GARO - Universal Component Video Transcoder with Scanliner

[BuckoA51]

My review is up - https://www.videogameperfection.com/201 ... er-review/

I took some screenshots too, I'll get those uploaded in the next few days.

[masqdgamer]

My review is up - https://www.videogameperfection.com/201 ... er-review/

I took some screenshots too, I'll get those uploaded in the next few days.

thanks for posting that.
Very excited to try my Garo, can't wait!

[beharius]

Nice review, thanks for your support.

[BuckoA51]

Just sorry I wasn't able to sort out the purple tint thing on my setup.

[tacoboy42]

Can anyone post a link to a power supply that they know works good with the Garo in the US?

[beharius]

You need a one with 9v 1A, central positive, 5.5x2.1mm plug. It can be found on ebay or aliexpress.

[RGB0b]

I bought this one, but I think it's out of stock: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U7OUZMC

[LK4O4]

Got my Garo today, using a 12V power supply I had lying around, and when I plug the SCART to BNC to my PVM, the PVM claims there isn't any sync, so I get the usual distorted green squiggle picture that I usually get from an RGB signal without any sync. (Yes, I have EXT SYNC selected on my PVM and other RGB systems work great using the same SCART-to-BNC cable.) When I plug the SCART cable to my Framemeister, I can hear the audio over HDMI, but the Framemeister shows a blue screen that says "NO_INPUT". This is true for both my Xbox and my Wii.

Is the sync on my Garo just defective or is there something I'm doing wrong? Do I need to mess with the sync jumpers to get it to sync correctly over SCART? (I'll probably try all 4 sync jumper configurations and report back if any of them fix the issue.)

[beharius]

Probably related with the polarity jumper settings.

[Guspaz]

There are two types of SCART-to-BNC cables, INPUT and OUTPUT. Sync is wired to a different pin in each one (19 vs 20). It sounds like you're using the wrong type.

EDIT: This is assuming that the GARO doesn't run sync to both input and output pins.

EDIT 2: Never mind, audio follows the same input/output pattern as sync, so if you had the wrong type, you'd have no audio.

[beharius]

Only output wired.

[LK4O4]

Probably related with the polarity jumper settings.

Yep, this turned out to be the case. If the H and V polarity jumpers are the same (both 1-2 or both 2-3), then it seems to work, but if they're different, then it acts as if there's no sync at all.

The Wii is giving me the same purple bar issue that everyone else seems to be having, but otherwise, changing the sync polarity jumpers to either both positive or both negative fixes my issue! The Xbox looks good and the Wii has only given me color issues in the menus so far. I haven't seen purple in any games yet, though I just got the Garo today, so small sample set and all.

Thanks!

[jdawg131]

I'm disappointed with the early purple tint feedback on the Wii so far. I was planning on running it, along with the PS2, into the Garo. I'll guess I'll wait for more impressions.

[beharius]

There is also no problem on the Pioneer Kuro PDP-LX6090 plasma. Purple issue can be seen on in a certain menu page as far as I understand, not a permanent issue through the game.

[RGB0b]

I've seen the purple tint issue with a Wii on many component-to-VGA devices, including the Key Digital adapter I've been using for years (since 2006!?). I remember the issue clearly, because I thought my KD-CTCA3 was broken and bought another one. The new one arrived and had the issue too. I just ignored it for awhile and then tried again...and the issue was gone on BOTH converters. My new setup allows me to use component video directly into most monitors, so I just ignored the problem until now, assuming it was just an issue with my setup (or my Wii).

I never knew why it happened, but it's definitely not a Garo issue. It would be awesome if anyone can chime in with a technical explanation as to why this would happen. It would also be great to test on GameCube component cables.

My Garo just arrived and I should have time to do a full review next week. I hope the purple tint problem happens to me, as I'd like to get back to troubleshooting it.

[LK4O4]

My Garo just arrived and I should have time to do a full review next week. I hope the purple tint problem happens to me, as I'd like to get back to troubleshooting it.

