HD Box Pro: cheap (and good) alternative to the XRGB-3

Fudoh · Post by **Fudoh** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:14 pm

The image quality is FAR superior with 480i & 480p games like Gradius V & God of War, respectively. XRGB-2+ does an adequate job with these games, but the HD Box Pro just seems to give a better quality image.

It's a different kind of picture quality, so I would not call one better than the other. If you enable Scanlines on 480i input on the XRGB2+ you get a picture which essentially looks like the interlaced picture on a tube. In terms of pure deinterlacing the XRGB2+ cuts the vertical resolution into half (480->240 lines). The HDBoxPro keeps the resolution and only reduces it in portions of the picture where neccessary.

The new DVD Edge got a new 240p processing mode last week which makes it - scanline emulation aside - the very best videogame processing device out there. At $700 still a bit more pricey than the HDBoxPro though

drewmantrivia · Post by **drewmantrivia** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:45 pm

Fudoh,
Got to thank you again man for the heads up on the HD Box Pro. The thing rocks. I have been using it for my Wii and PS2 and it works sweet. I had a Xploder PS2 HDTV Player disk lying around so i tried that out and its pretty sweet for most games. I am running my setup on a RCA MM36100. Its a 36" CRT TV that doubles as a VGA monitor. It has 2 VGA in and can only do 800x600 but the HD Box Pro scales it really well and allows it to do forced widescreen. I'm going to get a video or two of the HD Box Pro up and running with my system in a day or two here just so people can see how it looks. Thanks again man!

pantra · Post by **pantra** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:53 pm

Hey guys, I got my HD Box Pro some time ago and overall I'm pleased with the quality, only I got the picture distorting, vertically scrolling line of doom and that's about my only real complaint.

To tell you a little more about my setup: I got an Xbox, Wii, PS2 and Gamecube hooked to the Box which is connected to a DELL 2407WFP via VGA. I tried every resolution of the HD Box Pro but the distorting line is always there, although with different scrolling speed and distortion intensity.

Anyhow, I found that the most stable picture gets produced when the Box is set to only 640 x 480. The occurance also seems to be influenced by the video-mode the connected console puts out, for example: if I let the PS2 display a usual PS2-game it's never nearly as bad as an old PS1-game like Wipeout XL, in which case I really have to set the Box to output to 640 x 480, otherwise the occurance of the distorting line is so frequent and intense that the picture seems like underwater.
On the other hand, a 480p-signal from the xbox seems to be the most stable, even in HD-Box-scaled-resolutions other than 640 x 480.

This whole distorting line of doom issue was previously diagnosed as a potential difference between the Monitor displaying the picture and the device sending the picture. So my big question now is: Can anyone suggest what I could do to minimize or even eliminate this issue alltogether? Could it be the cheap power-supply that came with the Box? Would it help to try another 5V power supply (I'm from Germany by the way, so it's all 230V 50HZ here)? I'd be really thankful for suggestions!

zap · Post by **zap** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 6:03 am

Recently got my box too.

What settings do you use in the color mode?

TS · Post by TS » Sat Oct 18, 2008 3:58 pm

I think I was unclear before.

What I meant to ask is if there is a difference between the various SCART -> YUV converters.

For example if this is better than this or that or the other for use with the HD Box Pro.

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:35 pm

TS wrote:I think I was unclear before.

What I meant to ask is if there is a difference between the various SCART -> YUV converters.

For example if this is better than this or that or the other for use with the HD Box Pro.

Only the first one works, and works quite well too. You won't get the rests to work, they are just cables, doesn't transcode a RGB signal to component.

TS · Post by TS » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:44 pm

Thanks for the quick reply!

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 4:48 pm

TS wrote:Thanks for the quick reply!

No problem, that is the one I tried to introduce you a page ago. Have been using it for over a year now, well worth the money. And I just tried my NGCD and Saturn through that to HD Box Pro on my G24, looks much better that I anticipated.

Post by **system11** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 12:44 pm

Great topic, I just ordered one so my gf can play endless RPGs in the computer room.

Geezer · Post by **Geezer** » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:57 pm

Has anyone got a picture of it running on a 1680X1050 22" LCD with one of the PS2 shmups?

