gscartsw / gscartsw_lite / gcompsw switches support thread

[Ward1986]

Sorry be away for a while, what's the latest status on when the gscartsw_lite will be available?

[superg]

Sorry be away for a while, what's the latest status on when the gscartsw_lite will be available?

Ok, the units are here.
Here's how it will work:
I assemble some units, not all, just to have it started and then I open the orders for everybody.
Most likely I will open the orders this weekend. There are plenty of units this time. I will post everything here.

[KoroKoro]

RCA makes good cables along with Retro Console Cables.

But are your cables fully shielded or just the standard ones she sells for $20-$25?

But yeah what Superg stated is good advice. If you don't get fully shielded cables for your systems, at least get it on the outputs of whatever you are daisy chaining and main output.

Another factor here is how long your cables are and if your scart switch is powered or not. The cables she sells that are her standard ones without the pro coaxial core fully shielded upgrade is usually plenty for most people.

With this in mind, it is a good idea if you go longer than 5ft or more to get fully shielded. Especially when you add in a scart switcher or daisy chain them together. Your mileage may vary depending on your display setup as not all are created equal

My Daisy chain for the three Banbridge units (unpowered units) are all coaxial. I bought some coax cables for some system but it didn't really solve the buzzing issue for those systems I opted to use coax for. Would another cable in the chain that isn't coax cause buzzing across the board?

Do all your consoles buzz, or is it certain ports (like the ones that are daisy chained?).

I do know some of the bandridge switchers do have a port that leaks current and usually people cut a trace on the last port. Not sure if that would make sound buzz or not though.

Like most buzz issues. You're probably not going to get a firm solution over the internet. Just things to try.

Question, is it just your console to scart cable that's coax? Because if the switch to switch cables aren't coax then that's a source of buzz.

Have you tried removing every non-essential cable from all of your switches? Ideally you should remove all switches from your setup as a reference for best achievable quality. If you get buzz here it's not going to reduce by adding switches. Then start chaining switches 1 at a time with only 1 cable in and 1 cable out of each one. If that's still noise free then try hooking up other inputs to those switches 1 at a time.

EDIT: Also, have you replaced any power supplies? Those are a potential source of noise. Do you run any of that networking over AC junk? That can potentially cause noise. Is AC power in your area generally clean?

Thats starting to sound like a ground loop. I have found a few devices in particular will make things worse when connected together. Ps2, pc and sub amp made it unbearable. however they are all fine when connected individualy. I hope the gscartsw can help avoid ground loops. They can be a nightmare. But I'm only speaking from experience with non powered switches.

[FriendofSonic]

Do all your consoles buzz, or is it certain ports (like the ones that are daisy chained?).

I do know some of the bandridge switchers do have a port that leaks current and usually people cut a trace on the last port. Not sure if that would make sound buzz or not though.

I would say all do, but some are greatly diminished (like my Saturn is pretty good, and I'm not even using a coax cable there)

That ia starting to sound like a ground loop. I have found a few devices in particular will make things worse when connected together. Ps2, pc and sub amp made it unbearable. I hope the gscartsw can help avoid ground loops. They can be a nightmare. But I'm only speaking from experience with non powered switches.

I was curious on this too, and I started thinking about it because I think my setup downstairs suffers from it (Plasma telelvision plus AVR) I'm using an AVR upstairs-- I'm not familiar enough with ground loops to know if whether or not an AVR can exasperate the issue. Maybe I should troubleshoot it like that also.

Like most buzz issues. You're probably not going to get a firm solution over the internet. Just things to try.

Question, is it just your console to scart cable that's coax? Because if the switch to switch cables aren't coax then that's a source of buzz.

Have you tried removing every non-essential cable from all of your switches? Ideally you should remove all switches from your setup as a reference for best achievable quality. If you get buzz here it's not going to reduce by adding switches. Then start chaining switches 1 at a time with only 1 cable in and 1 cable out of each one. If that's still noise free then try hooking up other inputs to those switches 1 at a time.

EDIT: Also, have you replaced any power supplies? Those are a potential source of noise. Do you run any of that networking over AC junk? That can potentially cause noise. Is AC power in your area generally clean?

I mentioned it above, but all of the scart boxes are connected with coax cables, that was the first thing I did when the option became available from the eBay seller.

I haven't done that line of troubleshooting, I should at least test out some of the inputs on the first box and break the daisy chain, and see how it fairs.

