gscartsw / gscartsw_lite / gcompsw switches support thread

[badwhite40]

Wow
Another batch I lost

[superg]

Wow
Another batch I lost

I'm trying to make things better. Next batch will follow.

[doonut]

I've just offloaded half of the orders to the post office.
I estimate the remaining half will be shipped on the weekend.
I already plan a new batch of gscartsw_lite and gcompsw.

That sound like fun fighto

[R3dRuM]

Hi all,

I'm very interested in a gscartsw_lite and I would like to ask you some questions

Currently I'm using two cheap scart switchers EXACTLY like this one (one of them with 5 ports instead 3): https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... SL800_.jpg

As you know, this kind of switch is not so good... but I'm getting a decent quality (with some noise) on my CRT TV for ALL my systems EXCEPT for the NEO-GEO MVS, for wich I get a MUCH darker image in comparison with the one displayed when I connect the NEO-GEO MVS DIRECTLY to my CRT TV; do you know why is this happening? will I have the same problem with the gscartsw_lite?

And another question; I read that using a Nintendo 64 PAL I won't get any image on the TV (because this console doesn't output RGB without modding), so.. does this mean that the gscartsw_lite is not able to pass directly the composite video to the TV using the standard european composite cable (like this one: https://i.imgur.com/ezxdo1t.jpg)?

Thank you very much

[tusecsy]

Hi all,

I'm very interested in a gscartsw_lite and I would like to ask you some questions

Currently I'm using two cheap scart switchers EXACTLY like this one (one of them with 5 ports instead 3): https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com ... SL800_.jpg

As you know, this kind of switch is not so good... but I'm getting a decent quality (with some noise) on my CRT TV for ALL my systems EXCEPT for the NEO-GEO MVS, for wich I get a MUCH darker image in comparison with the one displayed when I connect the NEO-GEO MVS DIRECTLY to my CRT TV; do you know why is this happening? will I have the same problem with the gscartsw_lite?

And another question; I read that using a Nintendo 64 PAL I won't get any image on the TV (because this console doesn't output RGB without modding), so.. does this mean that the gscartsw_lite is not able to pass directly the composite video to the TV using the standard european composite cable (like this one: https://i.imgur.com/ezxdo1t.jpg)?

Thank you very much

it's happening cuz your switch is garbage. get the gscartsw lite you won't have those problems. if you're using compo-shit, there are plenty of 5$ compo-shit switches for you to use. gscart is for high quality rgb scart only (yes you need to mod your n64).

[R3dRuM]

it's happening cuz your switch is garbage. get the gscartsw lite you won't have those problems. if you're using compo-shit, there are plenty of 5$ compo-shit switches for you to use. gscart is for high quality rgb scart only (yes you need to mod your n64).

The thing is that I would like to have the gscartsw_lite connected to the CRT TV (wich has one RGB scart input port - also compatible with composite) and forget about it, just connecting all my systems to the gscartsw_lite (or two of them ); but the problem is that some of my systems don't output RGB (like the Commodore 64, N64, PCE Duo-R...) so I'm afraid I have to search for another solution unfortunately

[clintkolodziej]

it's happening cuz your switch is garbage. get the gscartsw lite you won't have those problems. if you're using compo-shit, there are plenty of 5$ compo-shit switches for you to use. gscart is for high quality rgb scart only (yes you need to mod your n64).

The thing is that I would like to have the gscartsw_lite connected to the CRT TV (wich has one RGB scart input port - also compatible with composite) and forget about it, just connecting all my systems to the gscartsw_lite (or two of them ); but the problem is that some of my systems don't output RGB (like the Commodore 64, N64, PCE Duo-R...) so I'm afraid I have to search for another solution unfortunately

You could pick up a gscartsw for the SCART devices and a gcompsw for the composite devices. You'd still need to switch inputs on your TV in that case since not everything would be on one switch. The only other real option would be to pick up RGB mods for each device and install them, I know Voultar's mod shop sells PCE Duo and N64 RGB mods, not too sure about C64 though.

[superg]

it's happening cuz your switch is garbage. get the gscartsw lite you won't have those problems. if you're using compo-shit, there are plenty of 5$ compo-shit switches for you to use. gscart is for high quality rgb scart only (yes you need to mod your n64).

