XRGB-3

[SGGG2]

I just picked up a Model 1 Genesis (non-HD graphics) and the damn thing displays slightly dark vertical stripes on every game, using RGB SCART, either routed through the XSelect or directly into the XRGB. Also, the sound from the Genesis headphone jack has all kinds of lo-fi cracking and distortion. It's listenable, but I don't remember it being this bad, is something wrong?

[RVTK2DX]

Well, my problem is solved. Special thanks to speedlolita.

If you hold the PCinP button, and press the power button, it enters an "emergency mode". I switched USB ports, and the program accepted that the XRGB-3 was plugged in, and I proceeded to flash it.



It's working almost perfectly now, just need to sort out the settings.

Thanks for the help!

[Konsolkongen]

I just picked up a Model 1 Genesis (non-HD graphics) and the damn thing displays slightly dark vertical stripes on every game, using RGB SCART, either routed through the XSelect or directly into the XRGB. Also, the sound from the Genesis headphone jack has all kinds of lo-fi cracking and distortion. It's listenable, but I don't remember it being this bad, is something wrong?

I think the stripes you mention are normal. On all 3 MegaDrive 1's I have had connected to the XRGB-3 this has been an issue (1xEU 2xJAP). It mostly shows in blue colors right?

The best thing you can do about the sound is to modify the system using a second up-amp circuit for stereo sound. Here is a schematic a friend of mine made:



The R42 and R43 resistors are not necessarily marked out on the motherboard. On mine they were found on the bottom of the board:

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/ ... 1292407503

The LM358 chips are dirt cheap and the sound is just perfect after performing this mod. No humming or buzzing when the screen turns bright, like when you tap stereo from the headphone jack. Give it a try

Well, my problem is solved. Special thanks to speedlolita.

If you hold the PCinP button, and press the power button, it enters an "emergency mode". I switched USB ports, and the program accepted that the XRGB-3 was plugged in, and I proceeded to flash it.

This is great news! Congratulations

And thank you for explaining how to enter the emergency mode. I'm sure a lot of people will find that useful

[RVTK2DX]

Well, it's all going well apart from one little thing. For some reason, my scanlines scroll down the screen pretty quickly rather than staying in one place. Does anyonew know a possible cause for this?

Also, is there a way to adjust the flicker?

[Konsolkongen]

What source are you using and what resolution is it outputting? The flickering is normal when displaying 480i.

[Xenogias]

Can we get that emergency mode added to the wiki?

[RVTK2DX]

PlayStation 2 via RGB-JP21. NTSC-J game running on a PAL console. Only tried Beatmania IIDX so far, not sure what resolution it runs at.

Well, just found out that the Matrix boot logo is scanlined, and also the Matrix Infinity menu/configuration screen. The scanlines start rolling when the PS2 menu appears.

[Konsolkongen]

I'm pretty sure what you think is scrolling is actually just the flickering when displaying 480i. Most PS2 games run in 480i and the XRGB-3 handles that very poorly.

The reason why the Matrix logo appears fine is because it's in 240p. The same resolution that all retro consoles run in (MegaDrive, Saturn, SNES and so on). Shooters like ESPgaluda and DoDonpachi on the PS2 runs in 240p as well and will look great with scanlines through the XRGB.

If you have a Saturn/PlayStation 1 or any older consoles try hooking that up and the picture should be perfect with scanlines

[RVTK2DX]

Yeah, that did cross my mind - it may be due to the flicker, giving it the illusion that the lines are scrolling down.

Just tried a PS1 game and it looks perfect!

Thanks again for the help!

[lovecraft]

I can't figure out how to make that thing working with my HD TV

My LCD HD TV is a Toshiba 47ZV625D. All NTSC systems work on it (Super Famicom, MD, PS2, Kic's 91 Supergun, etc) when they're directly plugged-in through the RGB scart input, but I'd like to add some scanlines emulation to them with the XRGB-3 !
So as I want to use the B1 mode, I took a VGA/VGA cable to connect the XRGB-3 "Analog" out (surrounded in green in the following pic) to the VGA/PC-in of my TV :

Then when I select the correct channel on my TV and power on the XRGB-3, I get the message "Video format not supported"

Any idea if I may do something to solve the problem ?

