Need help locating a manual RGB SCART selector switch box.

[Rock Man]

New to the forum, hello all.

I'm a vintage gamer faced a with a tough dilemma. I've been collecting game hardware over the years, it's a hobby of mine. I really enjoy gaming, unlike others who trade systems or keep them locked away in their closet (No disrespect to those people BTW. Not everyone has the space) I keep them actively available ready for usage.

I'm getting older, as a gamer matures he would like an easier method to playing his game systems rather than going to the back of the TV and hooking/unhooking wires. That said I've taken steps so I wouldn't have to do that anymore. I've gotta Pelican Game Selector Pro which allows me to swap between Composite, S-Video, and Component capable units.

Unfortunately it does not handle SCART which is the highest supported output of my most treasured game systems. I'm trying to locate a SCART switch of essentially the same caliber as the Pelican Video Selector I have. Preferably one that holds up to 8-ports or at the very least 5 (I have many consoles, 5 is a MUST. I can maybe sacrifice the other 3). I've taken steps to track one down.

The first one I got was lost in the mail -_-* so I ordered another. This one came, the problem with this is each time I turn on 1 console, it will automatically turn on the rest. This is BAD for my situation, I'm the type of gaming freak who likes to preserve all of his wares. Each system may have a different endurance or age. So I'd like to play each one at a time to cut down on wear and tear. Plus it seems redundant after turning on one unit all others come on with no way of turning them off outside of switching off the point system. There was another issue, the result of every console being on at once gave me conflicting video signals. You wouldn't believe how frustrated I was. I did not anticipate this. I did a little more research before I went searching again.

I've come to find out the SCART switch I had was performing said actions intentionally. It was made for VCR's and DVD players, not game systems (even though it mentioned game systems in the Ebay description) verbatim it functions on any equipment that has a "standby" mode (DVD/VCR, etc.) So, now I know what NOT to look for.

After searching the web I theorized the RGB SCART switch boxes with BUTTONS and an external Male SCART CABLE (Hope I'm wording this correctly, they call the lead end going into the socket male right?) is the one I need. Because it uses the same method my Super Pelican Selector does. It hooks up a single input to the TV enabling it to swap a multitude of signals from several connected devices, all being housed in 1 source input. Well, my Pelican Selector comes with an external cable for the source signal and buttons for manual switching, so I'm assuming the SCART Switch I'm seeking must have these things too.

The ones I keep seeing online have these properties but they only do 3 hubs which is unacceptable by my standards. I won't just settle for playing Neo Geo, Sega Megadrive, and SNES; I want to play Saturn and Playstation as well (potentially 32X, Master System, Dreamcast). I'm going to play them at their absolute best output, I'm done with S-Video/AV/RF, I've been looking at them that way for years. So I need to find a way to play all my faves favorably. That means hooking them all up to a switch box in SCART and actively playing them, manually controlling which one gets turned on and which doesn't. I'm looking for complete control over my retro console juggernauts!

That's where you guys come in, the people here appear to be tech savvy. I need your help in order to seek out the answers I need. Which SCART box is the one I should get? I'm not looking for the more common ones I'm looking for one that can get the job done, MY job done. Perhaps there is a custom made switcher I can buy?

It should also be mentioned my TV doesn't have a SCART input. Just AV/S-Vid/Component(2)/HDMI(2). I picked up a generic SCART to HDMI converter so that I may play my games with a better picture. I planned on getting the correct SCART multi-out selector, plugging in the 8/5 platforms to the SCART box, connecting the box to the converter, connecting the converters HDMI cable to my television and BOOM! Success!! Play what I want.

Please Note: I've already thought of buying more than 1 (3-port) box to hold the required amount of systems. It'd create too much clutter since I'd have to plug it into the other SCART switch hub, then plug that into my converter. I want to simplify it all by getting a single 5-8 box and plugging that into the converter going into the TV.

Most of the preparations are already in place. I bought several high quality cables. I got a Coosis Universal HD adapter coming in the mail to retire my generic converter. All I need now is that blasted box! If I can just get a 8 or a 5 that's good.

So please somebody aid an obsessed gamer. I've been planning to some day hook up all of my consoles for years.

[johnwroachiii]

This switcher is the one I've got, and it works great.

Keep in mind that a lot of switches (including this one) are bi-directional. For the one I linked, you're not so much selecting the source you want as much as you are turning off the ones you don't.

Good luck. Setting up a SCART system in the States can be a pain, but it's worth it.

[DC906270]

you should be able to get on easily, i know they are easily available in the UK.

[speedlolita]

You're gonna be paying $100+ for one that supports RGB properly for each SCART.

[Ghegs]

I once had the same problem and searched far and wide for a scart switcher that would suit my needs. Eventually, I found the Trilogy 1. Scroll down to the last product on this page.

Of the five scart inputs there, only four take RGB in - the last one is composite in and RGB out, and is meant to be used with a recording device. This suited my needs perfectly as with it I can use my DVD Recorder to record my gameplay very easily. So yeah, with nine consoles at my disposal I have to use an additional, smaller scart switcher. In fact, I'd need one more of those to have all my systems plugged in at once. But this hasn't been a problem for me, few of my consoles don't get much use nowadays anyway. Aside from that, I've been very pleased with the Trilogy 1.

I have never seen a scart switcher of this caliber with 8 inputs. The biggest one I've seen is 6 (like this one), but as I've never used it I can't comment how well it works or if all the inputs are really RGB-capable. So unless you get a totally custom made scart switcher made for you (I don't even know where to start shopping for those) it's far easier and affordable to just get multiple ones to do the work.

