SyncStrike... REDUX (Looking for Feedback!)

[nmalinoski]

This is pretty cool and actually similar to a project we considered a while back. Lack of Sync on Green conversion is a bit disappointing but maybe that could be done in a separate product just for PS2?

Some kind of adapter or cable to go back to SCART would be needed too, for European televisions.

I think I have a circuit worked out in my head to remove the sync pulse from Green... but what would the use case be?

Really, the sole use case for this community is PS2s in RGB mode, which use RGBS for 15kHz video modes; but then shuts off composite video and luma and switches to RGsB for 31kHz+ video modes, because Sony.

PS2s can be modded to always output RGBS, making the SoG issue moot; but those who do not wish to mod their consoles and prefer to use RGB over YPbPr would benefit from a device that could pass-through RGBS for 15kHz content, and then automatically start converting from RGsB to RGBS when the console switches to 31kHz+.

The specific application would be compatibility and integration with SCART-compliant switches and displays, or any other video equipment that does not take RGsB but would otherwise take RGBS, such as, well, really any SCART besides the gscartsw 5.x series; right now, no version of the gscartsw_lite (4.x) is compatible with 480p or greater from a PS2 (well, at least one that hasn't had the full-time RGBS mod performed).

[energizerfellow‌]

Really, the sole use case for this community is PS2s in RGB mode, which use RGBS for 15kHz video modes; but then shuts off composite video and luma and switches to RGsB for 31kHz+ video modes, because Sony.

PS2s can be modded to always output RGBS, making the SoG issue moot; but those who do not wish to mod their consoles and prefer to use RGB over YPbPr would benefit from a device that could pass-through RGBS for 15kHz content, and then automatically start converting from RGsB to RGBS when the console switches to 31kHz+.

The specific application would be compatibility and integration with SCART-compliant switches and displays, or any other video equipment that does not take RGsB but would otherwise take RGBS, such as, well, really any SCART besides the gscartsw 5.x series; right now, no version of the gscartsw_lite (4.x) is compatible with 480p or greater from a PS2 (well, at least one that hasn't had the full-time RGBS mod performed).

And even then, that really only applies if they can't be bothered to run the PS2 over YPbPr component all the time. Plus, according to Wikipedia, there's only 226 PS2 games total with 480p/1080i support (and 19 for 240p). Is SoG really worth bothering with in the grand scheme of things?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_2_games_with_alternative_display_modes

[nmalinoski]

Really, the sole use case for this community is PS2s in RGB mode, which use RGBS for 15kHz video modes; but then shuts off composite video and luma and switches to RGsB for 31kHz+ video modes, because Sony.

PS2s can be modded to always output RGBS, making the SoG issue moot; but those who do not wish to mod their consoles and prefer to use RGB over YPbPr would benefit from a device that could pass-through RGBS for 15kHz content, and then automatically start converting from RGsB to RGBS when the console switches to 31kHz+.

The specific application would be compatibility and integration with SCART-compliant switches and displays, or any other video equipment that does not take RGsB but would otherwise take RGBS, such as, well, really any SCART besides the gscartsw 5.x series; right now, no version of the gscartsw_lite (4.x) is compatible with 480p or greater from a PS2 (well, at least one that hasn't had the full-time RGBS mod performed).

And even then, that really only applies if they can't be bothered to run the PS2 over YPbPr component all the time. Plus, according to Wikipedia, there's only 226 PS2 games total with 480p/1080i support (and 19 for 240p). Is SoG really worth bothering with in the grand scheme of things?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_2_games_with_alternative_display_modes

While a good chunk of those 226 games are sports games, there are some important standouts, like Shadow of the Colossus, God of War 1 and 2, the four Ratchet & Clank games, most of the Jak & Daxter games, most if not all of the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games, Gran Turismo 4, Soul Calibur 2 and 3, Outrun 2006, most of the King of Fighters games, and Beyond Good and Evil, all of which support at least 480p.

Also, that list might be comprehensive for 480p/1080i, but it's woefully incomplete for 240p; it addresses barely half of the 20 versions of DDR released for the PS2 across Japan, North America, and PAL regions, most of which, if not all, would use 240p (288p for PAL?) for gameplay and 480i/576i for menus.

[ZellSF]

Really, the sole use case for this community is PS2s in RGB mode, which use RGBS for 15kHz video modes; but then shuts off composite video and luma and switches to RGsB for 31kHz+ video modes, because Sony.

PS2s can be modded to always output RGBS, making the SoG issue moot; but those who do not wish to mod their consoles and prefer to use RGB over YPbPr would benefit from a device that could pass-through RGBS for 15kHz content, and then automatically start converting from RGsB to RGBS when the console switches to 31kHz+.

The specific application would be compatibility and integration with SCART-compliant switches and displays, or any other video equipment that does not take RGsB but would otherwise take RGBS, such as, well, really any SCART besides the gscartsw 5.x series; right now, no version of the gscartsw_lite (4.x) is compatible with 480p or greater from a PS2 (well, at least one that hasn't had the full-time RGBS mod performed).

And even then, that really only applies if they can't be bothered to run the PS2 over YPbPr component all the time. Plus, according to Wikipedia, there's only 226 PS2 games total with 480p/1080i support (and 19 for 240p). Is SoG really worth bothering with in the grand scheme of things?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_2_games_with_alternative_display_modes

The list of games that support 480p unofficially is much longer.

[viletim]

8bitgasm,

You left off the 75 ohm composite video termination resistor.

[yojo!]

Is the scanline generator also going to work with medium resolution or only target 15kHz source?

[RGB0b]

Just an FYI - the title of the thread still says "SyncStrike". Might wan to update that to "SyncReaper".

[Chipnetics]

Is the scanline generator also going to work with medium resolution or only target 15kHz source?

Only target 15khz...ive tried it on medium res and it's not really defined visually.

[Chipnetics]

Just an FYI - the title of the thread still says "SyncStrike". Might wan to update that to "SyncReaper".

Users can't change titles of threads once they are created... Maybe the mods can do something on the backend??

[Chipnetics]

8bitgasm,

You left off the 75 ohm composite video termination resistor.

Thanks I saw that on the datasheet too when I was looking at the example circuit. The TI chip didn't have it and I just swapped out the integrated circuits without really studying the datasheet first ... Thanks for letting me know

I will be doing some finishing touches this week on the board (busy work week) and keep you all in the loop. I'm waiting on some USB C connectors from overseas yet!