Issues with CGA2VGA scaler

[mrkotfw]

Hello everyone.

I just got my set up (PSU and CGA2VGA) from eBay.


I hooked everything up and used my own sync stripper. Here are the results. My PlayStation 2 doesn't work either.

I know that my sync stripper does in fact work on my NEC XM-29 and NEC XM-37 monitor. It was also used on a SONY PVM2030. I tested on another monitor (an old CRT) and the same issue arose.

I tried systems that don't need the sync stripper: SEGA Saturn and my Nintendo 64. Both worked fine.


Since I'm getting the +5v (or +12v?) from the system itself, could it be that? Am I missing anything?

[matrigs]

which schematic for the sync stripper did you use ?

this one ?



i made my first sync stripper with another schematic which added a pull up (or pull down?)
resistor somewhere and it would do the same. removed it and worked like a charm.

[mrkotfw]

which schematic for the sync stripper did you use ?

this one ?



i made my first sync stripper with another schematic which added a pull up (or pull down?)
resistor somewhere and it would do the same. removed it and worked like a charm.

Yes. Would the 680 ohm resistor be the pulldown resistor since it's tied to ground? Where is the schematic?

[matrigs]

my post was a little confusing.

the schematic above is the one that works fine for me.

i have found a more complicated schematic before which didn't work
and i can't find it right now.

if you assemble it like above it should work alright.

eventually you can reset your picture settings in the scaler if you have
changed them - especially vertical and horizontal shift. just use
the reset function.

[mrkotfw]

my post was a little confusing.

the schematic above is the one that works fine for me.

i have found a more complicated schematic before which didn't work
and i can't find it right now.

if you assemble it like above it should work alright.

eventually you can reset your picture settings in the scaler if you have
changed them - especially vertical and horizontal shift. just use
the reset function.

I see. This sync stripper does in fact work and it's the exact same schematic as above. That's why I'm so confused. Yes, all the settings have been reset to default. Really, the only thing I've changed is the language in the OSD.

If you can find that one, I'd appreciate it.


But I'd also like to understand why I get such a bad image.

[matrigs]

i won't find it, but i'll check my sync stripper at home to figure out
where the resistor was.

however, i highly doubt that this will change anything in your case
as i mentioned that it worked worse than the simpler version.

you can see here what it was doing:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/o ... directlink

seems very similar to your problem. works fine for me now.

[mrkotfw]

i won't find it, but i'll check my sync stripper at home to figure out
where the resistor was.

however, i highly doubt that this will change anything in your case
as i mentioned that it worked worse than the simpler version.

you can see here what it was doing:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/o ... directlink

seems very similar to your problem. works fine for me now.

Thanks.

So to make sure that it wasn't the sync stripper, I tested my SNES (which requires the sync stripper). Lo' and behold! It works beautifully! So it can't be the sync stripper since it's doing its job.

Now I tried the PlayStation 2 without the sync stripper and it works! But some scenes lose the signal. So that's out of the question. I'm so weirded out by this. I thought the scaler only takes in composite sync, not video. I looked into my PlayStation RGB cable and I remembered using capacitors on the R, G, B lines. That shouldn't effect anything. The colors are fine.

Could it be that the PlayStation is not outputting enough voltage to the sync stripper? But then why does my monitor work just fine with the PlayStation 2?



Very confused!

[matrigs]

Now I tried the PlayStation 2 without the sync stripper and it works!

I assume you connect the ps2 to your screen over component?

But some scenes lose the signal.

Please elaborate.

Do you have the same problem feeding the scaler over component from your ps2?

[fagin]

Thanks.

So to make sure that it wasn't the sync stripper, I tested my SNES (which requires the sync stripper). Lo' and behold! It works beautifully! So it can't be the sync stripper since it's doing its job.

Now I tried the PlayStation 2 without the sync stripper and it works! But some scenes lose the signal. So that's out of the question. I'm so weirded out by this. I thought the scaler only takes in composite sync, not video. I looked into my PlayStation RGB cable and I remembered using capacitors on the R, G, B lines. That shouldn't effect anything. The colors are fine.

Could it be that the PlayStation is not outputting enough voltage to the sync stripper? But then why does my monitor work just fine with the PlayStation 2?



Very confused!

You're confused?..... we're all confused!!

1. When you say you've tested the Sync Stripper with your SNES it works.... what works?

Are these machines PAL or NTSC?

[mrkotfw]

Now I tried the PlayStation 2 without the sync stripper and it works!

I assume you connect the ps2 to your screen over component?

But some scenes lose the signal.

Please elaborate.

Do you have the same problem feeding the scaler over component from your ps2?

No, my PS2 was connected to RGBS (rather RGB with composite video).

I'll look for my PS2 component video cables and see if it's my PlayStation.

[mrkotfw]

Thanks.

So to make sure that it wasn't the sync stripper, I tested my SNES (which requires the sync stripper). Lo' and behold! It works beautifully! So it can't be the sync stripper since it's doing its job.

Now I tried the PlayStation 2 without the sync stripper and it works! But some scenes lose the signal. So that's out of the question. I'm so weirded out by this. I thought the scaler only takes in composite sync, not video. I looked into my PlayStation RGB cable and I remembered using capacitors on the R, G, B lines. That shouldn't effect anything. The colors are fine.

Could it be that the PlayStation is not outputting enough voltage to the sync stripper? But then why does my monitor work just fine with the PlayStation 2?



