gscartsw / gscartsw_lite / gcompsw switches support thread

[Nrg]

Any idea if/when gscartsw 3.4 will be available?

So far I get only positive feedback on lite, it looks like everything will be lite from now on

Damn. I was looking forward to ordering both the 3.4 and the lite

[coderkind]

Anyone able to confirm a Voultar RGB modded PC Engine works with the gscartsw_lite please? If so, what sync type?

[Mobiusstriptech]

Anyone able to confirm a Voultar RGB modded PC Engine works with the gscartsw_lite please? If so, what sync type?

It will work just fine with either csync or composite video as sync.

[ontwoplanks]

Don't rule out people who want non-scart totally, I was about to recommend the original to a nontechnical friend as an off the shelf all in one splitter for retro video game capture. The lite will require some sort of handmade cable to breakout the signal to VGA+Audio

[PeterWar]

My both PAL MD1 (not modded) and SMS1 work here. SMS required sync regeneration, have you tried it?

Yes, I've tried it both for the Mega Drive 1 and the Master System II, it won't work. Just tell me what settings to try and I'll test them.

Both MD1 and SMS2: What SCART cable do you use, CSYNC? Does it have appropriate resistor installed on sync line?
In my case I use SCART sync from composite.
When you turn on your MD1, do you see 1 second quick blinking of switch green power LED?

When I turn on my MD1 I do NOT see 1 second quick blinking of switch green power LED.

Find pictures of the SCART cable I'm using on the SMS2:

[hippie131]

Just took apart the wire. There was some heat shrink on it which is why I thought there was a resistor but turns out there isn't one. It's a dual layered wire with the outer wire going to pin 17 and the inner wire going to pin 20...so confused. No resistor though. I may have gotten the coaxial version of this cable.

This is individually shielded wires, one is ground the other one is signal.
There still can be resistor in console connector, Guspaz pointed that out here. You can use multimeter to identify what cable you have and whether there is a resistor on sync line.

Thanks for the info. I managed to test the sync line. FBX is right it was difficult to get a probe in there but I managed . There was no resistor in there. Not surprised since I got that cable over 3 years ago so if r-c-a only started putting them in recently it makes sense that mine wouldn't have one. I put in a resistor and it works like a charm now. Just got to figure out my TurboDuo now. Need to get some torx security bits to crack it open. The cable I got for it has no components at all in it for sync or otherwise. I always thought it was a little bright for the video output. Must be because there are no capacitors/resistors in it. Got it modded by this guy: http://www.oldskoolconsoles.com/

[superg]

When I turn on my MD1 I do NOT see 1 second quick blinking of switch green power LED.

There definitely is a sync problem there, if you don't see blinking it means that the signal isn't detected.

Find pictures of the SCART cable I'm using on the SMS2:

Your SMS 2 is RGB-modded, this could be the source of your problem, do you know what is installed?
More info here: http://retrorgb.com/sms.html

[bodine1231]

Enjoy your rest! BTW, any idea when we'll be able to order gcompsw again? Just don't want to miss the preorder window....

Definitely not sooner than next lite batch.
Extra lite switches will go on sale in two weeks.

If I pre-order a gscartsw_lite from your website will the extra ones fulfill those first?

[superg]

Enjoy your rest! BTW, any idea when we'll be able to order gcompsw again? Just don't want to miss the preorder window....

Definitely not sooner than next lite batch.
Extra lite switches will go on sale in two weeks.

If I pre-order a gscartsw_lite from your website will the extra ones fulfill those first?

The pre-orders are closed, there will be extra units in a week+.

[Wolf_]

Any idea when you might have time to work on that ps2 sog cable? Super excited to pick one up. Hopefully it works with the gscart lite and lightguns.

[Ward1986]

The pre-orders are closed, there will be extra units in a week+.

How much notice will you give before putting the extras up for sale? I live in the UK, and with the time difference, I'm concerned I'll be asleep when they become available

[anonymous_object]

I received RCA's SCART to XRGB mini cable over the weekend (this one) and I'm happy to report it works great with my gscartsw_lite. Tested on a SNES, PS2, and Genesis and all work great through the switch.

Just wanted to say thanks to superg for his time and energy creating this great device!

[nopanik38]

Hello,
Just wanted to know if ps1 and ps2 light guns plugged between official RCA cables on one hand and RCA to SCART adapter on other hand would work with the gscartsw_lite.
Also, I would like to pre-order one if/when possible.

Thanks!

