Need help setting up an Extron 201Rxi with Sync strike.

[andykara2003]

Hi, I'm struggling to get an Extron 201Rxi working. I'm using it with an Arcadeforge Sync Strike but I can't get any signal out. I've tried different combinations of settings on the Extron, tried different VGA cables, different consoles, a different TV - nothing works. The TV's are on the right AV channel but only display a white flash when the console is switched on. The Extron is recieving the Sync signal as shown on it's display so I think the problem might be on the output .

The Extron is in mint condition and sold as fully tested & working by a highly rated eBay seller. I'm using a good VGA lead and the BNC cable is from retrogamingcables.co.uk who have a reputation for good quality cables. It's made very well. I took it apart to check that sync is wired to pin 20 on the scart plug (~which is sould be as it's an output) and it is:





I've got it set up like this:





But I actually have the yellow sync wire plugged into the 'S' sync output (apparently this is the right one). As you can see, the Extron is registering the Sync output from the Sync Strike:



Does anyone know what could be preventing me from getting a picture? Is there a good way of isolating the problem?

[matrigs]

RGB blanking.

Provide 1-3 Volts on pin 16.

[alamone]

I have two Extron RGB devices and none of them work with my 15KHz sources (arcade PCBs).
I was planning to use them to convert from RGBS to RGBHV, but they did not work,
all I get is a blank screen on the output side.

Mine are all older devices without LCDs so I can't tell if they're detecting the signal,
but one of them has a LED for signal (turns beige to green if detected) and it does not
turn green when I feed it 15KHz. This is despite the specs sheet saying it should support 15KHz.

So in my opinion, Extron devices are useless for 15KHz processing...

[andykara2003]

RGB blanking.

Provide 1-3 Volts on pin 16.

I tried that - I put 2 x 1.5volt AA batteries together, + to pin 16 & - to ground. No luck. I was pretty sure the TV was displaying a signal anyway though, as on some settings I got white faded bars scrolling up the screen.

So in my opinion, Extron devices are useless for 15KHz processing...

People on here seem to get this working successfully though - I'm hoping that there must be a solution out there...

PS. the older Extron RGB's are notorious for having strange dsub9 pinouts that have to be deciphered. I had one and couldn't get it to work which is why I bought a new style one that has the 15 pin female VGA input. This is the one which people are saying is straightforward & works with a standard VGA cable.

[Fudoh]

So in my opinion, Extron devices are useless for 15KHz processing...

that's really not true. Just think of all the people who use those interfaces for 480i to 240p conversion using the DDSP function. That's 15khz in, 15khz out. It works very well on almost all interfaces.

[Fudoh]

Just an idea: maybe it's the sync strike that's throwing off the Extron, because the Extron can't tell if it actually get a RGBHV or RGBs signal. What does the SS output on it's V-Sync pin ?

[andykara2003]

Done it!!

The problem was that although I was providing 3 volts to pin 16 using AA batteries, apparently it wasn't enough. So after some more experimenting I took the voltage from 'V' (on the screw terminals on the Sync Strike) to pin 16 and the scart ground to 'GND' terminal - so I guess that's 5 volts - and it worked!

Thanks so much guys! Really appreciate Fudoh's efforts and If Matrigs hadn't made the comment about RGB blanking I probably wouldn't have bothered with the extra mucking around.

Perhaps I should have thought of it before (I'm not too experienced) but it seems it's fine to take the power to pin 16 from the Sync strike if anyone has this problem in the future...

Thanks again

[matrigs]

That's still weird though. It should switch already to RGB above 1V, so the batteries have to be really low on power not to be able to provide as much.

Once the Extron shows the input parameters on the display it's pretty much good to go and if something doesn't work it's rather the receivers fault (or cabling). Most users (myself included) struggle with the Extrons not accepting the input at all.

