XRGB-1: Vertical "Streaks" in Output?

[KKEYSER4063]

I recently acquired an XRGB-1 unit, but upon setup I noticed something odd with the video output - there are vertical streaks that run the entire length of the image, like jailbars across the screen:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/p7nrn5ff9o9l4 ... .45.24.jpg

I've tested with multiple input devices on each of the different ports (RGB-21 from a SNES, S-Video from an N64, Composite from an AV Famicom) and each displays the same issue. The above screenshot is the XRGB-1 running through an HDMI Scaler to a flatscreen TV, but, I've tested the output on a VGA monitor to the same result.

I'm curious if anyone has seen this issue before, as I would very much like to repair this unit if that is possible, but, I am rather unsure of where to begin. I've opened the case of the XRGB-1, but nothing jumps out to me as being in need of repair - no leaking Caps or heavily corroded areas as far as I can see.

If anyone might offer a suggestion of what I might try to remedy this, I would be most appreciative.

[rugdoctor]

[Fudoh]

The above screenshot is the XRGB-1 running through an HDMI Scaler to a flatscreen TV, but, I've tested the output on a VGA monitor to the same result.

CRT or digital ? What you're seeing can be caused by a sampling mismatch. The HDMI converter definitely samples your input as 640x480, while it should be sampled as 720x480 instead. VGA inputs on LCDs happen to do the same, but a CRT should not do it.

[KKEYSER4063]

Hmm... I have not yet tried it with a CRT - I will test that next and see how it looks. I wonder - perhaps if I run the output of the XRGB-1 through a transcoder to get it into YUV, and feed that into the scaler, or my TV directly... It should then sample correctly at 720x480, no?

[Fudoh]

yes, this should get rid of the artefacts, but these transcoders are getting rare and expensive.

[KKEYSER4063]

Been super-busy with other things, but finally got around to testing a few different configurations of my setup. Sure enough, the streaking is definitely being caused by the output of the XRGB-1 being read as 640x480, rather than 720x480. I placed an Extron RGB interface after the XRGB-1 to turn its RGBHV output into RGBS, and fed that into a Kramer FC-4042 to transcode to YPbPr. When fed into my LCD Television, this was indeed rendered streak-free as 720x480, however, the same issues persist when I feed this same signal into my upscaler, an Optoma HD3000.

I have tried every configuration I can think to try, from swapping the Kramer unit for my XSelect D4 to transcode the XRGB output to YPbPr for the Optoma, to using the Extron interface (an RGB 203 Rxi) to alter the signal to SoG before it gets passed to the XSelect (wasn't sure if this had any bearing - didn't appear to).

I've been reading online, and the Optoma HD3000 seems to have particular issue in rendering inputs at 720x480 - what is strange to me, however, is that most of what I've seen online relating to this, has been regarding inputs over the BNC connections. I am inputing the signal over the Component Video/RCA Jacks, yet, I am getting this same issue - is there any trick, some method I might try to get the Optoma scaler to properly render this input?

[philexile]

Hi, I have this same issue with my XRGB-1. I tried transcoding the RGBHV output to component with a Cresendo and then converting the component signal to HDMI. Unfortunately, the lines are still there. I have a Sony Bravia XBR-HX929.

I was curious what sort of cabling your using on the RGB15 output? I have a feeling some of the streaks may be caused by cheap cabling. I'm going to be trying out some other options, but as you know RGB15 to VGA cables are hard to come by stateside.

I also owned an XRGB-2 and it had the same streaks. I got rid of these by (randomly) changing out the included, cheap VGA cables.

[Blair]

I can confirm I get the same jail bar like problems if I hook the XRGB-1 directly into the HD3000 (although I have tried vga to HDMI transcoding, I have a feeling that might not help, as the VGA and HDMI IC's on most devices not properly recognizing DTV timings seems to be the issue).

however, when I connect to the XRGB-1 to any of the DVDO processors the image looks perfect. no lines, no jail bars. just a very nice image processed and recognized as 480p (and then very nicely scaled to 1080p)


I tested this on the HD/HD+, VP50 and Edge green. all with mostly the same results (scaling engines on all of these devices are a little different from each other, but they all still looked good across the board).
(most of the Asus and Dell monitors I tested with the XRGB-1 also exhibited the same jail Bar type problems as the HD3000, but in every case the DVDO solved it).

[Fudoh]

(although I haven't tried vga to HDMI transcoding, I have a feeling that might not help, as the VGA and HDMI IC's on most devices not properly recognizing DTV timings seems to be the issue).

it should never be a problem on a HDMI input. 720x480i/p is the standard DVD timing, which all HDMI inputs should recognize perfectly fine.

[Blair]

it should never be a problem on a HDMI input. 720x480i/p is the standard DVD timing, which all HDMI inputs should recognize perfectly fine.

I should have been more specific, with my example.

I tried one of those porrta VGA to HDMI transcoder's with the XRGB-1, it didn't help the problem. (the lines actually got worse doing it that way)

(HDMI "input" is not the issue, getting the signal properly digitized from VGA is the problem)

thanks for catching that fudoh.

[Woozle]

My XRGB-1 gives me the same issues with vertical streaks going down the image. It does it on all my monitors/TVs (2 asus monitors, 2 sony TVs, and an LG TV). I thought the OSSC would fix it and let me do a nice 4x scaling for 240p but I'm still getting the vertical streaks.

Any idea what settings would be best on the OSSC end to get rid of the streaks?

[Blair]

My XRGB-1 gives me the same issues with vertical streaks going down the image. It does it on all my monitors/TVs (2 asus monitors, 2 sony TVs, and an LG TV). I thought the OSSC would fix it and let me do a nice 4x scaling for 240p but I'm still getting the vertical streaks.

Any idea what settings would be best on the OSSC end to get rid of the streaks?

did you set the VGA sampling input resolution to DTV?


*edit*

here are some shots for my current XRGB-1 set up. (being scaled to 1080p by the DVDO HD) (some with scanlines, some without).

Spoiler

and here are some direct captures

Spoiler

when I get a chance I'll post some images of Nintendo 64 over S-video (it actually looks pretty good).

[Woozle]

I thought I had tried all the sampling options, but maybe I missed that one. I'll try out DTV when I get back home next week. Thanks for the tip.

I also lose picture with the NESRGB kit, I thought it was my TV not liking the timing from the xrgb-1..but my TV works great with OSSC line tripling on my SNES, and it accepts weird custom HDMI timing I've sent from my fpga boards so I know the TV is pretty flexible.