XRGB-mini Framemeister

[Hamburglar]

I am using an official SNES cable with my XRGB mini and the SNES outputs a wonderful picture. However, I got an RGB-modable N64 and get no picture at all. Here are pictures of what I did:

...
Very simple mod so I can't see how I did anything wrong. Just wondering maybe it's something with the XRGB I am missing? All the guides I read said this is pretty much all that is needed to be done (though some guides recommend lifting some pins to get a brighter picture but that's besides the point; I'm getting NO picture at all).

If anyone could shoot me a pointer on what could be up I'd really appreciate it!

Maybe you broke it? Does composite and/or Y/C still give you a picture? Without an RGB amp you won't get a suitable picture.

Nah I didn't break it; I'm pretty good with soldering. It still does composite just fine.

[CkRtech]

Any of you guys using this with your Capcom CPS2 setup?

I hooked mine up with a crude, hot-wired supergun, and the image is "momma said knock you out"-like strong. I went straight RGB,S,G to the Mini. Well, technically it is JAMMA RGBSG output connected to alligator clips... and those clips are clipped to 20 AWG solid wire... and that wire is then soldered to the back of a JP21 connector, and then plugged into the mini...

I am planning on building a legitimate supergun, but I also just got an A+B setup in the mail and wanted to test it. I guess I improvised.

...alligator clips. Seriously.

Well, hopefully you found some entertainment with this post. Still - appreciate any people telling me they have been enjoying their CPS2 with the mini.

[alamone]

I've used the XRGB-mini with CPS2 and CPS3 just fine.
Arcade RGB levels are higher than consumer RGB levels,
you need to stick in some resistors on the RGB lines (220 ohm?)
to drop them down to consumer RGB level. I'm not sure but
the XRGB-mini itself might have a ohm termination setting as well.

[BuckoA51]

@Hamburglar - My RGB modded N64 gave no picture either until I bought one of Retro Console Accessories sync booster/cleaners.

[ZellSF]

If anyone's going to contact micomsoft, maybe suggest a rotate feature and inform them of the 576i to 240p bug if they don't know about it already?

[Fudoh]

I'll check back here with everyone before sending off anything to Micomsoft.

[Hamburglar]

@Hamburglar - My RGB modded N64 gave no picture either until I bought one of Retro Console Accessories sync booster/cleaners.

Thanks! Which item in particular? Because I already have bought her XRGB Mini cable that plugs into the front of the XRGB Mini and gets power from the power supply. Is that what you bought? I believe she advertised it as a sync booster.

[BuckoA51]

Ah, yes it was that very same item that fixed things for me, sorry!

[Hamburglar]

Ah, yes it was that very same item that fixed things for me, sorry!

All you did to get RGB from your N64 was identical to the wiring job I showed above?

[Konsolkongen]

You should use the THS amp in your N64. Even if you were to get a picture with your mod it probably would't look too hot.

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/ntsc-nintendo-64-rgb/

I don't own a N64 myself, but I used the THS amp for my RGB modded NES, and it works perfectly

[Hamburglar]

Thanks but before I start worrying about amps I'd like to figure out why I'm getting no picture at all.

edit: I found another SNES revision for the database; number WAY WAY higher than previous numbers (UN60 was the highest before)

[CkRtech]

I've used the XRGB-mini with CPS2 and CPS3 just fine.
Arcade RGB levels are higher than consumer RGB levels,
you need to stick in some resistors on the RGB lines (220 ohm?)
to drop them down to consumer RGB level. I'm not sure but
the XRGB-mini itself might have a ohm termination setting as well.

Thanks, alamone. I plan on adding pots, but I went ahead and picked up some 220 ohm resistors while hitting up the electronics store today. I soldered them into the alligator setup, and it brought the image to a much more stable level of color. It is much easier on the eyes.

Did you do anything to your sync signal? I seem to be losing my picture every now and then with intense animation. It also has a bit of a vertical bounce every so often & a horizontal line shoots through the screen. Should I calm down the sync signal a bit more before sending it to the framemeister (add a resistor to the sync line), or should I assume I am experiencing a "dirty sync" problem?

I realize I am teetering on two threads - one for the mini and one for the supergun, but I am really digging this framemeister. It stalls me out from building/buying a video encoder, and it looks pretty darn good.

Thanks again for your help, alamone.