Geezer

Specineff · Post by **Specineff** » Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:58 am

@Pantra:

I've tried plugging both the monitor and HD box to the same outlet, and the result is the same. I suspect it's the cheap power supply. I will try with a better-built, higher-quality one come next pay period.

pantra · Post by **pantra** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:10 pm

@Specineff:

thanks for the reply! I already tried it with another 5v-supply, but same result again. so unless that other power supply was low quality too, I still can't figure out this problem.

Well, tried another thing in the meantime: hooked up an old psone with scart-rgb to an yuv-converter to the hdbox. as always, the scrolling line of doom is still there, but way less intense than on a ps2 running ps1-games. - Just FYI out of curiosity.

JigsawMan · Post by **JigsawMan** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:24 pm

have you tried plugging the power supply into a different wall socket? Has worked for me on some other things.

oli_lar · Post by **oli_lar** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:12 pm

Does anyone know what the shipping rates are to the UK?

For those after RGB>component converters, take a look here: http://electronics.shop.ebay.co.uk/item ... ec0Q2em283

Quite often Ex-hire/studio examples come up for a reasonable price. I got a rackmount DVC one for £10. Only issue is the they mostly use BNC, but its not too hard to find BNC>coaxial cables.

pantra · Post by **pantra** » Fri Jan 23, 2009 1:07 am

@JigsawMan

yes, I tried out many different wall sockets to power the box and/or the monitor and/or consoles in all imaginable combinations, but no change. Or well, there's one thing I noticed: When my alternate 5v power supply for the hdbox is used, the screen-wobbling got... different, not really better or worse but different. I guess this should at least ensure me, that the problem still lies with the power-supplies and not somewhere else, right? Yeah, I know, not exactly making "progress" on this, am I

Sorry, not complaining, just a little frustrated... so if anyone still got ideas, I'd be delighted

Kilmaattikahn · Post by **Kilmaattikahn** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 2:19 am

Hi!

I've recently purchased one of these boxes to connect a PAL Wii to my CRT monitor and I can't make it output 640x480, the lowest resolution it will display is 800x600.

Not only that, but when I try to play a Virtual Console game the picture disappears and I get a black screen with a "No Signal" message in the top right corner, as if I'd turned off the console; yet if I press the home button to call the menu the picture displays again.

Has this happened to anyone else? What should I do?

Fudoh · Post by **Fudoh** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 8:34 am

it's either a 50Hz or a 15khz non-interlaced problem. Connect your Wii to a normal TV and run your VC games. Make sure they are set to interlaced output (576i instead of 288p) as the HDBoxPro might be unable to handle low-res progressive from certain systems. It this doesn't solve the problem, it's a 50Hz problem as your european VC games are running in 50Hz instead of 60Hz and your CRT monitor probably doesn't sync to 50Hz (or whatever the HDBox outputs with PAL input).

Kilmaattikahn · Post by **Kilmaattikahn** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 6:38 pm

Thanks for replying.

The picture in the VC games does appear for a couple of seconds, and then I get the "No Signal" screen. I believe all PAL VC games run at 50 Hz, but I don't think I can set their output resolution, I can only do that for the Wii itself. This problem occurs regardless of whether I set the Wii to 576i/50Hz, 480i/60Hz, or 480p.

And what about the 800x600 minimum resolution, isn't the HD Box supposedly capable of doing 640x480? The Display menu doesn't have an option to select 640x480, only 800x600 and above. Why is the box upscaling an already 480p signal?

Fudoh · Post by **Fudoh** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 10:36 pm

I believe all PAL VC games run at 50 Hz, but I don't think I can set their output resolution, I can only do that for the Wii itself.

yes, you can. Nintendo introduced an option to switch the games between 288p and 576i as some TVs (e.g. Samsung LCDs) cannot handle 240/288p via Component. You need to press some buttons. Check the Nintendo website's FAQ on this.

And what about the 800x600 minimum resolution, isn't the HD Box supposedly capable of doing 640x480? The Display menu doesn't have an option to select 640x480, only 800x600 and above. Why is the box upscaling an already 480p signal?

maybe because of the PAL input (576 lines) and 600 lines being the closest PC resolution. I'm quite sure the one I had on hand last year did 480p output, but I don't have one anymore, so I cannot confirm it.

Kilmaattikahn · Post by **Kilmaattikahn** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 12:58 am

Fudoh wrote:Nintendo introduced an option to switch the games between 288p and 576i

Thanks for that info, I'll look it up and post the results after testing.

maybe because of the PAL input (576 lines) and 600 lines being the closest PC resolution. I'm quite sure the one I had on hand last year did 480p output, but I don't have one anymore, so I cannot confirm it.