Very confused!

You're confused?..... we're all confused!!

1. When you say you've tested the Sync Stripper with your SNES it works.... what works?

Are these machines PAL or NTSC?

fagin! Good to see that you've taken notice of my predicament! What I mean by 'works':

1. The sync stripper works on my SNES with the scaler
2. My SNES works
3. My SNES RGB cable works connected to the sync stripper

If it really is my sync stripper then it wouldn't of have worked on the SNES.

All systems are NTSC except for my GameCube. But I haven't tested that out yet.




In short, I'll have to try component on my PS2 to see if it's my PS2 acting up.

[fagin]

The ps2 doesn't output composite sync.

[mrkotfw]

Right. Hence the need for a sync stripper. Not really sure what else it could be.

[fagin]

But you said it works with the scaler WITHOUT the sync stripper!?

I'm probably going over old ground here, but how exactly have you connected your consoles to the scaler (which headers have you used) and state whether with or without sync stripper.

The consoles you have, I have tried with this scaler without any issue with my home built sync stripper. I have also built over 10 of these kits and they have all worked first time everytime.

[mrkotfw]

But you said it works with the scaler WITHOUT the sync stripper!?

I'm probably going over old ground here, but how exactly have you connected your consoles to the scaler (which headers have you used) and state whether with or without sync stripper.

The consoles you have, I have tried with this scaler without any issue with my home built sync stripper. I have also built over 10 of these kits and they have all worked first time everytime.

Yes. It worked on some parts of the game. The ones that don't work behave exactly how I would expect it should behave.

Results in the YouTube video (on first post):

Code: Select all

[PS1/2]<---RGB-cable--->[sync-stripper]<---VGA-cable--->[VGA-input-scaler]<---VGA-cable-->[Monitor]

What "works" in certain, but not all:

Code: Select all

[PS1/2]<---RGB-cable---><---VGA-cable--->[VGA-input-scaler]<---VGA-cable-->[Monitor]

[fagin]

Try the VGA Header instead of the dsub-15 input.

[mrkotfw]

Try the VGA Header instead of the dsub-15 input.

The connector right next to the DSUB-15 (the cable that came with the scaler?)

I did, same results.

[fagin]

Crack open your PS2 SCART cable. Take a couple of very clear pictures, so I can see what's connected to what.

[mrkotfw]

Crack open your PS2 SCART cable. Take a couple of very clear pictures, so I can see what's connected to what.

I can certainly do that. The problem is that it isn't a SCART cable (it used to be). I'll do it anyway, but some wires are hard to see what they're connected to.

[kowal]

Hi
You use correct option on scaler?
clamp st
clamp sp

PS2 on commponent work fine od this converter

[mrkotfw]

Image 1
Image 2
Image 3

Here is a YouTube video of my PlayStation using composite video. It's pointless to show this, but to show that I'm not crazy


Just to confirm, component on my PS2 works perfectly.

[mrkotfw]

Hi
You use correct option on scaler?
clamp st
clamp sp

PS2 on commponent work fine od this converter

What values should I set it to?

[kowal]

on RGBS arcade (neogeo) I use 17 and 18 (on higer or lower a get similar effect like your on video, I use sync cleaner and still get this)
commponent 1 and 5
but you must test it self
and find corret values

[mrkotfw]

on RGBS arcade (neogeo) I use 17 and 18 (on higer or lower a get similar effect like your on video, I use sync cleaner and still get this)
commponent 1 and 5
but you must test it self
and find corret values

Going to test that.

What exactly are these two knobs in the menu?

[kowal]

on my scaler this function is named coast?... or something not clamp
but I think that is the same

This appears to be synchronized regulation & crystallization

You can adjust lines on screan

[fagin]

Hi
You use correct option on scaler?
clamp st
clamp sp

PS2 on commponent work fine od this converter

You shouldn't have to do this if you use the AUTO function, certainly not for a PS2.

[mrkotfw]

Changing the values doesn't change anything.


It can't possibly be the scaler.
Could it be that the PlayStation don't output at least +5v to the sync stripper?
Maybe the composite sync signal is not strong enough? I wouldn't know how to check it since I don't have an oscilloscope.

I tested all my cables again on my old monitor and it works beautifully. So would that even rule out the cables?

[mrkotfw]

My GameCube (European) works beautifully. It doesn't need a sync stripper (I'm using the composite sync line).

[fagin]

Changing the values doesn't change anything.


It can't possibly be the scaler.
Could it be that the PlayStation don't output at least +5v to the sync stripper?
Maybe the composite sync signal is not strong enough? I wouldn't know how to check it since I don't have an oscilloscope.

I tested all my cables again on my old monitor and it works beautifully. So would that even rule out the cables?

Could be a voltage problem.... even my SCART RGB lead for my 360 doesnt output enough power for the Sync Strike, so I need to power externally.

To be fair I have never tried this with a PS... only a PS2.

Just because the cable works on a TV does not mean it will work with your sync stripper and scaler. I made one of these up for a mate and he couldn't get it to work with his Saturn.... it was because his Saturn RGB lead was missing a ground. This is why I wanted to see your SCART lead.

[mrkotfw]

That could be it. I'll be testing that soon. Hopefully I can get a low reading.

What I meant was that all my cables connected to my monitor worked great. It could be that it allows a weak signal.