XRGB-mini Framemeister

[moonlightaffair]

Has anyone installed the latest english 1.11 firmware for Framemeister? Are there any advantages over 1.7 for NES?

I've got auto_scaler off, and horizontal scale at 5. Running at 720p with scanlines.

Are there recommended scanline settings, I read you can mess with how the scanlines display...

Just wondering.

Did those AnalogNT things ever come out yet? Curious to see how they perform against Framemeister.

[Fudoh]

Since installing a new FW is as easy as it gets, just do it.

I read you can mess with how the scanlines display...

you can adjust the SCANLINE A setting to adjust the density from next to invisible to 100%. Just as you prefer it.

[austin532]

I prefer Scanlines A to be about 25%. Not to dark to where they are always visible and not to light to where the picture still looks pixelated and jaggy. I prefer them to where they blend in with the game and I sometimes forget they are there similar to a CRT.

The Analogue Nt systems are scheduled to be released in September of this year however as nice as they sound, I can not see myself spending $500 for it. For that price someone could buy a modded NES and a Frameister.

[BuckoA51]

So if anyone as a jag and is having trouble I can help ...

Use composite sync (pin 5b) on the Jaguar end rather than composite video for sync and all your problems will disappear.

[SabreAZ]

So it turns out that my FM is damaged. I tried everything, aside from opening up the device, to get rid of the crazy video interference when i used any port located in the front (scart/svid/composite).

Anyone know of anyone that can repair this? I've had this for 2 years so i doubt I can send it to Micomsoft, and I am in the US.

[Fudoh]

Micomsoft will service the unit. You just need to a proxy to send and receive it back.

[Floob]

I've just bought one from a JPN seller on ebay.com.
I'm in the UK with a JPN Megadrive (and a modded PAL one).

Is this the right cable to use, and I should throw the one I get incase I use it by mistake and blow up the mini?
http://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/mico ... ipper.html

Also, what PSU should I get?

As an aside, I'm currently using RGB out on my MD to a Sony 26" LCD - doesnt look too bad, but this mini should blow it away.

[blizzz]

My experience with Solaris-Japan.

I ordered a Framemeister + DT Cable on 16th of May. It's now more than 2 months later and I still haven't received a working unit and to make it worse, the communication from Solaris has stopped.

Edit8: I received a working replacement today (29.08.). The exchange took 11 weeks starting from the day I sent the faulty one back to Japan. Part of it was because Solaris had to wait for new units from Micomsoft.

Spoiler

Here's a recap of what happened:

• Ordered on 16.05., shipped a couple days later and arrived on 30.05. after a week in customs.
• Device was unusable in 720p output mode from day one. I also made a Youtube video of the issue.
• Contacted Solaris support and got friendly and fast responses. Shipped it back a couple days later on 13.06.
• It arrived at Solaris on 18.06.
• On 25.06. they confirmed that it had arrived (after I mailed them) and said that it "will be shipped to Micomsoft".
• I have not received any more information from them and they did not answer my mail from last week. With the redesign of their shop they also deleted my account.

If you consider to buy a Framemeister, buy it locally if you can (for example from Wolfsoft in Germany), or from someone trustworthy like Yakumo on assemblergames.com. I would not recommend Solaris-Japan.

Edit1: 26.07. - Solaris has contacted me shortly after this post and promised to ship a replacement by the end of next week. I have also changed the title from 'warning' to 'my experience' to make it clear that this is only my personal experience with the shop, and nothing that seems to happen regularly.
I will update the post once the replacement arrives.
Edit2: 08.08. - End of the week has passed without any more information from Solaris. They also didn't react to my mail from monday. *sigh*
Edit3: 11.08. - Solaris answered my mail. They didn't get the expected shipment from Solaris and are now promising to send one this week.
Edit4: 19.08. - The week has passed without any new info from Solaris. According to their store it's back in stock since yesterday.
Edit5: 22.08. - New promise: A replacement unit will be shipped tomorrow.
Edit6: 26.08. - Didn't get any shipping info as requested and promised.
Edit7: 28.08. - Got a reply from Solaris. They shipped it as promised on 23.08. but then forgot to tell me. It's now in customs and I should receive it in the next days.
Edit8: 29.08. - Picked it up from the post office today. Picture is now stable with the same setup.

[PluueeR]

I live in PAL world so I have PAL consoles. What are the best setting for use with PAL?

When I set the output to 720p 50p I have black borders (using a PAL SNES connected through RGB). I've set my TV to "Unscaled". I believe scaling is not necesarry, because the XRGB Mini output at 720p and does the scaling for me, right? Why the black borders?