If you want an exact repro case of the purple issues that I'm seeing, I've tried it with:

Wii -> Monoprice Component 4x1 Switch -> Garo SCART -> Bandridge 5x1 Auto-Switch -> PVM-20L5
https://cl.ly/0r2Z340F3J41
https://cl.ly/0a3m3Z0H3z1x

Wii -> Monoprice Component 4x1 Switch -> Garo SCART -> Framemeister -> ASUS VN279QL
https://cl.ly/3W2K432h3m3u
https://cl.ly/3s0Z0X231M1F

There are several screens on Wii where I see no purple at all, but I can consistently reproduce the issue on these specific places in the menu.

[Guspaz]

I was thinking about getting a Garo on the output of a component switch so that everything going into my PVM was RGB (to save having to go into the menus to switch it back and forth), but since the Wii is the first console I was planning to use with that, I'm wondering if I should wait for a new hardware revision that fixes the purple issue...

It looks like the cheap Extron CVC 300 are all gone now, they're going for like $300+ on eBay now.

Hopefully Beharius can figure out what's causing it!

[beharius]

Is this purple tint permanent? We have tested 3 Wiis from different regions, 7 screens and haven't encountered yet. Are you using too long cables?

[LK4O4]

Is this purple tint permanent? We have tested 3 Wiis from different regions, 7 screens and haven't encountered yet. Are you using too long cables?

The tint is not permanent. It shows up on certain menu screens, but then isn't visible on others.

I'll try some different configurations with longer or shorter cables and with or without the component/SCART switch boxes in the middle to see if that changes anything. I have a capture card coming in the mail, so maybe I'll be able to post some direct capture footage of the different configurations in a few days as well.

[beharius]

I read somewhere that Wii is notorious for its bad component video output, especially on the menu screens. There can be a bug which they haven't fixed. Nintendo probably assumed everyone would use the included composhit cables.

Btw it's confirmed that Tim's NESRGB component mod (240p) works well with the Garo.

[BuckoA51]

It would also be great to test on GameCube component cables.

I've seen it on the Gamecube too with certain transcoders, but my Gamecube is in bits at the moment (trying to sort the HDMI mod) so I can't test with Garo.

[Everu]

I received my Garo today. I tested my Japanese Wii and it works really great via VGA. However when I plug the SCART I can hear audio but my old CRT TV shows nothing (a blue screen meaning no signal) and my flat TV with SCART only shows this (http://i.imgur.com/6EKsRh2.jpg). Something I noticed is that while I configured my Wii to output 480i, my flat TV recognizes the signal as 576i. This also happens in 480p mode. I tried changing the polarity jumpers and while my flat TV now detects the signal as 480i, I can only see some white lines barely showing some elements of the Wii user interface (like this warning-health and safety screen: https://i.imgur.com/Jcp3J8l.jpg). My CRT TV now shows a black screen. I'm using a 12V power supply.

Something wrong with my setup?

[beharius]

TVs with Scart input don't support 480p video. Also GARO is not wired for auto RGB selection (pin 8-16) for regular TVs. Scart is only for the converters/upscalers. Some TVs may work, some others may require to select Scart/RGB from their menus. So it's normal.

[BuckoA51]

Also GARO is not wired for auto RGB selection (pin 8-16) for regular TVs.

That's a shame, there's a bunch of older TVs where that would be really useful, as they can accept only 480i via SCART and 480p via VGA and may not have component at all.

[LK4O4]

I got my capture card in the mail! As promised, I removed everything that could possibly be causing issues inbetween (switch boxes, etc) and I recorded some video.

Wii -> Garo SCART -> Framemeister -> Elgato Capture Card
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9TYA9aw9h8M

With no switchers involved, the purple only flashes for a split second and immediately goes away!

[beharius]

Thanks for your time and effort for the video.

[LEGENOARYNINLIA]

I found a way to get rid of the purple lines that show up in dark areas on my setup with the GARO, but there is a trade off. If I add a CSY-2100 in the chain the purple lines go away, but the overall image quality suffers quite a bit. I used KOF'98 UM in 480p to illustrate what's going on.

