Advice for SONY PVM BNC adapter (breakout cables)

[cachaito]

Hi guys, finally I purchased two SONYs PVMs: PVM-2054QM and PVM-20L2.
My plan is to connect them for older consoles (SNES PAL/ NTSC and Sega Genesis) and in future buy `29 consumer 100Hz Sony Trinitron for Gamecube and Sony PSX1.

Until now I was using dedicated SCART cables from Retro Gaming Cables for each console. Now I need to buy BNC breakout cable for Sony PVM/ BVM monitors which is in couple versions on the site, even with built in sync separator: list of cables

I got three questions:

• 1) Would you tell me which of this BNC adapters will be right for PVM-2054QM and PVM-20L2?
  2) If I have a proper BNC connector can I safely use Vivanco SBX 84 SCART switcher for all my three 16Bit consoles?
  
  3) In far, far away future when I will be able to buy gscartsw_lite does this BNC adapter cable will be suitable for this SCART switcher?

Thank you for any help, I cannot wait to see my new monitors in action

[Guspaz]

Don't use a sync stripper in the breakout cable. Your PVM (at least the 20L2) will not benefit from it, and sync strippers have side effects. Not severe ones, but it's useless anyhow.

If you are going directly from a SCART cable to the PVM (with no switch), you want this one:

https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/son ... verter-bnc

If you are connecting the OUTPUT of a SCART switch to your PVM (this will work with both), you want this one (SCART direction INPUT):

https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/son ... rter-cable

While I do use Retro Gaming Cables for many things, also consider WookieeWin for breakout cables, he specializes in them and they're well shielded.

That SCART switch should work, but be aware that many SCART switchers degrade the signal, typically reducing brightness and sharpness. You've already noticed the gscartsw lite as the best solution to that. The same BNC adapter cables will work with the outputs of the gscartsw lite.

[philexile]

. . . and sync strippers have side effects. Not severe ones, but it's useless anyhow.

Hi Guspaz, just out of curiosity: what side effects are you referring to?

[Guspaz]

The only visible one would be that they will slightly delay the sync signal, which will cause the image on-screen to be slightly offset. Non-visible is that it draws additional power from whatever is supplying the voltage (such as your retro game console), and the less load you put on your consoles the better (for longevity, although maybe it wouldn't have any real impact).

Sync strippers are only really needed for compatibility with devices that don't support it. If you use well shielded cables, composite video sync will not cause any problems. If you have poorly shielded cables, then the chroma part of the composite video signal will couple into the RGB lines and cause interference. This can be solved by using csync from the console, or a sync stripper *before* it runs down the SCART cable. If you only strip the sync off at the end of the cable, the damage is already done and you won't see any improvement.

Ultimately, for best results, use good well shielded cable, prefer native csync from the console when possible, luma sync when not possible.

[cachaito]

@Guspaz - Thank you so much for detailed reply. Time for some shopping, but...

...I got one more question - you wrote, that I should not buy breakout cable with sync stripper. What do you think about this cable with built in LM1881 sync separator for SNES PAL version console?

Like I wrote earlier my setup will be: PVM-2054QM or PVM-20L2 --> breakout SCART cable with direction INPUT --> Vivanco SBX 84 SCART switcher --> SNES RGB SCART Sync over Luma or mentioned wired for composite sync CSYNC.

If this cable wired for composite sync CSYNC cable will be improvement compared with my current cable with Sync over Luma?

May the force be with you!

[Guspaz]

I think that sync strippers should only be used when absolutely needed for compatibility reasons. There will not be any improvement in quality using a sync stripper instead of luma sync, and in fact the sync stripper will cause the image to be offset slightly.

[RottenToTheGore]

I think that sync strippers should only be used when absolutely needed for compatibility reasons. There will not be any improvement in quality using a sync stripper instead of luma sync, and in fact the sync stripper will cause the image to be offset slightly.

When you say offset, that means shifted to the side right?

I have to use a sync stripper for PS1 and PS2 to hook up to the Extron Crosspoint, but I have room in the console connector that I should be able to fit it in. Would this still cause the issue?

Also, have any pics of the issue? Curious to see it.

[Guspaz]

Yeah, offset to the side a bit. Sync strippers will cause the delay regardless of where you put them, although if you're going to use a sync stripper, the console end is preferable (since it will prevent potential coupling if the cable shielding isn't great). The approach used by the gscartsw-lite (it does full sync processing with an FPGA) doesn't cause a delay, but that's way more sophisticated than you're going to want (or fit) in a cable.

[cachaito]

Again, thank you! You've saved couple pounds in my pocket!

[scottmog]

One of the only reasons I can think of that you'd need a sync stripper is with a sony pvm 2950.

[cachaito]

One of the only reasons I can think of that you'd need a sync stripper is with a sony pvm 2950.

- that's interesting - scottmog why?

[Guspaz]

My guess is because the 2950 treats RGB more like a VGA monitor, it has separate H and V sync inputs, and you can use the H sync input for composite sync.

I don't know for sure if the PVM-2054QM requires csync, but I have a PVM in the L2 series (I've got the 14L2) so I know that the L2 accepts any kind of sync.

[cachaito]

I don't know for sure if the PVM-2054QM requires csync, but I have a PVM in the L2 series (I've got the 14L2) so I know that the L2 accepts any kind of sync.

If L2 series accepts any kind of sync, relying on this image maybe PVM-2054QM acts similar :-/