CRTEmudriver black screen with multiple RGB Modded CRT's

[Zetrox]

Hey guys,

Hopefully its not an issue, but i did also request help on reddit, but figured its the wrong place.

so im trying to output a 15Khz signal to my RGB modded displays via SCART.

Just to clarify, ive verified my RGB mods are fully functional with everything ive thrown at them.

Same result on 2 different displays. Just a black screen. When EDID emulation is enabled, both displays go from no signal, to a black screen. from that point if i switch resolutions, the screen flickers and back to black, sometimes a different shade of black.

Need some pro advice here.

Only seeing black screen after setting everything up. Im suspecting some kind of sync issue but no idea where to go from here...

Running a windows 10 x64 build with a GTX1650 and a Lenovo 512mb HD5450.

Hooked up to CRT as follows:

HD5450 DVI Port -> DVI to VGA Adapter -> VGA Cable -> etim VGA to Scart Adapter to CRT

link to adapter - https://etim.net.au/shop/shop.php?crn=2 ... how_detail






Ive tried both crimson and catalyst variants of crtemudriver 2.0 b15, and configured as follows

Monitor Preset - Generic 15.7kHz



Video Card Display - \\...Radeon HD5450 (CRTemudr....) Generic 15 enabled
Output - Analog_0-VGA - Enabled - Generic 15
Imported video modes 50-60hz modelines
Enabled EDID Emulation
Enabled Composite Sync.
Installed modes.



CRT OSD disappears after doing all this (standard behaviour when this display detects a signal) so i know it is seeing SOMETHING but all i see is a black screen.

Changing the resolution gives me a slight flicker, but screen stays black, sometimes changing the shade of black.



CRT model is a Samsung SMP-150P Broadcast Monitor.

Spec/Timings Below:

[Dochartaigh]

It's been too many years since I did my CRTEmudriver build to give tips on the software side, but step one for me would be to use a multimeter (set to do a continuity test), to confirm the correct pins have the correct signal.

[Bassa-Bassa]

I can't say if all that chain to get 15khz RGB may be a cause, but there's one thing definitely wrong in the installation process - Extend desktop automatically on device restart must be unchecked. I'd also try with the Arcade 15.7kHz preset instead of the Generic one, but that would just give you more flexibility, not solve the issue.

[Zetrox]

I can't say if all that chain to get 15khz RGB may be a cause, but there's one thing definitely wrong in the installation process - Extend desktop automatically on device restart must be unchecked. I'd also try with the Arcade 15.7kHz preset instead of the Generic one, but that would just give you more flexibility, not solve the issue.

The chain is rather simple and quite common as the DVI-I port outputs an analogue signal.

To rule out any chain related issues, i have:

* Removed the nvidia GPU
* i have purchased a second HD5450 with an actual VGA port, eliminating the DVI-VGA adapter completely.

with both of these instances, i have the exact same behaviour.

[MarkOZLAD]

I would be suspecting the blanking voltage on pin 16.

This is why I always install a blanking switch.

[Zetrox]

I would be suspecting the blanking voltage on pin 16.

This is why I always install a blanking switch.

One step ahead! i have a blanking switch on the right of the scart port! i dont trust fast switch either!

[Pikkon]

I have CRTEmudriver working on my modded crt but I never used that adapter your using,I made this.

https://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/vga2euro.gif

You could give that a try.

[Bassa-Bassa]

I can't say if all that chain to get 15khz RGB may be a cause, but there's one thing definitely wrong in the installation process - Extend desktop automatically on device restart must be unchecked. I'd also try with the Arcade 15.7kHz preset instead of the Generic one, but that would just give you more flexibility, not solve the issue.

The chain is rather simple and quite common as the DVI-I port outputs an analogue signal.

Yeah, I just meant that yours might also be a hardware issue given all the stuff involved...

To rule out any chain related issues, i have:

* Removed the nvidia GPU
* i have purchased a second HD5450 with an actual VGA port, eliminating the DVI-VGA adapter completely.

with both of these instances, i have the exact same behaviour.

...but that you really should start here:

Extend desktop automatically on device restart must be unchecked.

[MarkOZLAD]

Tried Batocera and it’s CRT script?

[kitty666cats]

Shot in the dark, but since Tim’s adapter (such a fun design if you read this, Tim!) has an optional sync combiner circuit, have you tried disabling Emudriver’s composite sync, sending RGBHV out of the PC and letting the adapter do the sync combining? Worth a try, I suppose…

————

Oh, wait now - are you able to see if you’re outputting positive sync polarities? Because I see something on that GUI about setting both polarities to positive, and *every* single 15kHz-capable retro game console I have ever seen outputs negative composite sync (at least on the 15kHz resolutions).

Sync polarity could very likely be the culprit here.

So maybe double check for negative composite sync passed through Tim’s adapter before trying my initial suggestion.

————

I also see you have the sync range set down to PAL’s 50Hz, not sure if adjusting the sync range to a minimum of 59.94 (unless some NTSC consoles have a oddball vertical refresh that dips under 59, then set it to 58 or 57 or whatever) is another factor worth looking into.