[Fudoh]

B0 works fine ?
B1 firmware flashed ?
Try cycling through the output resolutions. On my old TV B1 only worked on certain resolutions settings. You can do this with the front buttons. Also make sure VSync is switched off. Also try selecting the S-Video input on the XRGB. RGB or D1/2/3 often don't show anything when no active source is connected.

[BuckoA51]

I think the stripes you mention are normal. On all 3 MegaDrive 1's I have had connected to the XRGB-3 this has been an issue (1xEU 2xJAP). It mostly shows in blue colors right?

Aren't dark vertical stripes on the Megadrive/Genesis indicative of a poor sync signal ? See http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34329

There's some way to mod the Genesis to get a pure sync signal but I've not looked into it since my picture is ok.

Then when I select the correct channel on my TV and power on the XRGB-3, I get the message "Video format not supported"

Any idea if I may do something to solve the problem ?

Buy a DVDO Edge

[lovecraft]

B0 works fine ?
B1 firmware flashed ?
Try cycling through the output resolutions. On my old TV B1 only worked on certain resolutions settings. You can do this with the front buttons. Also make sure VSync is switched off. Also try selecting the S-Video input on the XRGB. RGB or D1/2/3 often don't show anything when no active source is connected.

I first updated the B1 firmware, but couldn't try any mode when connected to the TV. No screen at all except that "Video format not supported" message when I power-on the XRGB. Any chance that using the digital-out instead may solve the problem ? But the digital-out doesn't support B1 mode doesn't it ?

[BuckoA51]

No B1 mode using the digital out, that is correct. It seems the newer your TV, the less likely it is to work with the XRGB3 without some other kind of processing in the chain.

[Kiel]

B1 doesn't work with my newer samsung either, not a big deal for since I'm happy with B0.

[lovecraft]

But how do you do to switch to B0 ? I mean I don't even access to any XRGB menu on my screen. The "video format not supported" message appears right after I power on the XRGB!

[Konsolkongen]

I think the stripes you mention are normal. On all 3 MegaDrive 1's I have had connected to the XRGB-3 this has been an issue (1xEU 2xJAP). It mostly shows in blue colors right?

Aren't dark vertical stripes on the Megadrive/Genesis indicative of a poor sync signal ? See http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=34329

There's some way to mod the Genesis to get a pure sync signal but I've not looked into it since my picture is ok.

You maybe right. I have already modified the MegaDrive to output C.sync from the "out" pin on the Video encoder. Doesn't make a difference though

[BuckoA51]

But how do you do to switch to B0 ?

When you reset the XRGB3 (see the Wiki for how) it defaults to B0 mode.

[lovecraft]

I reseted, but the TV keeps saying it doesn't support the video format after the XRGB is powered on.
Maybe it's a silly question but is the XRGB menu supposed to show up on screen even when there's no source connected into it ?

[Fudoh]

Maybe it's a silly question but is the XRGB menu supposed to show up on screen even when there's no source connected into it ?

again depends on the TV. Didn't work on my old TV. If you choose S-Video as an input the output seems to be the most compatible.

[lovecraft]

Maybe it's a silly question but is the XRGB menu supposed to show up on screen even when there's no source connected into it ?

again depends on the TV. Didn't work on my old TV. If you choose S-Video as an input the output seems to be the most compatible.

ok, if I understand, you mean as soon as I plug any source via the S-Video input of the XRGB and power on both, the options menu of the XRGB will finally appear on my TV screen ?

ok I'll try this.

[Fudoh]

No, we were talking about the XRGB's menu WITHOUT an active source.

As soon as you have an active source, you should - of course - get a picture on all the inputs (as long as VSYNC is switched off).