I have actually been buying Retro Game Cave's power supplies because they seem of very nice quality, and for all of the older consoles with 'wall warts', I'll be entirely off of the original OEM supplies from the 80s/90s. I'm getting the Duo for NES/SNES from him this week, so I'll actually be very curious if that improves the buzz I hear on the NES/SNES (which is very noticeable)

Sorry guys, I'm not trying to derail the thread but I was very curious if there was even the slimmest possibility that new switchers could alleviate this issue. I'm thinking I'm going to order anyway because at the very worse I have a very nice piece of kit-- I don't mind spending the money on quality and it'd be nice to reduce the setup from 3 switchboxes to 2. Are we allowed to order more than one?

[Ward1986]

Sorry be away for a while, what's the latest status on when the gscartsw_lite will be available?

Ok, the units are here.
Here's how it will work:
I assemble some units, not all, just to have it started and then I open the orders for everybody.
Most likely I will open the orders this weekend. There are plenty of units this time. I will post everything here.

Brilliant, thanks superg, really hope I'm lucky enough to snag one this time, it's the last piece of the puzzle to complete my setup. Was lucky enough to get a gcompsw

[DirkSwizzler]

Also, have you replaced any power supplies? Those are a potential source of noise.

I have actually been buying Retro Game Cave's power supplies because they seem of very nice quality, and for all of the older consoles with 'wall warts', I'll be entirely off of the original OEM supplies from the 80s/90s. I'm getting the Duo for NES/SNES from him this week, so I'll actually be very curious if that improves the buzz I hear on the NES/SNES (which is very noticeable)

I should have specifically mentioned that new power supplies are more likely to be noisy than old ones. My language wasn't very clear and I'm not sure if you took that as a suggestion to replace power supplies willy nilly.

I would definitely try an original OEM power adapter if you're using a newer adapter on a system that's buzzing.

[thebigcheese]

I have a toploader NES and I can say that I had noticeable buzz with the standard cable from RCA, but swapped it for the coax version and all buzz disappeared. This has prompted me to go coax for other systems from around that time (SMS, TG16), but never had any issues with other systems. Guess they just started making them better... At any rate, as others have said, using an OEM power supply a high quality replacement could also help, as could replacing caps (maybe, I could be wrong).

[FriendofSonic]

Also, have you replaced any power supplies? Those are a potential source of noise.

I have actually been buying Retro Game Cave's power supplies because they seem of very nice quality, and for all of the older consoles with 'wall warts', I'll be entirely off of the original OEM supplies from the 80s/90s. I'm getting the Duo for NES/SNES from him this week, so I'll actually be very curious if that improves the buzz I hear on the NES/SNES (which is very noticeable)

I should have specifically mentioned that new power supplies are more likely to be noisy than old ones. My language wasn't very clear and I'm not sure if you took that as a suggestion to replace power supplies willy nilly.

I would definitely try an original OEM power adapter if you're using a newer adapter on a system that's buzzing.

I bought these anyway, I've been slowly purchasing them for years. I greatly prefer a single brick for my Genesis/32X/CD monstrosity and a single brick for NES/SNES will be nice too. I've used OEM power bricks always before then, and I had the buzz then as well.

[gusmoney]

@cdamm

you hear that? thats the sound of the worlds squeakiest bicycle being peddled in reverse. the ole "oh shit im gonna lose business i better "apologize" apology". nobody heres buying it bro your product is shit and youve shown your true colors.

Man, this guy is a dick.

[Rot]

Interesting read...

xROTx

PS. Remind me to eventually change my avatar here...

[setsunabr]

Hello SuperG!
Just saying that the Gscart_Lite FINALLY has arrived.
I haven't test it yet but as soon as i do i'll let you know.

Thanks.

[superg]

Hello SuperG!
Just saying that the Gscart_Lite FINALLY has arrived.
I haven't test it yet but as soon as i do i'll let you know.

Thanks.

Oh man what a relief, glad you got it, sorry it took so long!

[FBX]

Interesting read...

xROTx

PS. Remind me to eventually change my avatar here...

I know who you are. You're that dude on the Neo Geo board.

[Rot]

Interesting read...

xROTx

PS. Remind me to eventually change my avatar here...

I know who you are. You're that dude on the Neo Geo board.

I suppose I am...

Most days I don't have the energy to post on multiple forums...

However, it seems this thread has piqued my interest...

I am in the middle of over-seeing a few hardware releases on NG.com with Neosd... and I appreciate hardware and homebrew developers...

I'll contact System11 later if shit is about to hit the fan... I'd hate for a cross forum War as I like System11...

xROTx

PS. I'd just like to suggest that I'm just observing atm... and so there's no need to go balls in on me...