I'm on firmware 1.10 btw.

[Fudoh]

I just emailed them and asked to work it out with you right away. I can't think of any reason why they would delay a replacement. The only thing I can imagine is that they're waiting for replacement themselves. (EDIT: on the website it says that the Mini won't be restocked before mid-August. This sounds just like the last time when Micomsoft themselves were out of units and waiting for restock from Taiwan. No excuse for lack of communication of course).

[Konsolkongen]

I live in PAL world so I have PAL consoles. What are the best setting for use with PAL?

When I set the output to 720p 50p I have black borders (using a PAL SNES connected through RGB). I've set my TV to "Unscaled". I believe scaling is not necesarry, because the XRGB Mini output at 720p and does the scaling for me, right? Why the black borders?

I'm on firmware 1.10 btw.

Because consoles in 50Hz almost always display those black borders? Surely you must have seen them when you connect to your TV directly. Just one of the many reasons why 60Hz is FAR superior to 50Hz. I live in Denmark myself where we had 50Hz systems too. After playing Sonic 1 in 60Hz I can never go back to that shit again, and that goes for every game and system

But to answer your question. Use 576p_50 as the output resolution. That's the only way to get proper scanlines on PAL sources.

[BuckoA51]

If his TV's set to unscaled and it's a 1080p TV, could it be just plonking the 720p image in the middle of the screen?

[Tenchu2x]

A WARNING about Solaris-Japan.

I ordered a Framemeister + DT Cable on 16th of May. It's now more than 2 months later and I still haven't received a working unit and to make it worse, the communication from Solaris has stopped.

Here's a recap of what happened:

• Ordered on 16.05., shipped a couple days later and arrived on 30.05. after a week in customs.
• Device was unusable in 720p output mode from day one. I also made a Youtube video of the issue.
• Contacted Solaris support and got friendly and fast responses. Shipped it back a couple days later on 13.06.
• It arrived at Solaris on 18.06.
• On 25.06. they confirmed that it had arrived (after I mailed them) and said that it "will be shipped to Micomsoft".
• I have not received any more information from them and they did not answer my mail from last week. With the redesign of their shop they also deleted my account.

If you consider to buy a Framemeister, buy it locally if you can (for example from Wolfsoft in Germany), or from someone trustworthy like Yakumo on assemblergames.com. I would not recommend Solaris-Japan.

Hi,

This is Jacob from SolarisJapan.
I am really sorry for the bad experience. You are absolutely right to be angry.
We just moved our offices end of June and shortly after relaunched our website. Unfortunately, because of that we must have lost track of the matter.

Let me assure you we will do our best to replace your unit as soon as possible and get you back to gaming with it again.
Please check your email inbox for an update on the matter.

Regards,
Jacob

[EmperorZelos]

I would not recommend Solaris-Japan.

I would I have talked to them when I thought there was problems with mine and they were very persistent in finding the solution and togather we did.

[Juza]

Hi,
what are the best settings for saturn 3d games ?
Thanks.

[Konsolkongen]

Same as the 2D ones. Why would it be different?

[Emperor Udan]

I try to read as much as possible but my eyes start bleeding...

I actually made working my framemeister perfectly with various systems:
PC-FX s-video, PC-E Duo rgb, AV Famicom rgb pc10 ppu, snes jr us rgb, N64 nus001 fra rgb, Megadrive jp + 32x jp rgb, Saturn jp region free bios rgb, jaguar us rgb.

I would like to ask (once again I think) wich are best ways to connect PS2, DC and GC.
And especially:
- PS2 pal modbo V2
- Dreamcast pal (Bios Chip from Bad_Ad84 can be installed)
- Gamecube pal with digital port (XenoGC can be installed)
What I find so far near page 90~100:

PS2 > (RGB) > Sync Strike > (VGA cable) > Extron interface > (modded VGA cable into rgb scart) > mini

1/ Is it still the best way to connect PS2?
2/ Is this shematic good for modded VGA cable?
3/ Wich Extron RGB should I buy?
4/ Will it play any resolution games?

Dreamcast > (modded VGA box) > (modded VGA cable into rgb scart) > mini

5/ Is it still the best way to connect DC?
6/ Is the PS2 method above good?
7/ Is there any difference between different VGA Box video quality and if yes, which one to choose?
8/ Will it play any resolution games?

GC > Component to D-terminal > mini

9/ Is it still the best way to connect GC?
10/ There is 2 different cables. Component and D-terminal. Better take D-terminal, correct?
11/ Will it play any resolution games? Or should I force resolution with XenoGC Chip?

