gscartsw: automatic 8:1 SCART-RGB switch

Those switches look amazing! I'm planning on getting one of these when there in stock. Hopefully they are in stock after Christmas since that's when I would be able to get one of these. Also, do they work with scart to component converters? I need to know since my setup is going to be using one.

 

I'm done with the preorders, current waiting list is frozen and first they'll get their switches (new design, I don't want to order older design one more time, no matter how impatient some people are).
As of simultaneous power up of several consoles, this has been explained several times. Read this topic and gscartsw topic on shmups.

Here's status update:
I plan to do the last and final changes to the switch design
1. Detect signal based on sync
2. Add VGA output in addition to SCART
3. Because of (2) I'll need to add a video amplifier
4. Because of (3) I'll have to rely only on external power
5. Add 3.5 audio jack
6. Switches to fine-tune voltage pins output for both SCART and JP21 (SCART: aspect ratio, RGB/Composite selection, JP21: Ym and Ys tuning)
7. JP21 board revision

I didn't do much progress last month, I was busy with other things. Now I'll have more time to finish this.
Also I can't estimate when I'll have some boards, let's see how it'll go.

All questions should go here, no PM's.

 

Your adding a 3.5mm audio jack? That's good to know as then I don't have to use a scart audio extractor to get sound with my setup. As scart to component converters don't have sound. At least I can use a cable I have instead to connect the audio to my stereo system. Btw I think your right to stop pre orders, if people are going to be idiots and not pay you for it, and waste your time, then you have every right to quit the pre order service!

 

Nice, thanks for the update superg

 

Sounds great! thanks for the update.

 

just popped in to look at getting another one of these amazing switches, looks like I'll be in for a long wait, all good and very understandable!

if anyone decides they don't want theirs anymore let me know! (please!)

will keep an eye out for pre-orders opening back up!

 

Hi can you please add me for the waiting list too :-D

 

Excellent news! I know you said you can't estimate when you'll have some boards, but can you say how long the current waiting list is?

 

~40 people.

EDIT: to everybody that is sending me PM's and messages to be added to waiting list, I don't accept pre-orders anymore. This is stated in bold red text on the first post in my selling topic here and on shmups. I'm not going to respond to such messages at all.

 

Just wanted to say again how great your switch is. I understand why you've now got such a long waiting list
I'm monitoring here and as soon as you'll be finished with the list I'll be ordering another switch from you.
Great effort, thanks.

 

Any pics to share of your current work in progress? Love seeing that stuff.
Keep up the great work!

 

a little update:
I've just ordered parts for composite-based signal detection. Will build and test prototype detection next week.
Not much to show yet, schematics for detection is ready but it needs to be tested.
Also I'm going exclude pin8 and pin16 (power) from forwarding at all - it seems nobody needs this and it'll simplify overall design.

 

Well, I'm new here and would love to be in line for one of these SCART-RGB switchers. Don't worry, I won't PM you until you say so. Thanks for doing this though. I'm sick of all the crap switchers out there. lol.

 

Nice, cant wait to see this working! And then a JP21 revision Great work superg!

 

Pin 8 and 16 are needed to auto-switch the television to the SCART, and detect the format of the source. Some CRT television don't allow manual switch to aux.

 

Switch will output 1-3V on pin 16 and "4:3" format on pin 8, but it will not be forwarded from the input. There is exactly 0 game consoles which can do "16:9" on SCART.

 

My EU Wii outputs 16/9 signal on scart cable

 

My WII outputs component.

EDIT:
Extended answer
WII 480 resolution isn't widescreen format, when you select it from the menu it just renders it shrank by X and that's get transferred to your TV. Then it's stretched to 16:9 on your TV.
WII games just look better in 4:3

 

I'm talking about the SCART cable, not the component cable.
It outputs 12v on pin 8, so my TV switches to 16/9, regardless of the resolution. I have to manually switch back to 4/3.
I don't know why Nintendo choose to do this.

 

Oh, now I got it, I own official WII SCART cable but I still need to get PAL WII to check it.
So it's 12V regardless of that setting in options.