PVM-20L5 - One monitor issue down, one to go.

[DejahThoris]

I came across a good deal on a PVM-20L5 and was excited that it takes higher resolutions so I could have one PVM for my S/FC, Xbox 360, and my MAME PC. Brought it home, popped in the SFC, and had a good night of Kirby's Dream Land 3, everything looks fantastic.

Today I figured I'd drag out my MAME PC and get that up and running. Took a bit of messing around with the External Sync and H/V Sync buttons to get it to display a stable picture, but the colors are off and the image isn't quite right either.

- I've got two different VGA-> BNC RGBHV cables (One Extron brand, one Monoprice), the picture is the same regardless of whether you plug in yellow/black/nothing into Ext sync in the back with either cable.
- I get rolling picture unless both Ext. Sync and H/V Sync are set to on on the monitor.
- It's currently set to RGB, not Component.
- Result is the same in 640x480, 800x600, 720p, and 1080i.

I also took a peek around in the service menu but didn't seem to find anything that looked helpful.

Picture of the weird colors:
http://imgur.com/pveXae0

[BazookaBen]

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/contrast.php

What do these color bars look like on the PVM? Are they all there?

[cyborc]

When I had a 20l5 I had the same problem with dreamcast thru vga. Using the extron ss 200 sync stabilizer fixed the issue.

[DejahThoris]

http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/contrast.php

What do these color bars look like on the PVM? Are they all there?

I'd let you know, but today the second I actually log into Windows it loses sync, it seems.. Not sure what's different from last night when I could at least get weird colors everywhere...

[BazookaBen]

How are you combining H and V sync? With a BNC T-connector or something else?

[DejahThoris]

How are you combining H and V sync? With a BNC T-connector or something else?

I'm not! I'm assuming that's the issue now that you've brought it up...

Ran the signal through the little Extron 164xi box I have, managed to get it to Sync on Green, but it's the same distorted dark, weird colored picture as I had before, though now it works *in* windows, not just the login screen...

Product page for the 164xi says it will output RGBS, but I'm not sure if it needs RGBS coming in to get there, or if it will combine them for me...

[BazookaBen]

I'm not! I'm assuming that's the issue now that you've brought it up...

Ran the signal through the little Extron 164xi box I have, managed to get it to Sync on Green, but it's the same distorted dark, weird colored picture as I had before, though now it works *in* windows, not just the login screen...

Did you set your PVM to sync on green when you did that? What about trying EXT sync mode with your Extron outputting composite sync separate from RGB?

Product page for the 164xi says it will output RGBS, but I'm not sure if it needs RGBS coming in to get there, or if it will combine them for me...

It will, just hook up a BNC cable to the "S" output.

[DejahThoris]

I'm not! I'm assuming that's the issue now that you've brought it up...

Ran the signal through the little Extron 164xi box I have, managed to get it to Sync on Green, but it's the same distorted dark, weird colored picture as I had before, though now it works *in* windows, not just the login screen...

Did you set your PVM to sync on green when you did that? What about trying EXT sync mode with your Extron outputting composite sync separate from RGB?

I didn't change any settings on the monitor except turning EXT sync off when I did that. I've been through the menu's and haven't seen that option anywhere anyhow :/.

EXT sync mode on the Extron while hooking the S BNC output of the Extron to the EXT Sync in on the monitor results in the same exact image as any other combination so far.

http://imgur.com/ozIocKr

[BazookaBen]

EXT sync mode on the Extron while hooking the S BNC output of the Extron to the EXT Sync in on the monitor results in the same exact image as any other combination so far.

So just to be sure, you have your PVM set to "RGB-EXT SYNC" in the menu?

[DejahThoris]

EXT sync mode on the Extron while hooking the S BNC output of the Extron to the EXT Sync in on the monitor results in the same exact image as any other combination so far.

So just to be sure, you have your PVM set to "RGB-EXT SYNC" in the menu?

Not in the menu, just the button on the bezel that sets it. I don't see any sync options in the OSD menu at all.

From the manual:
When the EXT SYNC button on the front panel is
not pressed (the indicator lights in green), the
monitor operates on the sync signal from the G/Y
signal.

[BazookaBen]

I guess another thing would be to try hooking up Xbox via VGA to see what it looks like, or a Dreamcast. Maybe another PC/Laptop.

And how does the picture change when you press the comp/rgb button?

EDIT: Oh yeah, another common mistake, make sure you're not accidentally plugged into the sync ouput instead of input on your PVM.

[DejahThoris]

I guess another thing would be to try hooking up Xbox via VGA to see what it looks like, or a Dreamcast. Maybe another PC/Laptop.

And how does the picture change when you press the comp/rgb button?

EDIT: Oh yeah, another common mistake, make sure you're not accidentally plugged into the sync ouput instead of input on your PVM.

360 looks absolutely perfect through the Extron, same settings.

[BazookaBen]

Dang, well I'm stumped. Sounds like something is slightly different with your PC's output, enough to throw off your PVM

[DejahThoris]

Dang, well I'm stumped. Sounds like something is slightly different with your PC's output, enough to throw off your PVM

I'll try messing with other drivers and uninstalling soft15khz (I haven't been using it with this setup anyway, but maybe it being installed is throwing something off). Thanks for all the help though, it's much appreciated.