Sourcing a Nintendo multi out socket?

I have composite s-video and RGB wired up in my NES because RGB isn't really practical to me anywhere but with my own stuff. I have it running through a component transcoder to my TV, and I have a PVM monitor for straight RGB. I don't know of anyone with an RGB monitor or a component video transcoder, and s-video is even a rarity on a lot of TVs here, it seems. Its not likely that I'll take my NES anywhere else, but I like being set if I do. It certainly doesn't hurt me any to have them hooked up anyway-- a few extra lengths of wire don't set me back any. I'm not trying to say any one method or connector or cable is better or anything. This is just how I like it and want it. And for my wants and needs, the SNES style socket works better.

 

Guys, I think whatever your preference may be, one thing for certain is that we now truly have many attainable options. The modular and non-destructive nature of this system means you can always change your mind down the road. Just keep the original faceplate for your posterity. Who knows what's going to happen in the next 30 years. Many years ago most people are content with simply AV mod with RCA jacks, then came with PlayChoice PPU mod, and now NESRGB. Doing any of those mods always involve committing to cut your case for a certain plug type. Even when you harvest an AV Famicom's socket and panel, you would have to drill holes on the mainboard to screw the socket down. When you have to do all those, then yes, it make sense to mull over what connector to use. Now this should no longer be an issue.

 

OT, but what do you call that copper tape you put on top of the PPU? I'm asuming you did it to shield the PPU, but does it actually make a noticeable difference in the picture quality? I know that composite sucks regardless

EDIT: @Helder I guess

Btw the AV out sockets look great! I have a few original WII RGB cables somewhere, so I'm pretty interested in the Wii ones myself

 

There appears to be two types of copper shielding tapes that are typically readily available locally. There is a version use for electric guitar with conductive adhesive found in music instrument shops and "snail tape" found in gardening/hardware store. I got mine from the hardware store.

The copper tape was left on from a previous AV mod. It was needed even though I've socketed the PPU and lifted the video out pin. For that mod, yes it got rid of the jailbars for me. Since I have wrapped the PPU a couple turns and soldered the overlapping seam to a ground pin, I didn't bother to remove it for the new mod.

 

Perhaps I've been too harsh on the Wii connector. As a peace offering to the Wii connector, I put together a circuit design to allow for selecting video outputs. Component Video is automatically selected when pins 8 and 10 on the Wii connector are shorted. All Wii component cables short these pins while RGB and S-video cables do not. To facilitate this switching mechanism, I used the same IC as this tutorial for making a solid state video switcher.

For switching between RGB and s-video, however, a manual switch must be used. Nintendo didn't bother to make an automatic switching mechanism for these two because no Wii outputs both RGB and s-video. PAL systems do RGB and NTSC systems do s-video. Because s-video is only 2 signals, a simple DPDT on/on switch can do the job. The switch can be used by itself for a system that only outputs composite, s-video, and RGB (the outputs of the NESRGB) or it can be combined with the CBT3244A bus switch in a system with a component encoder.


By combining the DPDT switch and the CBT3244A bus switch, the Wii connector could be the ultimate A/V output for a toploader with NESRGB and a component encoder.

 

Now that is nifty.

 

Doesn't the NESRGB spit out component as well as RGB? And what about S-Video? If it doesn't do component then I don't see a reason to bither but since I don't really know I will let you guys answer that. Nice curcuit by the and if there is demand for it I will try to incorporate it in a future revision of the wii pcb if space permits.

 

NESRGB does not have component out. It has composite, s-video, and RGB.

 

When will these be available? are you going to set up something to order the multi-outs from? I just got a nesrgb and this will make my toploader look great.

 

Helder is taking care of sales. Parts have been ordered. We are just waiting for them to arrive for assembly.

 

Received the sockets today! now waiting on PCBs (tried Bad_Ad's fabricator for this batch ) and once I have them in then we can start to sell them. Right now it will be the PCB with the pin header that most people want, but if people can post here who is interested in the Composite Mod board in the last page that would help me determine if its worth ordering a batch or not.

Edit: PCBs will take longer since the fabricators are located in China and they have that long ass new years holiday, so by 2-3 weeks everything should be in for making the kits for sale. Shit even OSHPark is taking long which makes me wonder if they are using the Chinese fabricators as well.

 

Oshpark claim their boards to be 'manufactured in the USA' on their front page.

 

I'll go ahead and pick up an SNES multiout panel once they're for sale. I was in the process of adding a multiout to my top loader, but now that these are on their way, to hell with that.

 

There's rgb to component conversion boards that you can use that are relatively cheap. So, yea, component isn't available on the NESRgb, but you can add it in extra if you choose.

 

Thanks! I'll try ordering some "snail tape" sometime

 

So the Wii pcb wouldn't work on a USA TV since the NESRGB only spits out Composite and RGB and also S-Video .... that sucks. So it will be geared more towards the S-video and RGB (European) users. I can probably make a component board like I did for the Composite mod but before I waste time and effort how much interest will there be for this?

 

You're forgetting that a lot of people in the US who bought an NESRGB happen to own RGB-capable monitors or at least an RGB to component converter. RGB is certainly not a European-only thing y'know.

 

I've got a Kramer FC-14 component transcoder for all my game systems that output RGB. I also have a PVM but I generally use my regular Trinitron CRT with component input for playing games, since its bigger.

 

It doesn't really seem like an internal component board is a popular option among folks using the NESRGB. It seems people mostly use either an RGB capable monitor or feed the RGB output into an external transcoder such as the XRGB.

tg16pcemods.com sells a RGB to component board for $32. With that, a Wii connector, and the output switching circuit, one could build the ultimate NES with every type of video output short of HDMI . I'm not sure if many people wanna do this though lol.

 

It's probably due to the component signal being 240p and a lot of televisions will not take that signal over component. If that is the case with the tv you have, you will need to run it through an upscaler anyways so no point over RGB.