[Konsolkongen]

Sorry if this is a mildly retarded question, but why is it that playing with the V-sync option ON doesn't always work? Without this option a perfectly scrolling image will appear stuttering (like framedrops). I hate playing with it off

Luckily for me most of my systems work fine with the V-sync setting ON.

[Ed Oscuro]

Sorry if this is a mildly retarded question, but why is it that playing with the V-sync option ON doesn't always work? Without this option a perfectly scrolling image will appear stuttering (like framedrops). I hate playing with it off

Luckily for me most of my systems work fine with the V-sync setting ON.

Would assume that would add lag. Lag < tearing but faster. I wonder if NTSC scan-by-line is the answer to your question? Guessing the XRGB-3 just waits for enough scanlines to make a full frame, though. You have to wait for the full frame in any case.

[lovecraft]

No, we were talking about the XRGB's menu WITHOUT an active source.

As soon as you have an active source, you should - of course - get a picture on all the inputs (as long as VSYNC is switched off).

OK so I need a VGA to S-video cable (VGA/analog-out of the XRGB..to..the S-Video in of my TV), correct ?
Any other idea of most compatible cable/connection ?
What do you think of this VGA to Component/RGB cable, would it work as well ?


By the way, is it possible to enable scanlines in B0 mode ?

[BuckoA51]

OK so I need a VGA to S-video cable (VGA/analog-out of the XRGB..to..the S-Video in of my TV), correct ?

No you've completely misunderstood. What Fudoh means is when you don't get a picture, try pressing the S-Video input button on your XRGB3 to see if that makes a picture appear. No the VGA to component won't work either and no there's no way to use Scanlines in B0 mode. Also 1080p mode in B0 probably won't work on your TV either.

What you probably need is another videoprocessor to clean up the XRGB3's B1 output into something your TV can work with. Something like the DVDO Edge or the Gefen VGA to DVI scaler Plus.

[lovecraft]

OK so I need a VGA to S-video cable (VGA/analog-out of the XRGB..to..the S-Video in of my TV), correct ?

No you've completely misunderstood. What Fudoh means is when you don't get a picture, try pressing the S-Video input button on your XRGB3 to see if that makes a picture appear. No the VGA to component won't work either and no there's no way to use Scanlines in B0 mode. Also 1080p mode in B0 probably won't work on your TV either.

What you probably need is another videoprocessor to clean up the XRGB3's B1 output into something your TV can work with. Something like the DVDO Edge or the Gefen VGA to DVI scaler Plus.

wow those are great news anyway thanks for the explanation.
I'll try with another cable though... every thing works fine on this TV so I can't figure out why it would be totally impossible to get this XRGB-3 working

[BuckoA51]

so I can't figure out why it would be totally impossible to get this XRGB-3 working

Because the XRGB3 is a horribly quirky, dated little thing and the newer TV's get the less flexible they are with their VGA input. The reason people jump through so many hoops to get this silly little box working is because it really does look better than any other videoprocessor on the market for 240p material.

Cue shameless plug for my crappy site if you're thinking about getting another processor to use in tandem (basically what I had to do):- http://www.videogameperfection.com/

[Konsolkongen]

Great reading A lot of things are similar to the info on Fudoh's page but it's always nice to get a second opinion on these things.

[ikaruga007]

YES! My XRGB-3 is working perfectly again

A page or so back, I posted about the problems I had with the image suddenly showing up all garbled. Following the advice of a friendly engineer over at Micomsoft, I got the suggestion to check out two capacitors inside the power supply. Indeed, they were fried.

Rather than replacing the capacitors, I decided I'd better get a new AC adapter so I no longer needed a stepdown transformer. After some looking around, I've now managed to source an 11v AC adapter that handles at least 2A. I had to buy that special plug that fits into the XRGB and solder it to my new adapter.

After double checking the voltage with a multimeter probably 10 times (11v, + in middle) I nervously plugged it in and... IT WORKS!!!

Cheers to Konsolkongen for helping out discussing what might be wrong with it. Now I can finally install my newly bought Chelnov PCB in the 31khz cab