HD Box Pro: cheap (and good) alternative to the XRGB-3

[BuckoA51]

Agreed I've never come up against a situation where changing the input termination on the XRGB3 did anything other than make the picture just that little bit dimmer. The only cure for the picture drop-outs on the XRGB3 with a white screen is to use raw sync.

Connect your component video through the GAME_IN connector with a suitable adapter and there is very little noise.

[Rock Man]

Thanks I'll try know of any good adapters?

Btw I was gonna tell you this in a pm but seeing as how you're here. The Neo CD is garbage for the Hama Switch absolute mud. The picture grows darker, it loses sync when you play the demo on like every game. The sync is killed when you're using super moves, bombs or anything else that involves a flash. It also blows when it comes to the Master System, brings a lotta noise. No problems though with powered switchers on either system.

[BuckoA51]

Ah, SCART switches causing problems, again.

You want something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hama-Scart-to ... 0827344423

Also, if you need a raw sync cable for your PS2/PS1, the Wulfsoft enhanced cable is as close as you can get, but it's expensive, only ships in Germany and I haven't verified that it works.

Also, generally I'd take the XRGB3 over the Mini any day since it has a fraction of the input lag. I only use my Mini for sources where the XRGB3 is incompatible or for interlace games.

[Rock Man]

Ah, SCART switches causing problems, again.

You want something like this http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hama-Scart-to ... 0827344423

Also, if you need a raw sync cable for your PS2/PS1, the Wulfsoft enhanced cable is as close as you can get, but it's expensive, only ships in Germany and I haven't verified that it works.

Also, generally I'd take the XRGB3 over the Mini any day since it has a fraction of the input lag. I only use my Mini for sources where the XRGB3 is incompatible or for interlace games.

Unfortunately yeah, it's just the Hama Switch on those two systems. I'm not looking to buy another switcher I just switched the Master System/NeoCD to our friend Mr. Keene. The Keene runs both of them like a clockwork. Remember I have like 3 different switchers off your suggestion and I couldn't be happier. The Hama Switch isn't useless, it'll do anything else I have just fine. When it comes to those 2 systems it HamaFAILS. I wanted to let you know, just incase you're looking for more info to add to your reviews.

[hedgehog]

Hi

I've read through the thread - big thanks to everyone who's posted information!

I'm thinking of getting a HD Box Pro to connect up my PAL PS2 to my computer monitor. Looks like I'll need:

1. PS2 Component lead
2. VGA/VGA lead (definitely got one of these).

Is it likely to work on my monitor? Here are the specs:

a) 2 inputs: VGA and DVI. Switchable from monitor controls, so I thought I'd use the DVI input for my PC (as now), and the VGA input for the PS2/HD Box Pro.
b) 19-inch monitor.
b) Aspect ratio 16:10. I don't mind at all if I get some black edges, as the PS2 image is not going to be 16:10 - as long as it works otherwise.
c) Max resolution is 1440x900 (this, at 60Hz, is the optimum display mode)

Excuse me for my ignorance, but I'm confused about the refresh rate/aka frame rate, and about someone upthread worried about PAL being 50Hz. Does the HDBP output at the same rate as whatever's fed into it, or is this adjustable? My monitor's specs are here:

http://support.lenovo.com/en_GB/product ... MIGR-73609

The only 50Hz mode I can find listed is: PAL VGA at 50 Hz. I'm guessing that this means 640x480. So, IF the HDBP is going to output nothing but 50Hz in my case, then I'll have to make sure when I order that the HDBP they send will allow this low resolution (some, I saw upthread, don't offer 640x480)?

I'm also newbie-confused about the various resolutions you can choose on the HDBP's menu. Are these there just to match the mode the TV or monitor prefers? Because surely there's no advantage going to higher resolutions otherwise (for a PS2), it'll still be the relatively low-res image coming through?

thanks for any info!

hedgehog

[BuckoA51]

HD Box Pro outputs only 60hz, 50hz VGA is very rare. Any PAL software you play will be frame-converted to 60hz, this introduces a little stutter (hiccup) in any scrolling.

I'm also newbie-confused about the various resolutions you can choose on the HDBP's menu. Are these there just to match the mode the TV or monitor prefers?

Basically yes.

[Tigershark]

Hello,

I hope someone could help me please.

I have had one of these for some time. I use it to play PS2 shooters on my 1680x1050 LCD pc screen. What I have done in the past is simply put the games through the box at that resoution and then twiddle with the colour/brightness/sharpness setting to get what I consider the best picture.

It occurred to me recently it might be better to set the HDPro at a lower resolution to get a better picture. That seemed to work very well for Espgaluda in Tate (obviously!) but not so well on others.

The question I have is: what's the best way to display PS2 shooters with this box? Should I be using a lower resolution each time and if so what?

Thanks.

[Xyga]

IIRC select 640x480 and fiddle with the 'motion' setting until you reach a sweet spot where you'll notice an overall better behaviour, like for instance in ESPgaluda the shadows below flying enemies will flicker correctly instead of creating weird comb patterns/artifacts.

My HdBoxPro died a long time ago so I cannot double-check and tell you exactly which motion setting was the 'right' one. Sorry.

[Tigershark]

Thanks I'll do just that.

[Nug]

I'm planning on having an RGB / Component mod done on my twinfamicom. Will this work with it?

As a side note, I already have one of these for my Wii, so being able to use this with my fami will be really helpful

[Nug]

Anyone?

[Fudoh]

You're doing more damage by using a HDBoxPro with you're doing good with your RGB/YUV modding. Especially since I doubt that you would be able to get an original HDBoxPro with the necessary settings for 240p content.

[Nug]

You're doing more damage by using a HDBoxPro with you're doing good with your RGB/YUV modding. Especially since I doubt that you would be able to get an original HDBoxPro with the necessary settings for 240p content.

How can I tell what version mine is? I purchased it a few years ago used. I still have all the paperwork, box etc

[Fudoh]

The last iScan Pro I saw on ebay.com went for less than US$30 and that's miles better than a HDBox.

There a motion sensitivity setting on the original HDBoxPro versions which allows you to disable the adaptive deinterlacing and get a single field processing mode instead.

[Nug]

The last iScan Pro I saw on ebay.com went for less than US$30 and that's miles better than a HDBox.

There a motion sensitivity setting on the original HDBoxPro versions which allows you to disable the adaptive deinterlacing and get a single field processing mode instead.

Is said setting named motion sensitivity in the menu?

[Fudoh]

I think so, yes. It's been a LONG time....

[Nug]

I think so, yes. It's been a LONG time....

I have an option called motion level. I'm hoping that's it?

[Fudoh]

that's the one. you have to set it to max (or was it min?) to get proper 240p handling.

[Nug]

that's the one. you have to set it to max (or was it min?) to get proper 240p handling.

Awesome. I'll fiddle with it and see what I get.

On a side note, with rgb-yuv converters, there is zero lag since there's no scaling being done, correct?

[Fudoh]

A classic analogue transcoder introduces no lag, that's right.