XRGB-mini Framemeister

[Elrinth]

Well I contacted SolarisJapan since I've got 6 months warranty. I can't get it working properly with my Mega Drive 2 (PAL).
It works perfectly well if I connect it directly to my TV, but the image is never good with the framemeister.

The SNES worked perfectly however.

[Fudoh]

I can't get it working properly with my Mega Drive 2 (PAL).

which is a console or cable issue, not a XRGB issue.

It works perfectly well if I connect it directly to my TV, but the image is never good with the framemeister.

if you would post a few snapshots and a better description of what you're seeing, then we might be able to help you. Just complaining certainly won't help.

[Elrinth]

if you would post a few snapshots and a better description of what you're seeing

Yes I posted a video of what it looks like in a previous post. Here's what I'm experiencing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdEOqo6hejY

Issue: The image is very dark, there is static noise.
Yes I have tried Powering off and on the framemeister, it did not make any difference.

It's important to point out that the same setup with my SNES & newly purchased rgb cable does indeed work. It looks fantastic.

If the cable still is the problem, then I would like someone to point me in a direction to a rgb cable which is guaranteed to work with framemeister & the Mega Drive 2 PAL.

[Fudoh]

ok, sorry, didn't see your link a page back.

I'm sure it's a cable issue. Or maybe an issue with the EU-JP adapter cable. More likely a GND issue with the MDII cable. It's possible that your TV handles GND differently than the XRGB.

Are you tech-savy enough to check the cabling ? I would just open the Scart end of the MDII cable and remove all the unneeded signal cables (Pins 8 and 16, just cut them - cable might only work on the XRGB after that, possibly not on your TV anymore). Post a photo how the cable looks and make sure the GND is crosswired between the outer shielding, video ground and audio ground and they're all properly connected.

We had a very similar issue only a few days back with a SNES and there it was a missing GND wire.

[Elrinth]

Ok thank you for the response. Yes I'm willing to make adjustments to the cable as I bought it only to get the Mega Drive 2 to work on the XRGBmini. Just need to figure out how to open up the scart-end without destroying it completely. I'll give this a go after todays normal work.

[Fudoh]

You just unscrew the lower end and then pop it open. Very easy.

[Elrinth]

Ok so I popped it open.

Here's what it looks like inside:
The yellow cable is pin nr 20, the orange one is pin nr 2:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5145312/pics/W ... 26_003.jpg
There is a resistor going between 16 and 8. 8 also has the black cable coming in on it.

I put the image as a url link because I don't know how to do

Spoiler

or some tag which can hide stuff here.

I found some wire diagram for mega drive (didn't say 2):
http://www.mastersystem.dk/modding/rgb/ ... _rgb_2.png

[kamiboy]

I see no 220uf capactors in that picture. I believe there should be one for each colour line. That might be your problem right there.

Also do not see any ground connection to the chassis.

[Fudoh]

Resisters are hidden under the plastic shrinks.

Can you take a photo of the bottom row as well ?

Connect 4, 19 and the outer shielding to the white wire (goes to Pin 5 right now, right?) and see if it works then. No need to solder right away, just tap some wire to those pins.

[Elrinth]

White being pin nr 5.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5145312/pics/W ... 26_005.jpg

[Fudoh]

Ok, definitely a GND issue. If you place a bridge from Pin 5 to 19 and from 5 to Pin 4, your issues should be gone.

[Elrinth]

so basically two more cables... one from 5->19 and another 5->4.
or do you mean something else by bridge? Shouldn't be too hard to fix.
*just being precautious

Ok thank you very much for all answers, I'll get back when I've got my soldering pen. Tomorrow sometime I'll come back with results.

[darcagn]

Yes, just solder a wire connecting pins 5 and 19 and pins 5 and 4.

[jdubs]

Guys

Can folks using SCART switches lay out their WORKING setup? I.e., what systems, SCART switch, and cables (brand and model) are you using SUCCESSFULLY with your Mini?

Thanks,
Jim

[broken]

Received my XRGB-mini today and it's pretty awesome so far.


However, my appears to have shipped with Firmware version 1.08.

I thought the most recent was 1.07a?


What's changed?

[pyrotek85]

Received my XRGB-mini today and it's pretty awesome so far.


However, my appears to have shipped with Firmware version 1.08.

I thought the most recent was 1.07a?


What's changed?

Oh really? Their download page still shows 1.07a as the lastest. Guess it's being released soon so then we'll know.

[broken]

Also, how do you turn on Scanlines?

I must be missing it somewhere in the options.

[pyrotek85]

Also, how do you turn on Scanlines?

I must be missing it somewhere in the options.

Press the C button on the remote.

[PixelDharma]

Received my XRGB-mini today and it's pretty awesome so far.


However, my appears to have shipped with Firmware version 1.08.

