Question about the Toro DC VGA Box (DC)

[Rock Man]

Hey guys it's been a while! I trust you're doing well.

So my latest endeavor involves acquiring the Toro DC VGA Box for Dreamcast it's a slick piece of equipment.

https://www.beharbros.com/toro

I am trying to pin down some facts about this thing so I'm well prepared come release date. For one thing I need to know the price? I've searched that website, maybe it's some place obvious, I couldn't find it. A google search didn't turn up anything either.

Second question, my understanding is the Toro DC Box converts video decently with the high-end converters like the XRGB-3. Which brings me to VGA and Scart RGB. Would it be possible to plug a VGA cable into the Toro DC Box VGA output, connecting the other end to the XRGB-3's DSUB15 input? Would that allow me the ability to switch between 31 kHz and 15 kHz for games with the corresponding signal using only one cable or would such a method require an RGB SCART cable for the 15 kilohertz-only games? I got room for the SCART lead but only just barely (kisses my US delivered Shinybow/Keene Commanders) ideally I only want to use a VGA cable for the Toro like I did my vanilla modified DC Box for XRGB-3. However if not possible I'm willing to compromise and buy a SCART lead. Additionally, at some point I'd like to connect to my Framemeister and potentially the OSSC converter when I DO get one.

[Lawfer]

Would it be possible to plug a VGA cable into the Toro DC Box VGA output, connecting the other end to the XRGB-3's DSUB15 input?

Is your XRGB-3 updated to the latest firmware?

[Rock Man]

Would it be possible to plug a VGA cable into the Toro DC Box VGA output, connecting the other end to the XRGB-3's DSUB15 input?

Is your XRGB-3 updated to the latest firmware?

I have:

"Firmware Ver.
CPU Ver. 2.12
FPGA1 Ver 09 01 23
FPGA2 Ver 06 10 19
FPGA3 Ver
FPGA4 Ver
CMD Ver 2.12
OSD Ver 2.11e
PLL Ver 1.00
PCB Ver 1.4B"

Updated this thing a long ass time ago back when Windows XP used to be a thing. My understanding was it's the second to last update and the last update wasn't required unless there was a desire for capturing video.

[Xer Xian]

I think the price for the Toro was $80 shipping included. Yes, it does output both 15 and 31kHz from the vga port (and scart as well). You can also configure it to output either c-sync or separate sync. However, I don't know if the XRGB-3 will accept 15kHz from the vga port.

If you decide to buy one, I'd recommend to plug/unplug it as few as possible, since the connector is not the greatest quality (as a result of frequent handling, mine keeps losing sync now).

--

I hope it's ok to use this thread to ask another question about the Toro box - anyone knows if it outputs correctly attenuated sync from the scart port?

[Rock Man]

I think the price for the Toro was $80 shipping included. Yes, it does output both 15 and 31kHz from the vga port (and scart as well). You can also configure it to output either c-sync or separate sync. However, I don't know if the XRGB-3 will accept 15kHz from the vga port.

If you decide to buy one, I'd recommend to plug/unplug it as few as possible, since the connector is not the greatest quality (as a result of frequent handling, mine keeps losing sync now).

--

I hope it's ok to use this thread to ask another question about the Toro box - anyone knows if it outputs correctly attenuated sync from the scart port?

Thanks for the reply to both of ya.

Shit $80! I've got more than enough money good thing I saved up! Thanks for clearing that up for me as it's an important note to make before buying such a thing.

Yes, it does output both 15 and 31kHz from the vga port (and scart as well)

I don't know if the XRGB-3 will accept 15kHz from the vga port.

I am very slightly confused here; the XRGB-3 does accept a VGA cable through an output and input port. You can plug up to two VGA cables. The input port (DSUB15 I believe it's called) acts as a passthrough for VGA sources and cleans up the signal a little when another output VGA cable is connected. People use it all the time to connect Dreamcast in VGA, much better than going straight through the TV raw (without the XRGB-3) where the signal is blurry.

The issue is with normal DC Boxes it only offers a 31 kHz signal. It looks gorgeous going through the XRGB-3 but you only get that one signal unless the DC Box is modded to handle both 15 and 31 kHz. I have such a Box but, it no longer fits my NTSC Dreamcast consoles (NEVER plug a modified DC Box into a PAL Dreamcast or else it will only adhere to the PAL input, learned this the hard way).

Anyway, this Toro looks sophisticated enough I figured it could do both 15 & 31, as you confirmed. It is perplexing we have no idea whether it's been configured to work with the XRGB-3 DSUB15 input specifically. You'd think the Toro would be built for that. I don't want to have to buy another SCART cable if I don't need to. If a vanilla DC Box could be modified to utilize the XRGB-3's DSUB15 input then why not the Toro DC Box?

Does anyone have both the Toro DC Box and an XRGB-3 unit? Can someone please test and report back here?

Almost forgot to ask how does their preorder system work? You just wait until a form is provided through their website and hope to submit in time and do they require payment up front?

[Xer Xian]

If you've already tested 15kHz sources over the vga/d-sub port of the XRGB-3 then you'll be fine - the Toro will work as well. You can use the XRGB-3 to line-double the few 240p/480i only games of the DC library. For games that support 480p, I fail to see how it could improve things by just passing through the signal, but if you see an improvement, that's good I guess.

If you don't have a need for the scart out, the Toro is overkill. You can get the Hanzo or even a Kuro (since you can add scanlines with the XRGB) and spare a few quids.

[Rock Man]

If you've already tested 15kHz sources over the vga/d-sub port of the XRGB-3 then you'll be fine - the Toro will work as well. You can use the XRGB-3 to line-double the few 240p/480i only games of the DC library. For games that support 480p, I fail to see how it could improve things by just passing through the signal, but if you see an improvement, that's good I guess.

If you don't have a need for the scart out, the Toro is overkill. You can get the Hanzo or even a Kuro (since you can add scanlines with the XRGB) and spare a few quids.

What's their preorder process like? Is it similar to the GDEMU website where you submit an application form to get on a waiting list and pay once you receive an e-mail OR does the boeharbros website require payment up front for their orders?

[Xer Xian]

No idea sorry, back when I bought it it was simply in-stock and ready to ship.

[beharius]

We collect the payments via Paypal and the orders are dispatched in a week or two. Probably Toro orders can be dispatched sooner than Akura. It costs $80 including airmail shipping with tracking.

[spikyturtle]

including airmail shipping with tracking

I received my tracking number today, but I don't know the carrier. What is the tracking URL?

[DoomsDave]

Try this - https://www.17track.net/en

[beharius]

We will start to ship them from next week. We only updated the paypal orders as "in process" with tracking numbers.