This might not fit in this section, so please move it if that's the case. I just got a Sony PVM today, and to test it out I thought I'd try hooking it up to my PS2. I have a component cable, and there's an option in the settings that lets you output RGB from the component cables. My PVM has 4 inputs for RGB: R, G, B, and Sync. Of course, there are only 3 cables coming out of the PS2. Naturally, if I just plug the 3 cables into R, G, and B respectively (going by the colors of the cables) I just get a scrambled mess on the screen. If I connect one of the cables to the Sync input and another one to the R, G, or B inputs, I get a pretty clear signal but it's monochromatic. I assume this means that the sync signal is modulated along with the color signals in the same cable. So, how exactly do I get the RGB image from my PS2 to the PVM?
You have to use a proper RGB cable (not component). There's AV-Multi (what I use) which was used in Japan only, AFAIK. I'm sure there's Euro Scart in Europe. Other than that, you'll need to make your own. Pretty sure all PVM models only get RGB from the 25-pin Dsub. If you look through the Off-Topic section for "PVM" or "PVM-2530" (search only my posts to narrow it down) you'll see a lot of info on the subject.
Mine uses BNC connectors. What exactly is an AV-Multi? Also, in the PS2 menu it specifically says "Component Video Out," and under that it lets you choose either Y Cb/Pb Cr/Pr or RGB.
The PS2 (like most other Sony products) uses sync-on-green. Is it the green cable that causes the stable image when placed in sync? If so get a Y-splitter and turn that 1 BNC into 2 identical ones. ^ note: theory.
Component (YPbPr) video is like a cross between RGB and monochromatic composite video; sync and luminance (sum of RGB) is carried on the green cable. (This is not the same thing as "sync on green" because the green wire is NOT the green color component.) If you connect green to sync, you'll get a picture made by the levels of the red and blue wires, but those wires don't carry red and blue values, they're color difference signals which need to be decoded mathematically back into RGB, which is why you have a monochrome picture instead of a partially colored picture missing green. What the menu option in the PS2 menu does is actually switch on the component encoder, it doesn't "let you output RGB from the component cables" because you still need the sync wire. The separate sync signal is essential to RGB video because sync isn't modulated on a color component like it is in "component" video as you noticed. Doesn't your PVM have component video input? Most from the mid 90s on do.
If that's the case, do they make a PS2 cable with RGB and sync RCA or BNC cables coming out of it? I'm tempted, like opethan said, to think that the sync is modulated with the color into the component cables because the image stabilized when I plugged one of them into the "Sync" input on the PVM. Though, I'm hesitant to go up to RadioShack and spend a bunch of money on adapters (they're way overpriced) when I don't know if it'll work. No, it doesn't have component video. It was made around 1984, I think: model no. is PVM-1271Q. All it has is R, G, and B inputs, a Sync input, and a "Line A" and "Line B" which I believe are just for composite NTSC, PAL, and SECAM video.
I've not seen a PS2 RGB cable with BNC connectors but it's simple enough to convert a SCART PS RGB cable to work on your monitor as long as you aren't a monkey with a soldering iron.
On a related note, if ANYONE has a lead on official PS2 RGB cables, do let me know. I've been looking for centuries.
the official PS3 component cable will sort you out, it has sync aswell and works fine with yous PS2 since the connector is the same on the console.
No, you'll have to make a cable or adapter like that or maybe pay someone to do it. Read my last post, the green wire has luminance with sync modulated onto it. Radioshack doesn't have any adapters that can do this, to convert YPbPr ("component") to RGB you need something called a transcoder. Just where exactly is sync?
I was wondering the same thing. Looks exactly like the PS2 component cable to me, except with fancier leads. On another note, how would I go about making an adapter for SCART? I looked at some pinouts on the web, but I don't see where the RGB sync is. Do they mean sync when they refer to "RGB status/fast blanking" (pin 16)?
Nope, there should be a "composite sync" pin which is what you need. Really all you have to do is get a female SCART connector and wire RGB and sync to BNC male connectors then you have an adapter.
Scart ones? I think amazon france was carrying the ps1 model (which should be identical to ps2) for a long time. However I don't seem to find it anymore.
Listen to Calpis. I have a Sony PVM too. It takes RGB from the 25 pin port but also BNC connectors. So I bought a VGA to BNC cable. It uses the VGA pinout for RGB, and has Horizontal and Vertical Sync. I think Horiz Sync is the one I wired for Composite Sync, but anyway, I just wired up a VGA connector to a SCART box. So I just buy Euro SCART RGB cables which then connect to that BNC cable and that's it. It works very well. And really you are going to have to do this too. There's really no way you are getting around some custom job. I highly recommend figuring out how to connect SCART cables to your PVM. You don't have to be that handy really. Anyone with a soldering iron and some basic tools could build an adapter. I haven't bought a PS SCART RGB cable yet, but on PS2 you'll want to set it to RGB so you get the correct colors. And I think you can and may need to diable Sync on Green. It is very cool once you get things hooked up to that PVM.
Calpis, it sounds like you think the PS2 is outputting YPbPr, when it's most likely set to RGB out. I don't want to sound patronising: I've probably read your posts wrong. However I would agree with getting a Scart cable or likewise. The other method is to get a sync from the composite video using an LM1881 chip. Read: http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/psxav.htm http://www.gamesx.com/misctech/lm1881.htm
I'm confused because every pinout I look at uses different terms for what the pins do and none of them refer to "composite sync." Is the pin used for sync the same one that's used for composite video?
If the PS2 were set to RGB, I don't think there would be a picture whatsoever, unless you know that sync is ALWAYS on the green wire regardless of RGB/YPbPr output. I'm only aware of sync-on-green being used for the Linux kit. AFAIK the only reason for sync-on-green is to allow people to use Sun sync-on-green monitors since rarely do standard VGA monitors allow you to use composite sync. Had the PS2 output separate and composite sync I don't think they would have used sync-on-green at all. Sorry, I was wrong about the sync pin. Turns out sync is only provided via composite video on SCART, which is quite retarded since Japanese 21-pin RGB (same connector as SCART) has it's own sync. Try connecting composite video to the TV's sync, hopefully it'll be able to pick it off with it's low pass filter. If not, then you'll have to do what opethfan said and use a sync-splitter, which will suck since it needs a power source.
Nevermind, I see which one is composite sync now. However, I did read in a project very similar to this that the sync may need to be amplified. Is that true for a PVM?
Well being as I use YPbPr for my PS2 and I live somewhere where saying RGB makes most people think about a certain fast food restaurant with curly fries, I can only quote Wiki: And if I quote the original post: So I can only assume the display wants composite sync, which means that composite video must be put through an LM1881, which would then output a sync signal that would work. Again, theory.
