Nintendo 64 RGB / XRGB-3 / Cable Help Needed

[HBBB]

Hello,

I need help with my Nintendo 64 RGB XRGB-3 set up. When I hook my modded NTSC Nintendo 64 up to the XRGB-3 I get no picture at all. The screen doesn't "jump" or do anything to indicate the console is even hooked up to the XRGB-3. The console picture shows up when hooked up via composite cables.

Here is some stats with the items that are know to be working:

*Using a Samsung 32 inch 720p HDTV
*XRGB-3 was purchased USED but has been tested and works flawlessly.

I believe the issue is to do with the RGB cables being used or the Nintendo 64 mod.

* NTSC Nintendo 64 RGB - Sony CXA2075 encoder, 75 ohm resistor inline, NO composite sync setup.
* Cables were purchased on eBay 1st cable 130767533718 (Search this number on Google first link that shows up) and 2nd cable 170877522941 (again can be found by entering in Google - not sure if I can post direct links because my first post). I can't open the cables without destroying the plastic case - which I prefer not to do cause I don't have the proper tools to put them back together and I might want to resell one of them.

Anyone that can PLEASE help me with this I would be forever thankful. I have been working on my setup for almost 2 months now (finding a XRGB-3, N64 mod, cables, ect) and I really want to get this sorted out ASAP. I'm still in communication with the seller of the modded Nintendo 64 - been talking back and forth with him about this for a month now. If I could pinpoint exactly what the issue is I can maybe send him the cable/console, tell him what to fix, and have him do any needed adjustments.

Thank You!

[Fudoh]

OT: how is the US SNES connector different from the japanese one. Why should it work on SFC, but not on a US SNES ?

on topic: you cannot just use any RGB cable on a RGB modded N64, because you don't know if the system is internally boosted. Back in the days it was common to do the RGB mod on the system, but put the booster into the cable. You need a RGB amp along with the RGB mod that is matched to the cable you want to use.

[HBBB]

Thank you for replying Fudoh! I have heard great things about you from the person I purchased my XRGB-3 from. He told me that you was of great help to him when he was having some issues with cables and XRGB-3.

From talking with the seller of the RGB Nintendo 64 (Google "RGB N64 CXA2075 Console Only (NTSC)" to see eBay listing - should have said this before as it could help) he told me and states in the listing that "This encoder also amplifies RGB at the right video levels." During my talks with the seller he told me that he has sold these N64s to many people and they have used them on XRGB-3s and XRGB-Minis without any issues. From everything else he has told me outside the eBay listing its pretty much plug N play with these console he sells. I assume though that he uses/test these systems on CRTs and not on XRGB devices. I have not directly asked the seller if there is a booster inside the console but from talking with him it sounds to be heavily implied that there is one inside. Assuming there is a booster inside what should be my next step(s)? If I need a RGB amp what should I buy or do?

As for the US SNES Cable vs SFC connector I'm not sure. I think the person whom listed that cable was unsure of what they were selling maybe. Everyone I have showed that listing to has asked that same question. I think its just a standard SFC cable.

[Fudoh]

Ok, assuming that the CXA2075 mod is fine and boosted, it can really just be an imcompatibility with the cable.

Open up the Scart end of the RGB cable and check that it's properly wired for JP21 Scart. Also check if you got resistors and or capacitors in the R/G/B line. Report back

[HBBB]

I should have looked at the plastic on these cables better before. I guess they can open up fairly easy on the side. The plastic is held together by "teeth". I thought I was going to need to break the plastic or something. Anyways, I have no idea what to look for or even what kind of setup is on these cables. Could you please tell me what I have? Are they both the same? Should the cables work with my mod? Anything else useful?

These photos are from the first cable I got.
http://imageshack.us/a/img132/78/rgbcable11.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img545/5531/rgbcable12.jpg

These photos are from the second cable I got.
http://imageshack.us/a/img825/4369/rgbcable21.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img209/4397/rgbcable22.jpg

If better photos are needed just let me know. Thank you again for your help!

[Fudoh]

First of all, these are both EU-Scart cables, not JP21 ones, so if one of these is from the auction 130767533718, then the auction text was wrong. You can only use these with a EU>JP21 adapter on your XRGB. If you use them without, you might kill or might HAVE killed your XRGB's RGB input.

Have you used one of these directly on your XRGB ? If yes, can you confirm with another system that the input still works ?

[HBBB]

That is horrible if these are both EU-Scart! Both listing said NTSC/Japan RGB cables. How can you tell that these are both EU-Scart? Both cables came from these two listings:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130767533718?ss ... 1439.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/170877522941?ss ... 1439.l2649

I have used both cables on my XRGB-3. I don't have any other systems I could hook up to RGB at the time being to test. Using D-Terminal for Wii and PS2 has been working fine since using these cables. I figure that doesn't matter much but I have been told if you use EU on JPN it blows the cables out or something that would show there was some time of damage to the device.