Perhaps I didn't make myself clear: I've set the Wii to 480i or 480p and it still happens, in the Wii menu.
Or are you saying that the PAL Wii actually outputs 576p instead of 480p and the HD Box can't downscale so it displays 800x600?

It irks me a bit that the box is scaling without needing to, though perhaps the loss in quality isn't that big since you stated that it isn't a pure transcoder like the Burosch so the output wouldn't be perfect anyway...

For anyone else reading this thread who uses the HD Box with a PAL Wii, have you also experienced this?

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 2:35 am

I have tested it with my PAL Wii and I haven't encountered any problem like you mentioned.. But there's one problem and that's it can't display WS mode correctly, missing display on the right hand side

Kilmaattikahn · Post by **Kilmaattikahn** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 9:16 am

So does it present 640x480 as an option in the display menu of the HD Box (mine doesn't)? Or were you referring only to the no signal problem?

BTW, I bought mine from here.

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 2:39 am

I will confirm with you later tonight when I get home. I didn't have display problem, but can't remember the resolution and details stuff.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 4:59 am

Will it blend?

And more to the point, x68000 to LCD (or other modern display device) compatibility?

dekka · Post by **dekka** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 7:00 pm

I was wondering if anyone has tried this on a bigger lcd screen, I was planning on using it for the tv which is about 32 inches for the ps2, not huge but just wanted to make sure it'd look alright. Oh and I'm assuming input lag was very low right?

Thanks ahead of time.

Kilmaattikahn · Post by **Kilmaattikahn** » Sat Mar 07, 2009 10:36 pm

Fudoh wrote:it's either a 50Hz or a 15khz non-interlaced problem. Connect your Wii to a normal TV and run your VC games. Make sure they are set to interlaced output (576i instead of 288p) as the HDBoxPro might be unable to handle low-res progressive from certain systems. It this doesn't solve the problem, it's a 50Hz problem as your european VC games are running in 50Hz instead of 60Hz and your CRT monitor probably doesn't sync to 50Hz (or whatever the HDBox outputs with PAL input).

At last, I finally tried this (not having much free time lately) and you're right, the VC games need to be set to 576i in order to display through the HDBoxPro.
If anyone is having the same problem, the solution is this. If the VC game doesn't display, press the Home button on the Wii remote and follow the instructions in that link.

gundamalpha, have you confirmed whether your box can output 640x480?

Kilmaattikahn · Post by **Kilmaattikahn** » Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:26 pm

Today I tried the HDBoxPro with my Jap PS2 and, as was the case with my PAL Wii, it still refuses to display at 640x480.

Does this happen to everyone or is my unit defective?

hdboxpro · Post by **hdboxpro** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:31 am

Kilmaattikahn wrote:Today I tried the HDBoxPro with my Jap PS2 and, as was the case with my PAL Wii, it still refuses to display at 640x480.

Does this happen to everyone or is my unit defective?

Have you try to set it at HD BOX PRO menu?

gundamalpha · Post by **gundamalpha** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 6:54 am

Kilmaattikahn wrote:
Fudoh wrote:it's either a 50Hz or a 15khz non-interlaced problem. Connect your Wii to a normal TV and run your VC games. Make sure they are set to interlaced output (576i instead of 288p) as the HDBoxPro might be unable to handle low-res progressive from certain systems. It this doesn't solve the problem, it's a 50Hz problem as your european VC games are running in 50Hz instead of 60Hz and your CRT monitor probably doesn't sync to 50Hz (or whatever the HDBox outputs with PAL input).
At last, I finally tried this (not having much free time lately) and you're right, the VC games need to be set to 576i in order to display through the HDBoxPro.
If anyone is having the same problem, the solution is this. If the VC game doesn't display, press the Home button on the Wii remote and follow the instructions in that link.

gundamalpha, have you confirmed whether your box can output 640x480?

I'm sorry for coming back to you so late. Yes, my box can accept 576i and output 640 x 480 without any problem.. I've been thinking of taking pics to prove it hence the delay. And my camera is still not with me. Really sorry

hdboxpro · Post by **hdboxpro** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:07 am

new model hdboxpro does not support 640x480, if you really need it , email them to install the firmware with 640 x 480.