So, here's a FAT PS2 (SCPH-3904) with an official PS1 RGB SCART cable hooked up to a CSY-2100 that's connected to the GARO that is connected to a Mitsubishi Leonardo with a VGA to BNC breakout cable: http://i.imgur.com/OF6drQM.jpg

And here's the same console using a cheap third party component cable straight to the GARO that's connected to the same plasma with a VGA to BNC breakout cable: http://i.imgur.com/4XhJvaV.jpg


BONUS: http://i.imgur.com/PtqTRJo.jpg

[Milspex]

I got mine in today but get super faint scanlines on my 480p og xbox . I have a 12v adapter so should I try 9v instead?

[beharius]

No, it doesn't affect the intensity. Its scanlines are lighter than the Hanzo.

[clintkolodziej]

Perhaps someone can help me. I just received my Garo and am having an issue where the screen has a severe blue tint. I'm out of ideas on what to try next. Here are the setups that I've tried. Hopefully I'm just missing something and there isn't a problem with the Garo itself.

Setups I've tried that didn't work:
Xbox (High Definition AV Pack) -> Component -> Garo -> SCART -> OSSC (AV1 RGBS) -> DVI/HDMI -> LCD TV
Xbox (High Definition AV Pack) -> Component -> Garo -> SCART -> OSSC (AV1 RGsB) -> DVI/HDMI -> LCD TV
Xbox (High Definition AV Pack) -> Component -> Garo -> SCART -> OSSC (AV1 YPbPr) -> DVI/HDMI -> LCD TV
Wii -> Component -> Garo -> SCART -> OSSC (AV1 RGBS) -> DVI/HDMI -> LCD TV
Wii -> Component -> Garo -> SCART -> OSSC (AV1 RGsB) -> DVI/HDMI -> LCD TV
Wii -> Component -> Garo -> SCART -> OSSC (AV1 YPbPr) -> DVI/HDMI -> LCD TV

Setups I've tried that did work (NO GARO):
Xbox (High Definition AV Pack) -> Component -> OSSC (AV2 YPbPr) -> DVI/HDMI -> LCD TV
Xbox (High Definition AV Pack) -> Component -> LCD TV
Wii -> Component -> OSSC (AV2 YPbPr) -> DVI/HDMI -> LCD TV
Wii -> Component -> LCD TV

Other things that I've tried:
1. All combinations of sync jumpers on GARO (Only 1-2/1-2 or 2-3/2-3 combinations will sync with OSSC)
2. Running only the Green line, which should display Black/White from what I understand as it is just luminance (this displays a severe blue tint also)
3. I have two different (identical) SCART cables, I tried each but they yielded the same blue tint
4. All other consoles (which use SCART) work fine on the OSSC over the same SCART cables and OSSC AV1 RGBS input (and PS2 480p over RGsB on AV1)
5. I inspected the GARO board, I didn't see any obvious damage, and none of the inputs or outputs seem loose.
6. I tried 480i and 480p on Wii, both show the strong blue tint (widescreen and standard)
7. I tried 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i settings on Xbox, all show the strong blue tint (widescreen and standard)

Other ideas:
1. Maybe I can try a different SCART cable? Unfortunately the KabelDirect cable(s) that I am using is the only easily obtainable SCART cable I can get in the US quickly. I may try to pick one up from retrogamingcables.co.uk but that would take some time to arrive. Both KabelDirect cables work with my other devices, though I did see something that Bob from retrorgb.com (if I understood correctly) said in his review of the Garo (or perhaps it was at the end of the review of the gscompsw where he mentioned the Garo) about some SCART cables not having component wired up internally (only composite). If someone can point out how I can check that I'd be happy to pop one open and take a look.
2. Garo is bad?? Hopefully not!
3. Try the VGA output on the Garo (not sure if my LCD will accept RGBHV VGA or not, it just says PC Interface in the manual) -- though the whole point of my use of the GARO is to allow Xbox/Wii to plug into my gscartsw 3.4, which I removed from my setup while testing to make sure the issue wasn't related to that.

Gear:
SCART cable: https://www.amazon.com/KabelDirekt-mult ... rekt+scart
Xbox Component cable: https://www.amazon.com/BlueRigger-5-RCA ... nent+cable
Wii Component cable: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-6-Feet ... nent+cable
DVI/HDMI cable: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014I ... UTF8&psc=1
OSSC v1.5 Firmware v0.76
Samsung LN32B360 720p LCD TV

Any help is MUCH appreciated!