The thing is that I would like to have the gscartsw_lite connected to the CRT TV (wich has one RGB scart input port - also compatible with composite) and forget about it, just connecting all my systems to the gscartsw_lite (or two of them ); but the problem is that some of my systems don't output RGB (like the Commodore 64, N64, PCE Duo-R...) so I'm afraid I have to search for another solution unfortunately

It can forward composite signal as well (using input/output composite - SCART adapters). But you will end up using one switch for RGBS and the other one for composite.

[chromium]

gcompsw eta?

[mrrobboto]

Just got mine, doesn't get much faster than that. Thanks superg

[superg]

gcompsw eta?

Will order more lites and gcompsw's this Monday. 6 weeks until I'll have them in stock.

I packed everything I could, there are two issues:
1. I've ran out of case standoffs for 5 units, ordered more, they should be here before Wednesday next week. If you don't see the tracking number in paypal, please don't worry - it will be shipped ASAP I have the parts.
2. Somehow paypal allowed to purchase more gscartsw_lite units than I've had in stock. When I open the orders I set the exact units amount I currently have, which I did. I can't explain this, it happened only once in the past (just one unit slipped through). So currently 5 more units were purchased. First two extra buyers will get units I kept for myself, the other 3 will have to wait . I've send an email to affected buyers, if you haven't gotten the email - you're not affected.

Everything will be dropped off Monday morning. Tracking numbers should've been sent by paypal.

Thanks everybody, I'm working on a new batch.

[StarcraftM]

Got mine today.

SuperG, it looks cooler in person than I could have even imagined. Can't wait to start playing with it once I get a male SCART -> BNC cable.

You rock dude!

[HalfCent]

Got mine today and it works great! Now I just need a gcompsw to complement it.

[chromium]

gcompsw eta?

Will order more lites and gcompsw's this Monday. 6 weeks until I'll have them in stock.

So 6 weeks until we can order?

[thebigcheese]

Got mine yesterday, hooked it up today. Everything works flawlessly. Guess that's all I could ask for. Thanks!

[gordon-creAtive]

While looking forward to get a gcompsw I got more crazy ideas for my video signal setup and I wonder if these make any sense:

• As already discussed earlier, the PlayStation 2 RGsB mode does not work with the gscartsw. However if I'm not mistaken RGsB should look identical to YBpBr from a electrical perspective, right? So instead of converting the signal with an Extron I could just use a SCART outbreak cable and connect it to the gcompsw, right? Both RGsB as well as RGBs should work since the gcompsw also switches on composite signals.
• Also in order to hook up the gcompsw to my gscartsw instead of splitting the green cable to sync I could also use an Extron RGsB to RGBs converter, right? I've got a BVM hooked up so I should be able to switch to external sync even for component.

Does that make any sense? Am I missing something?

[Johnpv]

Just wanted to say I got mine Saturday and got it hooked up and everything is running great. Thanks SuperG!

[KoroKoro]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, or if this is in the wrong thread but...

Is there a pin out for the gscartsw? I have looked up on google for scart pinout but I'm not 100% sure.

My main interest is with the RGBS & L/R ground lines if they need to be separated (for each channels' shielding wire) and the other pins besides RGB, such as blanking, aspect ratio / function / fast switching and if they need to be connected per console or not. i.e. my xrgb3 scaler doesn't seem to care without it, but I suspect my CRTs might need it? (I haven't done much testing and I'm new to RGB CRTs)

Thanks

[nmalinoski]

• As already discussed earlier, the PlayStation 2 RGsB mode does not work with the gscartsw. However if I'm not mistaken RGsB should look identical to YBpBr from a electrical perspective, right? So instead of converting the signal with an Extron I could just use a SCART outbreak cable and connect it to the gcompsw, right? Both RGsB as well as RGBs should work since the gcompsw also switches on composite signals.
• Also in order to hook up the gcompsw to my gscartsw instead of splitting the green cable to sync I could also use an Extron RGsB to RGBs converter, right? I've got a BVM hooked up so I should be able to switch to external sync even for component.

I think this is kind of tricky, because the PS2 doesn't always output RGsB; you're either going to use YPbPr full-time (which is super simple), or start with RGBS and then switch to RGsB for progressive-scan games.

