Quick and dirty Chinese Scanlines (Hello Fudoh!)

[Skykid]

- China doesn't have RGB scart in old CRT's.
- China is PAL.
- China uses a different voltage to Japan.

:sigh:

Getting my PCE Duo to run here is a bit of a pain in the ass. The only RGB options are HD TV's, which means I need something to generate scanlines. I left my XRGB2+ back in the UK (damnit!) so now I'm looking for a quick, cheap and dirty alternative to get up and running here.

Primarily, I'm looking for Chinese made goods, because they'll be inland and cheap, but I don't know what to look for. I'm assuming I'll need some kind of RGB in, VGA out device, similar to this:

http://www.jammaboards.com/store/cga-eg ... -8220.html

Then an SLG to bridge to the monitor, such as the MiniSLG for $20.

http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=44767

But do I need a Sync Strike additionally to get this to work (admittedly, I don't know what a sync strike is/does exactly.)

If anyone knows the cheapest and easiest setup to get me going, any help is much appreciated. If you know of any Chinese manufactured components that offer this functionality, much, much better!

Thanks for the advice.

[Fudoh]

GBS8220 + MiniSLG will work fine. You will need a Sync Strike if your systems don't offer a pure sync output. In other words: you don't need it on Arcade PCBs, but you need it on most consoles.

PC Engine can output both, but it depends on how the mod was done.

The Sync Strike does two things: a) it strips the composite video information from the sync signal, resulting in a pure sync signal. b) it adapts Euro-Scart to a VGA/HD15 output, which makes it easier to connect.

The whole setup requires a VGA input on the TV's side. The scanlines won't look good on HD-ready sets (768p), the upscaling from 480p to full res requires a Full HD panel.

China is PAL.

I think it's actually multi-norm, since mainland china DVDs are PAL and TV broadcast is, but HK (and surrounding areas) has NTSC DVDs.

China uses a different voltage to Japan.

what do they use 120V ? 230V ? Shouldn't matter since most PSUs are designed for 100-240V nowadays.

[Skykid]

PC Engine can output both, but it depends on how the mod was done.

Hmm, no idea. It's from Japan, so definitely NTSC RGB rather than PAL. Does that help at all?

GBS8220 + MiniSLG

Cool, is the GBS8220 manufactured in China, and do you know of any Chinese manufactured alternatives? Was hoping to grab them from Taobao, just need to know what I'm looking for.

The Sync Strike does two things: a) it strips the composite video information from the sync signal, resulting in a pure sync signal. b) it adapts Euro-Scart to a VGA/HD15 output, which makes it easier to connect.

Right, well I have NTSC Scart, so that shouldn't be an issue. Your description of the Sync Strike makes it sound optional (to further improve image quality?) Do I have that wrong?

The whole setup requires a VGA input on the TV's side. The scanlines won't look good on HD-ready sets (768p), the upscaling from 480p to full res requires a Full HD panel.

Sorry, I don't understand.

I only plan to go for an HD TV with a VGA input. No VGA no purchase. Is there anything else I need to be wary of?

I'm going to try to get an old CRT PC monitor first and foremost however. This should solve the prob of no Scart standard right?

China is PAL.

I think it's actually multi-norm, since mainland china DVDs are PAL and TV broadcast is, but HK (and surrounding areas) has NTSC DVDs.[/quote]

Only one way to find out! I just got the info from the Net.

China uses a different voltage to Japan.

what do they use 120V ? 230V ? Shouldn't matter since most PSUs are designed for 100-240V nowadays.

Well I showed the PC Duo PSU to my GF's dad, and he was like "that'll blow up."

[Fudoh]

Hmm, no idea. It's from Japan, so definitely NTSC RGB rather than PAL. Does that help at all?

no, from a pinout standpoint, even Doujindance sells his Duo systems with EU-SCART connections. If you tried connecting the Duo with a Scart to composite video adapter cable and you got a picture, it means your Duo uses composite video for sync. So would need a sync cleaner before the GBS8220.

Cool, is the GBS8220 manufactured in China, and do you know of any Chinese manufactured alternatives? Was hoping to grab them from Taobao, just need to know what I'm looking for.

no idea, sorry. I would imagine that while Gonbes did the "original" version there are many clones by now.

Your description of the Sync Strike makes it sound optional

can you solder and make your own Scart breakout cable ? Then it's certainly optional. Even if you require pure sync, it's easy to change that on the Duo itself.

I only plan to go for an HD TV with a VGA input. No VGA no purchase. Is there anything else I need to be wary of?
I'm going to try to get an old CRT PC monitor first and foremost however. This should solve the prob of no Scart standard right?

If you go LCD, go Full HD. All CRT PC monitors will be fine.

Well I showed the PC Duo PSU to my GF's dad, and he was like "that'll blow up."

probably, yes. But it's easy to pick up a generic PSU which suits your Duo.

[Skykid]

Hmm, no idea. It's from Japan, so definitely NTSC RGB rather than PAL. Does that help at all?

no, from a pinout standpoint, even Doujindance sells his Duo systems with EU-SCART connections. If you tried connecting the Duo with a Scart to composite video adapter cable and you got a picture, it means your Duo uses composite video for sync. So would need a sync cleaner before the GBS8220.

The pinout *should* be JP-SCART since it's Gaijinpunch's old Duo. Sadly I have no way to test anything currently.

no idea, sorry. I would imagine that while Gonbes did the "original" version there are many clones by now.

I see. Could you let me know what the technical name is for the device? I'll try to search around and see if anything similar pops up!

Your description of the Sync Strike makes it sound optional

can you solder and make your own Scart breakout cable ? Then it's certainly optional.

Ha ha, it's definitely not optional for me then. I better get one for a future proof. Is there no device similar to the GBS8220 that has a Sync Styike built in?

If you go LCD, go Full HD. All CRT PC monitors will be fine.

Got it, Full HD not HD ready. Thanks.

Well I showed the PC Duo PSU to my GF's dad, and he was like "that'll blow up."

probably, yes. But it's easy to pick up a generic PSU which suits your Duo.

Ah, I never thought of that. So... no stepdown required? Just find the a generic PSU that suits Chinese voltage and it will run? Is that the same for any retro consoles with proper PSU's (as opposed to kettle leads, like the PSX etc. I blew one of those up once. Wasn't my fault though, it was a JP console marked as EU.)

[nZero]

Well I showed the PC Duo PSU to my GF's dad, and he was like "that'll blow up."

probably, yes. But it's easy to pick up a generic PSU which suits your Duo.

Ah, I never thought of that. So... no stepdown required? Just find the a generic PSU that suits Chinese voltage and it will run? Is that the same for any retro consoles with proper PSU's (as opposed to kettle leads, like the PSX etc. I blew one of those up once. Wasn't my fault though, it was a JP console marked as EU.)

Bingo. As long as the wall plug and AC input voltage/hz match your country, and the little plug and DC output voltage/polarity match your console (while providing sufficient current) you're good to go.

[Skykid]

Cool thanks for the help folks. I'm curious what your current setup is nZero.

There was a flat screen crt PC monitor downstairs sitting in a big pile of junk, which I was about to cart off when my gf's dad said it was a recycling dump and I wasn't allowed to take stuff from it.