[RGB32E]

Thanks but before I start worrying about amps I'd like to figure out why I'm getting no picture at all.

edit: I found another SNES revision for the database; number WAY WAY higher than previous numbers (UN60 was the highest before)

I think it's been stated before that repaired or refurbished SNES systems get a second serial number. What's the actual PCB revision of this system? What is the serial number on the original sticker below?

You should use the THS amp in your N64. Even if you were to get a picture with your mod it probably would't look too hot.

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/ntsc-nintendo-64-rgb/

I don't own a N64 myself, but I used the THS amp for my RGB modded NES, and it works perfectly

Yeah, the THS and NJM amps both work great with the XRGB-mini. No sync/video amp is required. Fixing something that doesn't need to be fixed fixes it I guess?

[Hamburglar]

From the pics I took of my N64 I wired everything properly, correct? There's no reason I shouldn't be getting a picture?

[RGB32E]

From the pics I took of my N64 I wired everything properly, correct? There's no reason I shouldn't be getting a picture?

http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/rgbn64.htm


It looks like you've soldered to the right pins. Is this a PAL or NTSC N64?

Does the mini behave as though it's getting a signal? You need to amplify the RGB signals. I tap the RGB signals from the underside of the PCB and run them through a THS amp (previously NJM circuit).

Have you tried adjusting the A/D level to see if something gets displayed? I haven't tried unbuffered/amped RGB from the N64 on the mini, just my old PVM a number of years ago.

[Zapf]

edit: I found another SNES revision for the database; number WAY WAY higher than previous numbers (UN60 was the highest before)

no

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub ... utput=html

you can even see there are two stickers there

[Hamburglar]

From the pics I took of my N64 I wired everything properly, correct? There's no reason I shouldn't be getting a picture?

http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/rgbn64.htm


It looks like you've soldered to the right pins. Is this a PAL or NTSC N64?

Does the mini behave as though it's getting a signal? You need to amplify the RGB signals. I tap the RGB signals from the underside of the PCB and run them through a THS amp (previously NJM circuit).

Have you tried adjusting the A/D level to see if something gets displayed? I haven't tried unbuffered/amped RGB from the N64 on the mini, just my old PVM a number of years ago.

Thank you so much for posting those pics. I just did this:



And no picture

It's a launch NTSC N64. I understand it eventually will need an amp but it seems like I should be getting at least something right now. Could it be something with the cable? It's an official Nintendo SFC scart cable rewired for Euro RGB. It works perfect in my SNES and RGB modded NES. Any help would be really appreciated. I did try changing the A/V levels and it didn't work. The XRGB Mini just stays at a blue screen like it's not getting any signal.

[fagin]

I suspect it's because the "untouched" sync signal is too weak. It probably needs a formal applification.

[Hamburglar]

I suspect it's because the "untouched" sync signal is too weak. It probably needs a formal applification.

Thank you! Lifting the RGB pins on the chip is supposed to do that, correct?

[fagin]

I suspect it's because the "untouched" sync signal is too weak. It probably needs a formal applification.

Thank you! Lifting the RGB pins on the chip is supposed to do that, correct?

Lifting the RGB legs won't have anything to do with the Sync. I'm assuming the lifting of the legs is to facilitate full signal pwr for the RGB lines. Personally I would suggest you're better building an amp for RGB & S, since this is the well known method to sort out the weak signal, for both colour and sync.

[Hamburglar]

I suspect it's because the "untouched" sync signal is too weak. It probably needs a formal applification.

Thank you! Lifting the RGB pins on the chip is supposed to do that, correct?

Lifting the RGB legs won't have anything to do with the Sync. I'm assuming the lifting of the legs is to facilitate full signal pwr for the RGB lines. Personally I would suggest you're better building an amp for RGB & S, since this is the well known method to sort out the weak signal, for both colour and sync.

Thank you. I am only asking in this thread because I want something that works with what hardware you guys are using. A lot of the guides I find are for people using CRTs and stuff.

All I have to do is buy that little Texas Instruments amp thing and wire it between my wires; is that correct? How would I amp Sync?

[Konsolkongen]

Just do it like in the link I posted. Your N64 outputs composite video as sync in your cable right? If you still have trouble getting a picture after amplifing the RGB lines I would convert the composite video to C.sync next.
http://www.gamesx.com/misctech/lm1881.htm

I use the THS amp in my NES myself, and even before I amplified the c.sync on it, I would get a perfectly fine picture, unfortunately with dropouts depending on the action on screen.

