XRGB-3

[Fudoh]

It's usually easy, but 11V was a problem. If 10V are ok, then it should be easy and cheap indeed.

[SuperPang]

Is that hooked up via the machines RGB or Component outputs? What else is in your chain and what display? I'm just curious as MVS's are often problematic.

That's using the supplied RGB Scart, a Scart - RGB21 adapter and nothing else. Panasonic LC(E)D TV.

[ikaruga007]

I use a PSU that runs with selectable voltage in 1V steps up to 20V. I found it here in Sweden for just over €30. I then transplanted the small connector that plugs into the XRGB. Just make sure you measure the polarity (+ in centre I think).

The XRGB runs on 11V. An engineer at Micomsoft told me that it should run fine on 12V (which would make finding a PSU much easier) but that they generally don't recommend it. What that means I don't know, but I'm pretty sure I've heard someone here running his XRGB fine with 12V.

[TheDark]

Interesting, someone can confirm it ?

[kel]

I've been running my XRGB3 on a 12v adapter ever since I got it a few years ago without any problems.

I measured the inner and outer diamiter of the DC plug on the original XRGB adapter and then found one with the same diameters on ebay and then soldered it to the replacement adapter.

I would advise using a decent quality adapter though with at least the same current rating as the origianl XRGB3 adapter. I took the one from my CCTV DVR unit in the hope that it would then be good enough quality to use on the XRGB3. The XRGB already suffers from enough interferance problems, wouldn't want to add any more interferance by using a cheap adapter.

[bryan_c]

Would putting a Sync Strike between a Genesis model 2 and an XRGB-3 reduce jailbars? Or would I be better off getting a cable that gets composite sync from the Genesis instead of composite video?

Also, how good is the DSUB15 on the D in 2 input on the XRGB-3?

[BuckoA51]

Composite sync from your Genesis is a must IMO. Remember on the Model 1 genny you need a hardware mod to achieve this.

D in 2's DSUB15 input is flawless.

[Zapf]

You just need a cable mod for model 1 genny according to the last thread we had on it (cap and moving cvideo line to csync pin)

[BuckoA51]

No cap needed for XRGB3, but as far as I know all Model 1 Megadrives/Genesis need a hardware fix to get CSYNC out, see http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/sega/md-sync.htm .

[Zapf]

Yeah, when I linked that in that last thread where rockman wanted to get a clean sync out of all his console, fudoh said it wasn't necessary, and just rewiring + the 220uf cap on that line (in the cable itself) would do the same.

[BuckoA51]

Oh right I misunderstood, has anyone actually tried this and confirmed it works?

[Fudoh]

We really discussed this intensely a few weeks ago. Just look for the thread here on the board if you're interested in it. There's no need for any internal modding just to get a pure C-Sync signal from a MD/Genesis model 1. What he does internally can basically be done in the cable. C-Sync is available in the AV output, it's just missing a capacitor to meet the specs of the used RGB encoder chip.

EDIT: I've recently got a japanese MD1 up and running, modded it internally to output stereo, but just used a cap in the cable to obtain raw sync from it. Works very nicely on the XRGB-3. The Sony encoder used in the MD suffers from some artefacts on one of the color channels. Using LPF on the XRGB clears this by 95%. Konsolkongen tried a different mod by replacing the Sony encoder alltogether, but this came with other problems. If you want a *perfect* mod for RGB, you have to use two RGB encoders, using 2 color channels on one and a single one on the other.

EDIT2: oh, and the same is true for the MD2/GEN2. Again C-Sync is available from the AV port and just needs a capacitor to be useable on a RGB CRT or on the XRGB.

[Konsolkongen]

Konsolkongen tried a different mod by replacing the Sony encoder alltogether, but this came with other problems. If you want a *perfect* mod for RGB, you have to use two RGB encoders, using 2 color channels on one and a single one on the other.

I should be getting my second Sony CXA1145 chip any day now! Will post some pictures once I have confirmed that this works. I have very high hopes for this mod

EDIT2: oh, and the same is true for the MD2/GEN2. Again C-Sync is available from the AV port and just needs a capacitor to be useable on a RGB CRT or on the XRGB.

The thing about Csync on the MegaDrive 1 is that it connects pin 10 (Csync IN) of the Sony chip to the AV socket. What the mod does is change this to pin 11 (Csync OUT) instead. Pin 10 is just the same as taking the Csync directly from the SEGA 315-something video chip. The Sony chip probably does something to the signal before outputting it again, which is why some people do this mod to achieve a stable picture. I use pin 11 myself

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/ ... xa1145.jpg

[bryan_c]

We really discussed this intensely a few weeks ago. Just look for the thread here on the board if you're interested in it.