[superg]

Any idea when you might have time to work on that ps2 sog cable? Super excited to pick one up. Hopefully it works with the gscart lite and lightguns.

I'm currently busy with other things, have to catch up on everything so really no time for this.

How much notice will you give before putting the extras up for sale? I live in the UK, and with the time difference, I'm concerned I'll be asleep when they become available

I usually post a few days in advance.

[sirjecht]

Any idea if/when gscartsw 3.4 will be available?

So far I get only positive feedback on lite, it looks like everything will be lite from now on

Damn. I was looking forward to ordering both the 3.4 and the lite

Just what i get for buying an bvm A32e1wu with a 68x card and i cant get the vga port scart switch

I really hope you do at least one more run of the gscartsw because thats the best solution right now with the extron 580xi (knowing I am the minority)

[Guspaz]

The 580xi supports RGBS input, as far as I can tell the gscartsw 3.4 won't work any better with it than the lite. Just get an appropriate cable, or use a scart-to-bnc cable with a bnc-to-hd15 cable.

[sirjecht]

The 580xi supports RGBS input, as far as I can tell the gscartsw 3.4 won't work any better with it than the lite. Just get an appropriate cable, or use a scart-to-bnc cable with a bnc-to-hd15 cable.

http://www.extron.com/mobile/products/p ... aspnetForm

Unfortunately no that's not the case. Without introducing another devise into the chain it is not possible.

The bahar brothers is the only product to convert (with a high quality signal) rgbs to vga which is needed for the extron 580xi to my knowledge and that's an extra 100 dollars another plugin devise that can go wrong. That's the reality between the few of us that have the 68x card between the lite and the old switch. Of course unless I am unaware of another devise and if so plz I would love to know

[Guspaz]

The 580xi does not require VGA input. The spec sheet for the 580xi:

http://media.extron.com/download/files/ ... 101909.pdf

Video input — RGB 580xi AAP, RGB 580xi S AAP, RGB 580xi SI AAP
Number/signal type 1 analog RGBHV, RGBS, RGsB, RsGsBs

RGBS is clearly listed as supported on the input, as is 15 kHz.

[sirjecht]

The 580xi does not require VGA input. The spec sheet for the 580xi:

http://media.extron.com/download/files/ ... 101909.pdf

Video input — RGB 580xi AAP, RGB 580xi S AAP, RGB 580xi SI AAP
Number/signal type 1 analog RGBHV, RGBS, RGsB, RsGsBs

RGBS is clearly listed as supported on the input, as is 15 kHz.

Oh that's interesting thank so much for pointing that out!! Is there a cable that is scart to vga with the audio breakout cables? So i can feed the rgbs signal through the 580xi?

[Guspaz]

You could ask RCA and RGC if they'd make the custom cable for you. RCA, at least, does custom orders.

If not, you can combine two cables like these:

(input direction) https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/son ... rter-cable

https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id= ... 1&format=2

You could probably use a 4x BNC to VGA cable, but I don't think Monoprice has those in short lengths, and I'm not 100% sure that the one sync pin they connect will be the one that you want, because Monoprice doesn't post their pinout.

[eric90000]

When I turn on my MD1 I do NOT see 1 second quick blinking of switch green power LED.

Spoiler

Find pictures of the SCART cable I'm using on the SMS2:

I may be wrong, but if that's a Csync MD1 cable, it looks like there's no components on the sync line? (yellow wire). There should be a 470R resistor and a 220uF capacitor on that right guys?

[superg]

I may be wrong, but if that's a Csync MD1 cable, it looks like there's no components on the sync line? (yellow wire). There should be a 470R resistor and a 220uF capacitor on that right guys?

It's not so clear as he says that those pics are from his SMS2 cable, not MD1.

[mikehaggar]

I have an odd issue with my gscart switch (purchased before the lite was introduced).

I have two Sega Genesis 1 consoles, one with the High Definition Graphics (HDG) on the case and the other without.

The one without HDG works perfectly with the gscart switch.

However, the High Definition Graphics one does not work well with the switch. Everything becomes much dimmer/darker and blurry. If I bypass the gscart switch and go straight away into my transcoder, the picture is perfect.

Both are using the same cable: Sega Genesis 1 Megadrive 1 stereo RGB SCART with boosted sync TV lead
purchased from Retro Console Accesories in May 2015

My NES + NESRGB, famicom + NESRGB, pc engine with RGB mod, and SNES all work perfectly with the switch.

What could the problem possibly be?

