troubleshooting SONY BVM-20F1U with iScan Pro RGB output

[OdiousTrident]

I cannot seem to get a regular picture with a 5 cable - RGB to BNC adapter and a ScanPro with S-Video input coming in.

I believe the issue is that there are apparently 2 sync cables (?) - a grey and a black cable as opposed to the single sync input on the monitor. If I hook up both sync cables to the Sync input and Sync output on the monitor I get a clear picture split down the middle by a large black line. This line cannot be fixed with the various Sync adjustments you can make on this monitor.

Any ideas? Do I just need to get a 4 line VGA to BNC adapter?

[Fudoh]

The 20F1 is a 15khz-only monitor, while the iScan Pro does output 31khz. In other words, it won't work.

If you got a U20 or a A20 (which are multiscan), then you simply set your iScan Pro to YPbPr output and just use a VGA to 3x VGA breakout to connect it to the monitor.

[OdiousTrident]

What is the optimal way to get s-video outputs to work on this tv?

[Fudoh]

You get an extension board with s-video support.

[Ed Oscuro]

Alternatively, you go the RGB / YPbPr component way for the win! If possible ditch S-Video.

[OdiousTrident]

The below device might be able to work but does not appear to have a sync line running out. Can I get this thing to work in RGB if I switch to internal sync in the settings?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Composite-S-Vid ... 3a583c7b1b

[Ed Oscuro]

I don't know about quality, but there are some relatively cheap old Kramer transcoders on eBay that do RGB to S-Video, I believe.

[OdiousTrident]

I bought the below item on ebay and it doesn't appear to help. i get diagonal lines running down the screen when I use this item to convert s-video to component. Any ideas on what arrangement actually would work?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Composite-S-Vid ... 3a583c7b1b

[Fudoh]

Same as above:

Get an extension board with s-video support. This way you get native composite and s-video on your Sony without any conversion up front.

[OdiousTrident]

I'm pretty new to this and am not sure what an extension board is. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Thanks for all the help so far.

[Fudoh]

It's a PCB sliding into the back of your BVM. If you post a picture of yours, we can tell you what boards are installed in yours.

For NTSC s-video you would need a BKM-24N or BKM-27T, both of which unfortunately are not this easy to find.

What are your s-video sources ?

[OdiousTrident]

The s-video sources are a Genesis and a Saturn among other potential systems. Picture is below.

[Fudoh]

That's probably a 21D board you got installed, so you got a composite decoder, but not a s-video one.

But ditch the s-video idea. Both the Genesis and Saturn output native RGBs, so why on earth would you invest in anything s-video related ? Unless you have sources that ONLY output in s-video, you're better off getting proper RGB cables for your systems instead of going the s-video route.

[Xan]

On Genesis there is the composite transparencies issue though, can't just say RGB is 100% superior because of that.

[Fudoh]

99% is good enough.

[OdiousTrident]

Isn't it difficult to get US systems modded for RGB? I want to switch these systems between a larger CRT and the BVM.

Edit: I see so I just buy scart cables for the systems and get a scart to RGB line?

[Ed Oscuro]

It depends on the system - some systems will do RGB with the right cable, while some will be modified. And sometimes there's differences per revision. But the best way is to just get started.

[Fudoh]

Genesis and Saturn really just require the right cables.

For RGB you usually get SCART cables, so you need a breakout cable with a female scart connector on one end and 4x BNC for video (+ 2x RCA for audio) on the other end. This way you can connect all RGB-enabled systems to your BVM just as it is.

[Ed Oscuro]

If you're in the US, user DasKrabs sometimes sells the SCART to BNC breakout, so PM him if you're interested.

[OdiousTrident]

Awesome I can't believe it was so simple. One last question.

Can I put composite yellow cable with a BNC adapter into one of these inputs and make it work?

[Fudoh]

Can I put composite yellow cable with a BNC adapter into one of these inputs and make it work?

If that's really a BKM-21D in your extension port, then yes, works on all inputs except the "ext. sync" one. You just have to make sure to set the input to composite using the menu. Standard config is always component or RGB.