Many questions... but, you know what it's like to wait for them.

[Fudoh]

1) yes, but it's easier to just use two PS2's. One for RGB 15khz and one for 31khz (RGsB to RGBs).
5) yes, but instead of modding the cable for RGBHV to RGBs you can use the Extron from 1)
9) Modding the cable to output RGBHV instead of component gives you better results on the Mini. You can use the interface from 5) and 1).
10) The Component cable doesn't have enough wires to mod the cable to RGBHV, so you have to remove the completely cable and attach a new one. On the D-Terminal cable you have enough wires, so you can simply replace the D-Terminal connector with a VGA one.

[Emperor Udan]

PS2:
1/ So if I'm understanding right, for "15khz PS2" it will be PS2 > (RGB cable) > mini? No Extron?
2/ If yes, is the "15khz PS2" should have a sync cleaner like sync strike but with scart?
3/ Is the schematic good for vga to scart?
4/ Any of Extron RGB 190 series is good?

DC:
5/ And if I'm understanding right, Extron is used to convert RGsB or RGBHV into RGBS?
6/ Is UMSA better for RGBHV to RGBS? And does it convert RGsB into RGBS?
7/ Is there any difference between different VGA Box video quality and if yes, which one to choose?

Gamecube:
8/ Becasue of presence of chips in the middle of the D-terminal cable (source), I must buy one, change D-terminal plug into VGA, then Extron > (modded VGA cable into rgb scart) > mini?

[Fudoh]

1) yes
2) no, you don't need a stripper
3) no, this just puts H and V sync together. You should use a proper combiner circuit.
4) usually yes.

5) The Extron is used fpr RGBHV to RGBs in case of the DC and for RGsB to RGBs in case of the PS2.
6) the result's the same and no, UMSA can't handle RGsB.
7) no. Hanzo if you don't yet have one.

8) yes. Or you use the Extron again.

If you get a Extron RGB 203 you get a 3:1 VGA switch built in. That's perfect for DC/PS2/Cube > RGBs for the Mini.

[Emperor Udan]

Thanks a lot... seriously.

Last question about the schematics VGA to RGBS that output from Extron.
If I take a Extron RGB 203, how do I convert output from Extron to scart?

This way?

[Fudoh]

yes, but make sure to cross connect the remaining grounds within the Scart connector. Especially Pin 18.

And that's a Euro Scart cable obviously. If you want to use the JP21 to Mini8 adapter included with the Mini you need JP21 layout instead. Or you get a EU to JP21 adapter. Or you get a EU Scart to Mini8 replacement cable.

[Emperor Udan]

Yes I get a EU Scart to Mini8 replacement cable.

Thanks you vert much I have all my answers now.
Let's go for pixel perfect.

[Joelepain]

Gamecube:
8/ Becasue of presence of chips in the middle of the D-terminal cable (source), I must buy one, change D-terminal plug into VGA, then Extron > (modded VGA cable into rgb scart) > mini?

It's a little more complicated than that. You still have to open the cable at the DAC side and do the rgb mod like this.
Apparently the d-terminal cable will just prevent to change the cable itself.

By the way, is there somewhere a comparison between the component cable and the rgb modded component cable for the gamecube ? Because digitally the gamecube seems to already output YCbCr 4:2:2 subsampled, so reconvert this to rgb shouldn't offer any advantage in theory, no ?

[Fudoh]

the signal quality is really the same. It's just that the Mini handles scaling for RGBs sources slightly different (and better) than for component signals.

[BuckoA51]

It's much easier to use the Syncblaster black box with the PS2 than an Extron interface.

[Floob]

Does anyone you know where I could get a (UK) PSU for the XRGB Mini?

I want to avoid getting a step down if possible. Or do I need to get one of those maplin ones that have a gazillion different tips that come with it?

[mickcris]

Does anyone you know where I could get a (UK) PSU for the XRGB Mini?

I want to avoid getting a step down if possible. Or do I need to get one of those maplin ones that have a gazillion different tips that come with it?

http://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/XRGB ... r_supplies

[BuckoA51]

That only lists one and it's out of stock, I'd welcome some other suggestions!

[Bax]

That only lists one and it's out of stock, I'd welcome some other suggestions!

I'm using the euro version of this http://www.clasohlson.com/uk/20-W-AC-DC-Adaptor/18-2271
It was a bit cheaper over here though.

Edit: It appears the Amazon one is in stock now.