EDIT. In other words... there's no need for angorz posts... I'm truly just relaxing...

[setsunabr]

Hello SuperG!
Just saying that the Gscart_Lite FINALLY has arrived.
I haven't test it yet but as soon as i do i'll let you know.

Thanks.

Oh man what a relief, glad you got it, sorry it took so long!

Yeah, i can say that too. You don’t need to feel sorry,
I know that any of this was your fault.
Thanks again.

[Smile_Kaiser]

Oh wow, I can't believe I didn't miss out. When I noticed I wasn't getting e-mail notifications for new posts in this thread for like two weeks, I was sure that meant the orders had come and gone. Glad to be wrong!

Just out of curiosity, will the amount available be such that we'll need to camp out and wait for pre-orders to go up? Or do you reckon as long as we're here on the day of that it'll be fine?

[axlblazeadam]

I just hope the preorder doesn't go up during nighttime in Europe. Would hate to wake up and see it's all gone

[thebigcheese]

As a reminder, there are no more preorders per superg. It will just be orders.

[setsunabr]

Hello SuperG!
Just saying that the Gscart_Lite FINALLY has arrived.
I haven't test it yet but as soon as i do i'll let you know.

Thanks.

Oh man what a relief, glad you got it, sorry it took so long!

Yeah, i can say that too. You don’t need to feel sorry,
I know that any of this was your fault.
Thanks again.

I tested the Gscart_lite hooked on a framemeister with all my consoles
(Famicon AV, Megadrive, N64, Playstation, Saturn, NeoGeoAES, Gamecube and SuperNes)
and it worked great! Wonderful product!!

Thanks!

[FriendofSonic]

Does anyone know what timezone Superg operates in to get a good idea of when to refresh? Are we allowed to buy two units?

[superg]

Does anyone know what timezone Superg operates in to get a good idea of when to refresh? Are we allowed to buy two units?

I'm based in Michigan (EST time zone). Yes you can buy two units but I will be adjusting some things so it could be that you will have to make two separate transactions.

[tusecsy]

can we get a rough estimate of how many are going to be available? if its under 2 or 300 i fear this is gonna be a clusterfuck

[superg]

can we get a rough estimate of how many are going to be available? if its under 2 or 300 i fear this is gonna be a clusterfuck

A lot.

[FriendofSonic]

I'm going to take this as all of Scart dreams coming true!!

[BitWinter]

Hi everyone!

I bought 2 GscartSw lites from the previous batch (I think). I have to say the build quality is top notch! I have these daisy chained with a multi core coax Metal plug(packapunch) and it works great!
Using

Sega Master System
Genesis 1(w/32x and CD Model 1)
Saturn
Dreamcast(via Behar Bros box)
SNES
N64(RGB Mod)
GameCube
Amiga CD32 (via RGB add on)
PS1
PS2
Xbox
Commodore 64
Amiga 1200
Amiga 2000

And they all work flawlessly!!!

The two outputs go to

1. xRGB mini
2. CRT

The mini goes to an HDMI 6x2 matrix switch so I can output to my LCD TV or computer LCD or both!
The matrix inputs has xRGB mini, My main computer, PS3, PS4, Xbox One and Raspberry Pi

Some trickiness getting the Computer LCD to work but that has nothing todo with the Gscart!
I love it!

Highly recommend! I live in NJ in the US and I got mine within 3 days of my order.

I also have a GCompSw for an Xbox and PS2 and Wii and it works great as well!
I may need another GScart soon as I plan to put my Jaguar and 3DO(via svideo plug) on there as well.

5 stars!

[chromium]

Damn forgot to visit this thread for a few days. Hope I didn't miss the gcompsw

[tisfo]

can we get a rough estimate of how many are going to be available? if its under 2 or 300 i fear this is gonna be a clusterfuck

A lot.

Interested as well for the lite so i'll follow. Hopefully we get our hands on your creation! Best Regards from Athens, Greece!!

[coderkind]

Hoping for an expanded gcompsw still (but know it's unlikely).

[superg]

I've been busy assembling lite units. Will open orders this Monday.
That's it, no preorders, on Monday just come to http://gretrostuff.com and order it!
I will not be able to assemble everything until Monday but I will be doing it constantly to keep up with the orders.
I will adjust shipping prices and reorganize shipping a bit, more on that later.

[FriendofSonic]

Any idea if it'll be Monday morning, afternoon, evening? Thanks for the update sir!