EDIT: It actually seems like the N64 already has proper C.sync on the AV-out? Can't imagine why since there is no RGB, but hey it's Nintendo...
If you need C.sync it should be possible to just cut the trace leading to "V" on the AV-out and solder a wire between S and V to lead the C.sync to the composite video pin.
http://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:nintendomultiav

EDIT2: This only applies to the US or JAP versions of N64. On the EU model the C.sync (S) pin is replaced by 12V.

[Hamburglar]

Just do it like in the link I posted. Your N64 outputs composite video as sync in your cable right? If you still have trouble getting a picture after amplifing the RGB lines I would convert the composite video to C.sync next.
http://www.gamesx.com/misctech/lm1881.htm

I use the THS amp in my NES myself, and even before I amplified the c.sync on it, I would get a perfectly fine picture, unfortunately with dropouts depending on the action on screen.

EDIT: It actually seems like the N64 already has proper C.sync on the AV-out? Can't imagine why since there is no RGB, but hey it's Nintendo...
If you need C.sync it should be possible to just cut the trace leading to "V" on the AV-out and solder a wire between S and V to lead the C.sync to the composite video pin.
http://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:nintendomultiav

EDIT2: This only applies to the US or JAP versions of N64. On the EU model the C.sync (S) pin is replaced by 12V.

Thanks but I think that trace cut thing is only necessary on the 4th N64 motherboard revision. My launch USA N64 (3rd motherboard revision) I believe would not benefit from this mod.

[Riholay]

Yep, another newcomer with a question about xrgb-mini

Hi guys,
I've spent some time now reading interestings things about the XRGB-mini on that specific forum and pages created by its renommed members, and I can tell I've understood 2 things:
1 is I need one and 2, is I'm still not sure if what I'm planning to setup will actually work .

So, I'd mainly like to run pal (modded super nintendo, nes) and japanese systems(modded japanese Saturn (euro scart), neo geo (euro scart)), PS2 and PAL N64 is a plus.
Since the mini has that special jp21 to mini-din 8, I thought buying a scart swith like Keene Commander or Hama 100s so I can wired it to the mini with a EUR scart to mini din8 cable like this one (http://www.ebay.ie/itm/SCART-LEAD-MALE- ... 0327224312)

I'm a bit worried that the mini din 8 on the framemeister could not be a standard and that somehow everything could ends up with a broken unit, so, is what I plan to do the right thing?

Thank you very much for your help!

[Konsolkongen]

Sorry I wouldn't know. Never owned a N64

[Fudoh]

@Riholay

The cable you linked is some other standard. You cannot buy a cable for the Mini readily available and factory made. Your idea with the scart switch is ok, but you need a custom-made cable to directly connect the switch to the XRGB-Mini. Or you can use EU-Scart to EU Scart + EU to JP adapter + included JP-Scart to Mini-Din8 cable, but the custom cable is more elegant of course.

[Riholay]

Thanks for the answer Fudoh, really appreciate.

I also thought about adapters as you suggested but it wasn't clear to me this would work as well so I went to the mini-din 8 instead. Glad I ask before buying!

Were you referring to such adapters (http://www.retrogamingcables.com/europe ... erter.html)? If yes this could do the trick for my first setup.

Ideally, I'd buy a cable from retro_console_accessories but she's currently not selling to France. I'm waiting for the powered version(?) to be back in stock.

[Fudoh]

Ideally, I'd buy a cable from retro_console_accessories but she's currently not selling to France

she's a s***** b**** - sorry to say, but excluding various european coutries from sales and not responding to any inquiries is not the best way to build a reputation. Nothing against her cables though - quality stuff. Just the wrong attitude.

Retrogamingcables is just as fine. Can't go wrong with their stuff either. I'm sure they can help you out with whatever you need as well, even if it's not listed at their website.

[Riholay]

Yep I stopped bugging her with my questions, she took the time to answer back at some point this summer and I kind of respect her wish to sell things she knows would work, although I would have loved to have the chance to test myself, it's a bit frustrating not being able to buy at least the simple cable ! But other discussion I guess

Anyway, thanks again for having answer to me, I'm glad to see that a valid solution with no home soldering exists for my little setup. I'll contact retrogaming and order the mini at last!

All the best

[Hamburglar]

As far as I know she has serious medical issues so sometimes she doesn't get back to people right away.