For starters, I can't remember whether or not the gscartsw lite model dropped the ability to default to forwarding port 8 when it doesn't have a sync signal; if it did, you'd need to find a converter that can detect between RGBS and RGsB and either pass-through or convert the signal to RGBS, then hook that up to the gscartsw.

If you have an older, regular gscartsw, and I understand the gcompsw correctly (superg or someone else would have to confirm this), I would try a SCART->RCA RGBS breakout to connect the PS2 to a gcompsw (with sync hooked up to the composite/yellow input), and then an RCA RGBS->SCART converter (breakin?) to connect the gcompsw the gscartsw. This would put sync on the composite video line for RGBS and on green for RGsB.

To my knowledge, the sync spec is the same between RGsB and YPbPr*, so the switch should forward RGsB no problem; and I would expect it to be able to handle a clean CSync signal on the composite video line.


* The sync signal is what matters. I think there are some behavioral differences between RGsB and YPbPr on the blue and red lines, but I'm not sure if anyone is actually interested in verifying that.

[superg]

As already discussed earlier, the PlayStation 2 RGsB mode does not work with the gscartsw. However if I'm not mistaken RGsB should look identical to YBpBr from a electrical perspective, right?

Yes, this is correct, RGBS / YPbPr is electrically compatible. This means that you can use gscartsw_lite or gcompsw to forward both types of signal. If you're willing to invest a bit of your time making the adapters you can get the result you expect. gscartsw_lite detects sync on SCART composite pin, gcompsw detects sync on two RCA inputs - yellow and green (logical "or" - if sync exists on any it will be forwarded). In RGsB PS2 mode it's enough to route Gs either through composite input in gscartsw_lite or through yellow or green in gcompsw. Hope that explains it.

[superg]

I ordered gcompsw and more gscartsw_lite units. In the best case they will be here in a month.

[RGB0b]

Anyone looking to use their PS2 in 480p mode with the gscartsw should just do citrus3000psi's csync mod: http://www.dansprojects.com/ps2sync.html

We discuss it in the interview: https://youtu.be/U7i51qeASoI

I believe he's offering the service and iFixRetro (NYC) has already done a few for me as well. I'm sure other people will start offering it soon too. I'm going to test using a switch with it as well:
Switch on = RGBs, with (properly attenuated) csync on both cvbs and luma.
Switch off = Back to stock

[mjs0686]

it's happening cuz your switch is garbage. get the gscartsw lite you won't have those problems. if you're using compo-shit, there are plenty of 5$ compo-shit switches for you to use. gscart is for high quality rgb scart only (yes you need to mod your n64).

The thing is that I would like to have the gscartsw_lite connected to the CRT TV (wich has one RGB scart input port - also compatible with composite) and forget about it, just connecting all my systems to the gscartsw_lite (or two of them ); but the problem is that some of my systems don't output RGB (like the Commodore 64, N64, PCE Duo-R...) so I'm afraid I have to search for another solution unfortunately

Just FYI N64 can be modded to output RGB if you're fine with that.

[superg]

Anyone looking to use their PS2 in 480p mode with the gscartsw should just do citrus3000psi's csync mod: http://www.dansprojects.com/ps2sync.html

We discuss it in the interview: https://youtu.be/U7i51qeASoI

I believe he's offering the service and iFixRetro (NYC) has already done a few for me as well. I'm sure other people will start offering it soon too. I'm going to test using a switch with it as well:
Switch on = RGBs, with (properly attenuated) csync on both cvbs and luma.
Switch off = Back to stock

This would be a preferable way because it fixes what is wrong and not workarounds the issue.
As always busy with switches and have yet to properly mod some of my consoles (N64 with viletim board, SNES Mini / TurboGrafx with voultar board and PS2 with this)

[superg]

Sorry if this is a stupid question, or if this is in the wrong thread but...

Is there a pin out for the gscartsw? I have looked up on google for scart pinout but I'm not 100% sure.

My main interest is with the RGBS & L/R ground lines if they need to be separated (for each channels' shielding wire) and the other pins besides RGB, such as blanking, aspect ratio / function / fast switching and if they need to be connected per console or not. i.e. my xrgb3 scaler doesn't seem to care without it, but I suspect my CRTs might need it? (I haven't done much testing and I'm new to RGB CRTs)

Thanks

gscartsw has pretty much standard SCART output pinout. All SCART ground lines usually are connected on your TV / XRGB side. Switch doesn't need blanking (pin 16) and aspect ratio (pin 8 ) on input. On output it forces RGB mode and 4:3 aspect.

