Dreamcast VGA box problems

[burgerkingdiamond]

I just got a Dreamcast VGA box. The VGA doesn't work with my flatscreen (I have connected my computer through VGA to this TV before with no problems), although it does work with my room mates. Can anybody explain to me why my this is? I don't expect to fix it since it seems to be inherent with my TV (I got the box from Snaake, and he said it doesn't work with one of his TV's too). I am just curious as to why these TV's are being picky about which VGA signals to take.

The bigger problem for me is the s-video out that is also on the VGA box. This is the main issue for me because this is what I was planning on using it for. I have tried it with 2 CRT's which I know have working s-video inputs, through an s-video cable that I also know to be working fine. I also tried through s-video on a flatscreen.

On the two CRT's the opening dreamcast logo is still red, but the background is black instead of white. On one of the CRT's the picture isn't stable at all, it's kind of scrolling up and down and looks like total garbage. On the other CRT the picture is stable, but lined up way off center. I got absolutely nothing with the flatscreen.

I found some posts in other forum's with other people having the same issue of black picture using s-video. There weren't any helpful replies. Just the typical obvious stuff like "make sure the cable is working, make sure the TV input works".....

Can you help me?
BKD

[Dave_K.]

Apologize if this sounds stupid, but did you make sure the PC/TV switch was set to TV when testing the S-Video output? Also some dreamcast games don't work with VGA. Lastly, I've herd people having problems with certain LCD monitors that cannot sync to the DC VGA box @ 60hz...so also test it out on a computer CRT monitor if you have one available.

[burgerkingdiamond]

thanks. Yes TV switch is on. Any game should run on s-video I think. It is only VGA which might have problems. I have tried the VGA part and it does work. The s-video picture looks like a photo negative.... uggghhhh I don't have the energy to deal with this bullshit. I will probably just settle for composite. The only reason I got the VGA box is because someone offered it along with some other DC stuff for a good price.

[antron]

I once bought a dreamcast video box that didn't work right. It turned out that the pins that make contact with the DC had bent down after many insertions. I just bent some of them up a little and all was fine.

[BuckoA51]

Sorry for resurrecting this thread but, does anyone know if the official SEGA Dreamcast VGA boxes are better than the 3rd party ones? My third party one adds a green tint to the picture, especially when the screen goes bright white.

Also I noticed feeding the Dreamcast through the XRGB3's PC IN Passthrough seems to add vertical jail bar pattern to the image.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

The official Dreamcast VGA Box is a stellar & slick piece of hardware considering that it's Sega 1st party + there's no greenish tint added to the picture either. They're quite pricey nowdays considering that back in 2000, it was selling for a mere MSRP 6,000 yen brand new in Akihabara.

Any good 3rd party DC VGA adapter like the Naki DC VGA Box is cool with it's cheap and affordable price if bought brand new or in super mint condition.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[BuckoA51]

Yeah the cheapest one I saw on E-bay was £90. I've fixed the green tint problem (just re-seated all cables) but the jailbars when using the XRGB3's PC in won't go away in B0 or B1. I guess I'll just use my VGA switchbox instead of the XRGB3's passthrough.