I don't think the Extron cares if the input signal is RGBHV or RGBS, as it is outputting H,V as well as Composite Sync no matter what. When i was hooking up a scaler before it, i would switch the sync type and the device was happy with both RGBS and RGBHV. RGsB as well.

[Fudoh]

If Matrigs hadn't made the comment about RGB blanking I probably wouldn't have bothered with the extra mucking around.

but you realize that this is what I told you via PM yesterday, right ? Anyway, gratulations on the setup.

[andykara2003]

That's still weird though. It should switch already to RGB above 1V, so the batteries have to be really low on power not to be able to provide as much.

Once the Extron shows the input parameters on the display it's pretty much good to go and if something doesn't work it's rather the receivers fault (or cabling). Most users (myself included) struggle with the Extrons not accepting the input at all.

I don't think the Extron cares if the input signal is RGBHV or RGBS, as it is outputting H,V as well as Composite Sync no matter what. When i was hooking up a scaler before it, i would switch the sync type and the device was happy with both RGBS and RGBHV. RGsB as well.

I just tested the battery with the multimeter and I was definitely giving pin 16 1.4 volts, with the wires soldered to pin 16 & Ground of the scart so I'm not sure why it didn't work :/ Do you think the 5 volts I'm giving it is too much & might cause damage?

[andykara2003]

If Matrigs hadn't made the comment about RGB blanking I probably wouldn't have bothered with the extra mucking around.

but you realize that this is what I told you via PM yesterday, right ? Anyway, gratulations on the setup.

Yes I know, sorry - I did try your suggestion & saw that someone else on the forums had had success with batteries. That didn't work for me - Matrigs repeating your suggestion made me go back to it & try some other stuff, thankfully! I'm not great with this technical stuff... Do you reckon that 5 volts is too high?

[Fudoh]

On most scart cables 5V are routed to pin 8 and then through a resistor to Pin 16, but I wouldn't worry about it being too high. If it works for you, it's fine.

[andykara2003]

On most scart cables 5V are routed to pin 8 and then through a resistor to Pin 16, but I wouldn't worry about it being too high. If it works for you, it's fine.

Thanks again, that's great. I think I remember you saying these add no lag - am I right on that?

[Fudoh]

yes indeed. Someboy else insisted though they add a frame of lag. I think that's impossible, because of the analogue nature of the interfaces.

[andykara2003]

yes indeed. Someboy else insisted though they add a frame of lag. I think that's impossible, because of the analogue nature of the interfaces.

Cheers for that I like the extra control over the picture the RGB control gives (if it's used subtly)

[andykara2003]

Oh lord - so it turns out that the Extron is introducing some distortion at the top of the picture:





Anyone any ideas what's causing this?

Also, as you turn up the RGB control, the picture bulges at the top....

[alamone]

Well, maybe "useless" is a bit of a strong word, but at least for arcade PCBs it's not working out for me.
Maybe I need to put some resistors into the sync line.

It does work fine for splitting RGBS to RGBHV for using my X68000 on a XRGB-mini.

Regarding your wavy sync, is it like this when bypassing the Extron?
I've had problems like that being introduced when I use a sync cleaner like a LM1881,
which I assume is probably in the chain somewhere.

[Overkill]

Oh lord - so it turns out that the Extron is introducing some distortion at the top of the picture:

On the Extron, on the dipswitches, turn on the DDSP and see if the distortion goes away.

[Fudoh]

it likely will, but then he can't use the geometry controls anymore.

[BuckoA51]

For a more simple way to convert 15khz sync you could always try a Keene black box - http://www.keene.co.uk/electronic/keene ... sbbox.html

No H/V adjust though.

[andykara2003]

I've had a look & I can't find a solution. The DDSP setting sorts it but as Fudoh says, you lose control over the horizontal & vertical shift, which is part of the reason I wanted it.

If anyone has found a solution to this I'd love to here it. Otherwise I'll have to put it aside for now. I'll try it out with some other consoles as well.