[ollidab]

I ordered gcompsw and more gscartsw_lite units. In the best case they will be here in a month.

So will the gcompsw order open in about a month as well?

[superg]

I ordered gcompsw and more gscartsw_lite units. In the best case they will be here in a month.

So will the gcompsw order open in about a month as well?

Yes, yes.
Please no more gcompsw availability questions.
I ordered them, will be available in 4-6 weeks from now, end of story.

[PaulieORF]

Hey SuperG. I've had my gscartsw 3.4 for quite a while now. I had been using it with my Framemeister, and all my consoles worked perfectly though it.

I finally got an OSSC 1.6, and intended on replacing my Framemeister with that. All my consoles work with the gscartsw + OSSC except my PS1. When I connect the PS1 directly to the OSSC, it works perfectly. When it's connected through the gscartsw, no luck. I have two cables from Retro-Access, a luma sync cable and a composite sync cable. With the luma cable, I get no display change (OSSC shows its default gradient screen) and I get crackly, distorted audio and the OSSC's display stays at "no sync". With the composite sync cable, it's even stranger. there is no audio, but I do get a black screen on my TV and the OSSC's display shows an extremely quick cycle of seemingly random resolutions and frequencies and then goes to "no sync". The cycling is so fast I had to use my phone's camera in slow-motion mode in order to catch them all. I did it a few times, and the resolutions and frequencies it shows are different each time. Here's an example of one of the times I powered it on, recorded in slo-mo so you can see it better: Link to video

I've tried adjusting all the various sync settings on the OSSC for well over an hour with both cables, and I can't get this behavior to change. I also tested with another PS1 (same model, SCPH-1001) and they both act exactly the same. So the things I do know are:

I've been unable to find anyone else who has a gscartsw, an OSSC, and a PS1 in order to see if it's working for anyone else. I worry that something is wrong with either my gscartsw or my OSSC. I'm hoping you've heard of this before and have something to offer as far as a fix.

Thanks!

[superg]

I've been unable to find anyone else who has a gscartsw, an OSSC, and a PS1 in order to see if it's working for anyone else. I worry that something is wrong with either my gscartsw or my OSSC. I'm hoping you've heard of this before and have something to offer as far as a fix.

Just a shot in the dark, did you try to toggle CSYNC/OFF switch setting?
I presume everything works on XRGB?
Although I don't own OSSC yet, I'm sure I'd knew if anybody is having a problem with OSSC, PS1 and my switch. Maybe somebody who owns OSSC can reply.

EDIT: You connect gscartsw to OSSC using SCART? Nothing inbetween?

[PaulieORF]

I've been unable to find anyone else who has a gscartsw, an OSSC, and a PS1 in order to see if it's working for anyone else. I worry that something is wrong with either my gscartsw or my OSSC. I'm hoping you've heard of this before and have something to offer as far as a fix.

Just a shot in the dark, did you try to toggle CSYNC/OFF switch setting?
I presume everything works on XRGB?
Although I don't own OSSC yet, I'm sure I'd knew if anybody is having a problem with OSSC, PS1 and my switch. Maybe somebody who owns OSSC can reply.

Ah yes, I forgot to mention that I tried.

So, I had just assumed all was good with my Framemeister, since the last time I used the Framemesiter it was playing my PS1 through my gscartsw and it was fine. I just dug it back out of the box and reconnected it. It's not working through the gscartsw now. I tried both the luma and composite sync cable, and they both act like the luma cable did with the OSSC. No picture at all (Framemeister screen stays blue) with crackling, distorted audio. I removed the switch from the situation and it worked fine. Makes me now think that something is up with the switch, which seems to be only evidenced by using a PlayStation, since other consoles are working.

Plot twist? I have used a Windy Gaming ATP-300 supergun with my gscartsw. I don't recall whether or not the audio attenuation switch was toggled on or off. I've heard it can potentially completely kill gscartsw switches, but not gimp them. So maybe this is a reach.