tv!