[Mikey]

I'd get one of these if I could be sure it wouldn't introduce a delay in the signal. They shouldn't do that, but you never know.

[ZOM]

Ghegs, thanks for that link, just what I needed - I just ordered a Trilogy 1.

I'd get one of these if I could be sure it wouldn't introduce a delay in the signal. They shouldn't do that, but you never know.

I don't think any sinple RGB switching would cause any noticable delay, but yeah like you said, you never know.

[DC906270]

why not just get something like this :

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/p ... ITCHER.htm

i used to use something similar back in my days of scart/old consoles. it worked fine.

[DC906270]

or this

or even this

by the way, im not vouching for the quality of those sellers or anything, they just popped up for me on Google. theyre much cheaper than one of those other switchers though, and im sure you could find something similar on ebay or amazon.

[ZOM]

Most of those cheaper switch-adaptors either have RGB support on just one of the inputs and/or are crappily put together; I remember getting one similar to the one you posted in that first link, and it was useless due to the fact that having both, my Gamecube and PS2 hooked up simultaneously would tint each input's picture with a green hue, no matter if one of the consoles was switched on or off. Which totally defeats the purpose - I guess that thing was never tested with gaming systems, or it had "support" for RGB on all three inputs but was just tested to work with one at a time. Same problem with Mega Drive and PS1.

[johnwroachiii]

or even this

This clearly says RGB support on all sockets.

SCART switching is a $10 problem, not a $100 problem. The one I posted a link to works perfectly. You just have to make sure you've got just 1 input enabled.

[Mikey]

I'm wary of those cheaper SCART switches. I got a simple 3-socket one that darkened the picture to an unacceptable degree. A slightly more expensive Hitachi 3-socket from Argos is still fine on picture quality from slot 1, and mostly from slot 3, but slot 2 goes off colour and won't stay no matter how much I play with the SCART input.

[Ghegs]

or even this

This clearly says RGB support on all sockets.

SCART switching is a $10 problem, not a $100 problem. The one I posted a link to works perfectly. You just have to make sure you've got just 1 input enabled.

My consolized MVS just wouldn't display properly when I used it with a cheaper scart switcher very similar to that one. With the Trilogy 1, however, it's perfect. I'm guessing the more expensive ones, the ones that use a power supply, actually boost the signal strength some.

[speedlolita]

Yeah, I had a box like that and my Mega Drive's image wasn't stable when playing - even if it was RGB.



In the end I just made the hard decision and put some consoles away.

[johnwroachiii]

My consolized MVS just wouldn't display properly when I used it with a cheaper scart switcher very similar to that one. With the Trilogy 1, however, it's perfect. I'm guessing the more expensive ones, the ones that use a power supply, actually boost the signal strength some.

Ah, I see. I'm running mine through a separate upscaler, so that may be why I've never had any problems.

[Rock Man]

Man, feels like I jumped into a pool of experience with you guys. Glad to see we share or shared some of the same problems. You people couldn't be more helpful but, Argh! No common RGB SCART switches that does 5-8 sockets REALLY bums me out. I planned on giving all the consoles I grew up with life again. Without having my set-up looking too over the top with so much power consumption. But it seems this scenario is unavoidable.

Alright, new game plan. I'm not going to put my systems away, I've been doing that for years playing 3 or 4 consoles at a time. I've become too thick-headed to do that anymore. So, here is what I'll do.

Buy 2 of those 4 Way Scart Selector Switch SLx Gold AV Switcher Boxes.

Hook up my - NeoGeo CD/SNES/Megadrive to the first 4-way Scart Selector; plug the second Scart Selector into the last port, then plug-in the Saturn/PSX/Dreamcast/32X OR Master System into the other Scart Selector. Take the part that goes into the TV (On the initial switch box), and hook it through the Scart to HDMI Coosis converter afterward run an external HDMI cable from the converter to the Television. Boom! My wish is granted.

4-way Scart Switcher > NeoCD + Megadrive + SNES + Another 4-way Scart Switch > Saturn + Playstation + Dreamcast + Other > Coosis Universal HD Box [SCART] > HDMI input 1.

This is perhaps the craziest scheme I've ever come up with. Being that I live in the States where Scart is nearly non-existent, drastic times call for drastic actions!!!

With all of that crap hooked up. I just take the Scart cable from the 1st switch box and run it through the converter into the TV, with an HDMI cable. Was trying to avoid all this but it looks like I don't have a choice. It's either this way or 4 systems at a time. I'd hate to leave out either one of my mains. I want to be able to use all including the Saturn (Marvel vs. Series), PSX (Twisted Metal), Neo CD (KOF), Megadrive (SOR series), Dreamcast (Fighting Vipers 2 & DOA2 LE), and SNES (TMNT). To take away one of them would be like removing some nostalgic part of my childhood. I already got the later systems situated like PS2, Gamecube, Xbox, and 360 by using Components and HDMI (1) now it's the retro hardwares turn!

That said would the above set-up work for the Scart Switchers? I know the "switchbox-to-converter" method works because I've tested it with the crappy Scart switch I bought. My concern is regarding hooking one switcher to the other and then a converter, can it really work that way? There would be a junction of 3 active devices controlling path ways to many different gaming machines. Should I expect some type of lag, extreme electrical usage, or what?

@johnwroachiii:

I'm going with your method, thanks. All of you were great at helping me in your way but for now I'll try his recommendation. If anyone else has something to add please do.

Yeah, I had a box like that and my Mega Drive's image wasn't stable when playing - even if it was RGB.



In the end I just made the hard decision and put some consoles away.

Yeah well...let's hope I won't have to do that. This mission MUST be successful! Or else I'll go crazy!