I trust you in anything you say about the cables but are you 100% sure they are Europe cables and not USA/NTSC/JPN cables? That would mean both listing were, in my opinion, straight out lying about what cables they were selling. I'm in shock that both these cables could be EU-Scart. Thank you for your continued help.

[Fudoh]

Both listing said NTSC/Japan RGB cables.

no, they don't. The 130... clearly says JP21 and states that it won't work on a european TV, but the other one (170...) Just says RGB Scart for a japanese SFC, so I assume that the 170... was clearly sold as a EURO Scart cable.

How can you tell that these are both EU-Scart?

from the layout: http://playoffline.wordpress.com/cable/jpn21pinrgb/
The top line has composite video in pin 20, then blanking on pin 16 and switching voltage on pin 8. Also the R/G/B lines are all on the other row of pins. The japanese JP21 layout is completely different with R/G/B not on the same row. Those two cables are definitely EU-Scart. As a rule you can say that anything that does not explicitely state JP21 is Euro Scart. JP21 is extemely rare.

That would mean both listing were, in my opinion, straight out lying about what cables they were selling.

The first one, yes, the second one, no - my opinion.

Order a EU-JP Scart adapter from Ebay and give it another try. But from my experience the XRGB-3's RGB port does not survive the use of EU Scart cables.

[HBBB]

In the Desperation for the second cable (170...) it states:

"RGB SCART CABLE + AV OUT For JAPANESE NINTENDO CONSOLES. Compatible with NTSC JAPANESE VERSION CONSOLES: SUPER FAMICOM / N64 / GAMECUBE (Please note will NOT work on PAL UK CONSOLES)"

Would that be considered lying or misrepresenting the cable or is there something I'm missing in the wording?

I looked around for a EUR to JPN converter. Would this be the thing to get and make the cables work (assuming the RGB port is not fired?): http://www.ebay.com/itm/Euro-Scart-to-J ... 1c1c511282

Also, if the RGB port is destroyed and I can't use it now (I hope it isn't) what kind of video results can I get if I get a RGB Scart to VGA cable converter and plug that into the back VGA IN port of the XRGB-3? Would I be losing a lot of video quality?

Thank you again. I'm still shocked over the cables.

[Fudoh]

Would that be considered lying or misrepresenting the cable or is there something I'm missing in the wording?

neither nor. It's RGB Scart cable (technically Scart only refers to european Scart layout, japanese cables are not called scart) which works on japanese Super Famicom units. But since the cable is sold in the UK, it's obvious that it's a Euro-Scart cable.

Would this be the thing to get and make the cables work (assuming the RGB port is not fired?):

yes, that's fine.

Also, if the RGB port is destroyed and I can't use it now (I hope it isn't) what kind of video results can I get if I get a RGB Scart to VGA cable converter and plug that into the back VGA IN port of the XRGB-3?

you get the same quality. Just some input termination switch isn't available for the back input. That's something you usually don't need and which can be compensated by adding resistors to a cable just as fine.

[HBBB]

Thank you for all your help Fudoh. I've talked with the guy I got the RGB Nintendo 64 from and hes going to mod the cables for me. Once I get them back from him I'll test out the RGB port and see if it works. I don't have high hopes that it will but maybe I'll get lucky. I'll report back here after I find out if the port still works or not. It will most likely be a week before I get the cables back.

I wouldn't mind getting a SCART/RGB/21PIN to VGA cable converter now just in case the RGB port is blown. Can you or anyone on the forum recommend an online store to buy one? I checked ebay and didn't really see one that would work or that I think that would work.

EDIT 10/24/2012

I got the newly modded RGB cables back yesterday and tried them out with the RGB port on the XRGB-3. The cables and the RGB port work! I'm so happy they work! I got very lucky with my XRGB-3. I would advise anyone that buys RGB cables online to ALWAYS check out the wiring before connecting them to anything. BIG thank you Fudoh for your help.

[zak]

Do you have any issues with picture cutting to black between resolution change? I am currently having this issue with the xrgb mini

I got my N64 from the same seller - what kind of cable did he make for you?

[BuckoA51]

That happens on all video processors and is nothing to do with the cable.

[Ed Oscuro]

That happens on all video processors and is nothing to do with the cable.

But isn't XPC-4 much better in this regard? It might not help with the N64 but SuperDead says it does for X68000.

[zak]

What really confuses me is that it didn't do it as badly before - certainly not with the older games. I've not tried it with any of the high res games.

[Fudoh]

But isn't XPC-4 much better in this regard?

every other video processor is better than the Mini in this regard. Re-Sync times on the XPC-4 are less than a second, while they go up to 6 or 7 seconds on the Mini.