I thought the most recent was 1.07a?


What's changed?

Interesting. You must have gotten the very first of the new stock. I got the last of Solaris Japan's last shipment a month ago, and it was on release-era firmware.

[papa_november]

Guys

Can folks using SCART switches lay out their WORKING setup? I.e., what systems, SCART switch, and cables (brand and model) are you using SUCCESSFULLY with your Mini?

Thanks,
Jim

I got a 4-port mechanical mini-DIN-8 switchbox and made 4 of the SCART-to-MiniDIN-8 dongles, and used the shortest DIN-8 cable I could find to plug the switchbox into the Framemeister.

[lettuce]

Guys

Can folks using SCART switches lay out their WORKING setup? I.e., what systems, SCART switch, and cables (brand and model) are you using SUCCESSFULLY with your Mini?

Thanks,
Jim

I got a 4-port mechanical mini-DIN-8 switchbox and made 4 of the SCART-to-MiniDIN-8 dongles, and used the shortest DIN-8 cable I could find to plug the switchbox into the Framemeister.

What do you use in regards to the audio?. I see a lot of people using these DIN 15/8 switch boxes are they supposed to carry less interference than a scart switch box?

[broken]

Also, how do you turn on Scanlines?

I must be missing it somewhere in the options.

Press the C button on the remote.

Woohoo, awesome.

Set the Framemeister to 720p and scanlines and it looks f'ing great.

1080p doesn't look quite as nice, but 720p is gorgeous.

[Overkill]

So there is a new firmware out? can't wait to see the changelog

[NWrain]

I would like to know if they changed 1080p scanlines.

[Fudoh]

you really don't. The only way they can change the 1080p scanlines it to lock the scaling engine to video mode. Won't look as good as 720p.

[Oliversum]

Ok, so I got my XRGB mini today.
Set everything up (connected the AC adapter to a 55W stepdown converter) and updated the firmware to 1.07a

So, I use a PAL SNES and Megadrive 2 with 60Hz, a JP N64 with RGB mod and a PAL Gamecube in 60Hz mode.
For the SNES and N64 I use an original Nintendo Gamecube RGB cable WITHOUT the 220µF capacitors.
The Megadrive 2 one is a normal RGB cable, and for the Gamecube I use an unmodded original Nintendo Gamecube RGB cable.

I hook them up with a selfmade Euro Scart to DIN8 adapter that came with the XRGB mini from the seller.

Here's the deal. I ALWAYS have weird colored horizontal lines popping up on the screen. The XRGB also often drops the signal after some time.
I went through every option in the menu, also used some configurations mentioned here in the thread.

On the N64 the XRGB drops the whole signal after I change one bit of the configuration, and the only way to get it back is to open the Sync Level configuration in the menu for a second.

Is it the RGB cables? Is it the consoles?
I will try the PSX over RGB and the PS2 over D-Terminal next, if there's the same problem.


EDIT:
Tested with PSX over a BigBen RGB cable. (Parodius 3) has these line popping up a lot. Loses the signal on the title screen completely.
In the intro there is a picture with sync level 2-4, but over 4 some of the upper screen appears on the lower part and then the XRGB drops the signal.

EDIT2:
PS2 over a D-Terminal cable has the same results. Drops the signal not so often, but that depends on the picture displayed.
Here's some crappy pics with a mobile phone camera.

[NWrain]

I had the same problem. My Framemeister did this brand new out of the box. Did you buy new or used?

This is at 720P. I had the same issue to a lesser extent with 480P and 1080P. It also didn't matter what display I used it on, or if I used JP21 with the stock adapter.

I bought mine from Solaris Japan, and they contacted Micomsoft for me. I was told my unit was defective, and I was going to get a repair/exchange. I sent my Framemeister back on February 7th. I just got an email that a replacement unit was being shipped.

[Oliversum]

I got it used and it arrived just today.
I think it was originally purchased from solaris japan.

Who came up for the shipping expense and customs for replacing the unit?
I'm not ok for paying this after just getting it in europe to avoid customs.

[NWrain]

What type of display did you use it on? PC monitor or HDTV?

I paid approximately $20 to ship the Framemeister from America to Japan. I wrote put down a low value on my customs form because it was a broken video processor that was being sent for repair. That is all I did. I don't know how things work in Europe.

[Fudoh]

It would be a real shame if the unit turned out defective after all. What does the seller say ? If you were to ship out a unit like to for replacement or repair, you wouldn't have to pay custom duties or taxes on it's return.

Before jumping to conclusions, flash the unit back to some old FW version (maybe the release one) and see if something changes. Even if NWrain's unit was defective, it could still be a software problem on yours.

@NWrain: I'm sure the exchange would have been much faster if Micomsoft didn't ran out of stock earlier this year. But hey, see it this way: you're likely getting a unit from the brandnew batch.