I know, I read that already. I was just curious if composite video from a Genesis 2 going through the Sync Strike would be comparable to modding the cable for composite sync, that's all. Wasn't particularly hopeful on that front, but figured it wouldn't hurt to ask now that people are starting to get their hands on Sync Strikes now.

[BuckoA51]

The thing about Csync on the MegaDrive 1 is that it connects pin 10 (Csync IN) of the Sony chip to the AV socket. What the mod does is change this to pin 11 (Csync OUT) instead. Pin 10 is just the same as taking the Csync directly from the SEGA 315-something video chip. The Sony chip probably does something to the signal before outputting it again, which is why some people do this mod to achieve a stable picture. I use pin 11 myself

Right, that was my understanding too which is why I couldn't get my head around why a cable mod would fix it. All I know is my Genesis has had the mod done in according to MMonkey's instructions and is 100% Jailbar free when running through the XRGB3, 50 or 60hz. I guess I just got lucky with the motherboard I got?

[Konsolkongen]

I have yet to see a jailbar free MegaDrive 1, so yeah one of us is (un)lucky

[Fudoh]

I'm sure BuckoA51's MD is just as "jailbar-free" as mine or Konsolkongen's. The remaining artefacts (which I see) are not caused by any kind of dirty sync, but they are included in one of the RGB color channels.

[BuckoA51]

I swear the picture is absolutely perfect, I'll post pics tomorrow.

[BuckoA51]

No jailbars here that I can see:-


genesis-closeup-nojailbar by matthewab2001, on Flickr

Left the full size one on my Flickr if you need to see it bigger.

[Fudoh]

yes, looks pretty good. Do you see a difference between LPF switched on and off ? Which MD model (and mainboard model) is that ?

[BuckoA51]

LPF did not seem to make a big difference one way or the other.

Here's the info from the under-side of the console:-

Sega Genesis System Console
Model No: 1601
Serial No: 420043246

It's had the CSync mod done as per MMonkey's instructions and a switchless 50/60hz/Region mod.

[Konsolkongen]

Why is sky purple at the bottom and blue at the top? It's supposed to be all blue.

Also there is shadows from the mountains and palmleafs seen in the sky.

Perhaps caused by the camera used?

But there are no jailbars to be seen

[BuckoA51]

Why is sky purple at the bottom and blue at the top? It's supposed to be all blue.

That's the camera, considering the picture didn't moire that much I thought it was a pretty good shot .

Also there is shadows from the mountains and palmleafs seen in the sky.

DVDO Edge adds ringing remember, just you can't really see it on a 480p picture unless you scrutinise the picture like this.

[Konsolkongen]

Okay it just seemed a bit more that usual

[Strider77]

Do alot of you have problems with jail bars on both the megadrive 1 and 2?

I had some jail bars on my genesis model 1 but I get none on my megadrive 2. I am using sync and not composite in my RGB cable along with caps and resistors.

[SGGG2]

All of the Model 1's have jailbar issues. The 2 is fine, but the audio is crappy. I tried snipping the pin on the sony chip, but it only helped somewhat.

[Fudoh]

All of the Model 1's have jailbar issues. The 2 is fine, but the audio is crappy

I honestly swear that my model 1 and my Multimega (CD-X which should be same as a MD2) are *100%* identical after switching to proper C-Sync output on both. Both without internal modding.

[Konsolkongen]

The MegaDrive is top quality stuff, seriously My Asian MegaDrive 2 has a perfect jailbar free picture and the sound is good as well. I just don't use it because for some reason I get stuttering on my setup with that console. Doesn't happen with any other, and if I connect MegaDrive 2 > XRGB-3 > PC monitor it runs perfectly... Anyway I like the MD1 and MCD1's design better and luckily the MegaDrive doesn't give a shit what you do to it with a soldering iron. Worst case scenario it just won't boot and you'll have to undo some stuff, but it can always be fixed

[SGGG2]

I tried the sync mod over at mmmonkey, (and adjusted the pin on the scart cable) but the picture was all garbled. I'll try having a sync cable made with the capacitor inline.

[BuckoA51]

All of the Model 1's have jailbar issues

Not mine, see the picture above For some reason it has 25ms lag on the DVDO Edge though, compared to 6ms normally, heaven knows why, not sure which I'd prefer to be honest.