[thebigcheese]

I have an odd issue with my gscart switch (purchased before the lite was introduced).

I have two Sega Genesis 1 consoles, one with the High Definition Graphics (HDG) on the case and the other without.

The one without HDG works perfectly with the gscart switch.

However, the High Definition Graphics one does not work well with the switch. Everything becomes much dimmer/darker and blurry. If I bypass the gscart switch and go straight away into my transcoder, the picture is perfect.

Both are using the same cable: Sega Genesis 1 Megadrive 1 stereo RGB SCART with boosted sync TV lead
purchased from Retro Console Accesories in May 2015

My NES + NESRGB, famicom + NESRGB, pc engine with RGB mod, and SNES all work perfectly with the switch.

What could the problem possibly be?

Dunno if it's related, necessarily, but I have that same cable and had nothing but problems getting my Genesis 1 to get good sync. Finally, after like a year of trying to deal with it, I installed a sync stripper in the SCART head and have had no problem since. So I suspect that either the cable or the sync from the console is to blame (or both). In either case, I guess I would try with the sync regenerator, install a sync stripper in the cable, or just get a different cable.

[mikehaggar]

But considering it works fine with my other model 1 genesis, could the cable really be at fault?

[thebigcheese]

But considering it works fine with my other model 1 genesis, could the cable really be at fault?

Well, lately the general consensus seems to be that boosted sync is bad. But the Genesis is also, as far as I can tell, a pretty finicky system. Some people have never had problems, other people (like myself) always have problems. So saying it works on one and not another is, well, pretty normal for Genesis, I think.

[Mobiusstriptech]

It depends on if it's boosted or buffered sync. Buffered sync is ok and uses a logic circuit for buffering the sync signal. Boosted synced has a ths7314 on the sync line and is bad. It will output amplified TTL level sync to the device and cause issues.

If you have the boosted sync type then yes you have an issue with your cable and need to have it fixed. The difference between consoles can come from the different board revisions and chips used in each board. That's why the 470ohm resistor and cap are added to the sync line. To clean up the non-standard sync signals.

[RGB0b]

But considering it works fine with my other model 1 genesis, could the cable really be at fault?

Check and see if you have the correct components on the sync line: https://youtu.be/Z3sE3uk5kPU

Some people have never had problems, other people (like myself) always have problems. So saying it works on one and not another is, well, pretty normal for Genesis, I think.

If the cable has the right components, most issues are cleared up.

[DTechNation]

Hi Superg,

I just received my GScartLite and I was so excited to get it into my system, but once I connected it, I noticed a weird issue.

It seems like some electrical interference (wavy horizontal interference) is present in the signal (this is not present when plugging the system directly into the tv). This happens even when I plug the system and Gscart into a Powerline power professional power conditioner (I tried directly into the wall as well). I have tried with CS switch on or off with no difference.

Is there something I'm missing here or did I receive a defective unit?

Lastly, Thank you for all your hard work Superg.

[DirkSwizzler]

So it looks like maybe I can avoid buying an Extron and massage the Garo's output with a Kenzei. Plus, keeping the Kenzei in the chain means I leave myself an open door for using the Aten to hook up other VGA sources. All funneling to RGBS SCART on the 3.4 for maximum auto-switching goodness.

Got my Aten in the mail today to try out the "all paths lead to VGA" setup I mentioned. Everything worked great except for one bad interaction between the gacartsw 3.4 and the Kenzei.

My Neo Geo AES uses a retrogamingcables.co.uk csync scart cable that's plugged directly into the gscartsw 3.4 port 1. The RGBHV output of the gscartsw 3.4 going into the Kenzei into a framemeister caused sync issue that doesn't reproduce for any other scart device hooked into the gscartsw. And does not reproduce when the scart output of the 3.4 goes directly into the framemeister.

I tried running the neo geo through a gscartsw lite that chains into the 3.4 while sync regeneration was on and that didn't make a difference.

I don't have an oscilloscope or the skills to use one. So the bad interaction seemed worth mentioning as an edge case in case someone more electrically skilled can investigate.

Small followup. I just heard that the NeoGeo 3-6 (and 3-5) outputs composite video on pin 7 whereas earlier revisions output composite sync on that pin. I got a csync + stereo audio cable from retrogamingcables.co.uk . So composite video is very likely showing up on the csync pin as it gets to the gscartsw.

Although, if that's the problem. I would have hoped that sync regen could have fixed it. But composite video is a mess so I'm not that shocked.