I know your monitor supports 50Hz, but *shrug* could be some software issue.

————

Above all, try that extended desktop thing that people mentioned before any of my suggestions. If you have to resort to trying my suggestions, look into the sync polarity first.

————

My “dead-last” suggestions are:

- Try disabling EDID emulation or using a VGA cable without the EDID pin (or snip them off a spare VGA cable).

- If all else fails… try a different VGA to SCART cable - composite sync w/ one intended for said signal path, such as the zillion MiSTer cables now available - or adapter.


————

*exhales* whew. Let me know if it comes to that. I know 26319375 sites that sell those things


I just troubleshoot troublesharted all over the place, jfc

[Zetrox]

I have CRTEmudriver working on my modded crt but I never used that adapter your using,I made this.

https://www.geocities.ws/podernixie/htpc/vga2euro.gif

You could give that a try.

thanks Pikkon, i have also built this cable 2 days ago and exact same behaviour!

[Zetrox]

I can't say if all that chain to get 15khz RGB may be a cause, but there's one thing definitely wrong in the installation process - Extend desktop automatically on device restart must be unchecked. I'd also try with the Arcade 15.7kHz preset instead of the Generic one, but that would just give you more flexibility, not solve the issue.

The chain is rather simple and quite common as the DVI-I port outputs an analogue signal.

Yeah, I just meant that yours might also be a hardware issue given all the stuff involved...

To rule out any chain related issues, i have:

* Removed the nvidia GPU
* i have purchased a second HD5450 with an actual VGA port, eliminating the DVI-VGA adapter completely.

with both of these instances, i have the exact same behaviour.

...but that you really should start here:

Extend desktop automatically on device restart must be unchecked.

Yeah Extend Desktop Automatically on device restart is unchecked.

[Zetrox]

Shot in the dark, but since Tim’s adapter (such a fun design if you read this, Tim!) has an optional sync combiner circuit, have you tried disabling Emudriver’s composite sync, sending RGBHV out of the PC and letting the adapter do the sync combining? Worth a try, I suppose…

————

Oh, wait now - are you able to see if you’re outputting positive sync polarities? Because I see something on that GUI about setting both polarities to positive, and *every* single 15kHz-capable retro game console I have ever seen outputs negative composite sync (at least on the 15kHz resolutions).

Sync polarity could very likely be the culprit here.

So maybe double check for negative composite sync passed through Tim’s adapter before trying my initial suggestion.

————

I also see you have the sync range set down to PAL’s 50Hz, not sure if adjusting the sync range to a minimum of 59.94 (unless some NTSC consoles have a oddball vertical refresh that dips under 59, then set it to 58 or 57 or whatever) is another factor worth looking into.

I know your monitor supports 50Hz, but *shrug* could be some software issue.

————

Above all, try that extended desktop thing that people mentioned before any of my suggestions. If you have to resort to trying my suggestions, look into the sync polarity first.

————

My “dead-last” suggestions are:

- Try disabling EDID emulation or using a VGA cable without the EDID pin (or snip them off a spare VGA cable).

- If all else fails… try a different VGA to SCART cable - composite sync w/ one intended for said signal path, such as the zillion MiSTer cables now available - or adapter.


————

*exhales* whew. Let me know if it comes to that. I know 26319375 sites that sell those things


I just troubleshoot troublesharted all over the place, jfc

Damn Kitty, what an effort! sincere thanks! Ill try answer everything here...

Shot in the dark, but since Tim’s adapter (such a fun design if you read this, Tim!) has an optional sync combiner circuit, have you tried disabling Emudriver’s composite sync, sending RGBHV out of the PC and letting the adapter do the sync combining? Worth a try, I suppose…

Definitely already tried disabling composite sync in the vmmaker settings, no dice.

Oh, wait now - are you able to see if you’re outputting positive sync polarities? Because I see something on that GUI about setting both polarities to positive, and *every* single 15kHz-capable retro game console I have ever seen outputs negative composite sync (at least on the 15kHz resolutions).

Sync polarity could very likely be the culprit here.

So maybe double check for negative composite sync passed through Tim’s adapter before trying my initial suggestion.

I created a new monitor profile and set polarities to 1 1 as a test, no change. how do i check if im outputting positive sync polarities?

I also see you have the sync range set down to PAL’s 50Hz, not sure if adjusting the sync range to a minimum of 59.94 (unless some NTSC consoles have a oddball vertical refresh that dips under 59, then set it to 58 or 57 or whatever) is another factor worth looking into.

I know your monitor supports 50Hz, but *shrug* could be some software issue.

i have a fairly large NTSC-J console collection, everything working flawlessly at 50hz. that aside, i have already tried a ton of other profile timings with no change.

Above all, try that extended desktop thing that people mentioned before any of my suggestions.

Definitely tried that already!

If all else fails… try a different VGA to SCART cable - composite sync w/ one intended for said signal path, such as the zillion MiSTer cables now available - or adapter.

I did make this VGA to Scart cable , bypassing Tims adapter, but exact same black screen issue.