Wii + HDBox Pro + SGL3000

[Jaz]

Hi all,

I've hooked my Wii up to a 55" Samsung LED using official component cables and it looks OK. When I run various emulators in their "original mode", 240p, they look very good.

The only thing missing is scanlines which, unfortunately, haven't been implemented in any of the emulators.

Would a combination of my Wii in 240p, hooked up to an HDBox Pro via component, then via VGA to the SLG3000 and then to my TV via VGA achieve scanlines and a reasonable image?

Has anyone tried the Wii in 240p mode via the Framemeister?

Thanks in advance for all your help,

Jaz

[Fudoh]

Wii in 240p + Framemeister works fine.

If you want to use the SLG, don't upscale the 240p output, but set the Wii (and the emus you're running) to 480p instead, then TRANSCODE to VGA (instead of linedouble) and run through the SLG. Should be just as fine. You can use the HDBox or a PSP Upscaler as a transcoder. Not perfect, but quite ok. This saves you about 2 frames of processing delay and gives you much better quality than processing 240p with a cheap device.

[Jaz]

Thanks Fudoh. If I was going the cheap route is the HDBox my best option or would something like this be better:

http://www.amazon.com/SainSmart-GBS-822 ... B0051SLJAG

[Fudoh]

The GBS isn't good at handling component. I would check if you can get a REAL transcoder (something like an Audio Authority) somewhere around $50-60....

[Jaz]

Like this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Audio-Authority ... 336ed5d673

Quite expensive when I add in the 40 dollars shipping.

With that and the SLG3000 I might just spend the extra and get a Framemeister. At least I can then hook up my s-video N64 aswell.

[Fudoh]

something like that, yes.

You didn't tell where you're from. There might be different brands available in your country ?

Well, the Framemeister's still nearly $500 shipped, so that's at least three times the price of a transcoder plus the SLG3000. For your s-video sources you pick up something like an iScan Pro.

[Jaz]

How about I ditch the above suggestions and get a DVDO iScan HD+?

[Fudoh]

The $60 killer offer on eBay is gone already, but in general the HD+ is a good solution.

[Jaz]

The $60 killer offer on eBay is gone already, but in general the HD+ is a good solution.

I was going to buy it but was waiting for your reply! Ahhhh! Thanks anyway.

[Jaz]

I've bought a 32" 4:3 Loewe CRT instead. Sorted.

[emphatic]

I've bought a 32" 4:3 Loewe CRT instead. Sorted.

Sorted indeed.

[Jaz]

Will be as soon as I figure out how to hookup my Jap Wii (component) to the Loewe with scart. Luckily, it takes component on the SCART 3 connector. Just need to sort out a converter of some kind.

[Fudoh]

Adapters should be easily available. Just make sure you have audio connections as well and that the direction of the adapter is the right one. In/Out doesn't matter for the component pins, but it does matter for the audio pins.

[Jaz]

I'm certain this TV takes component on the SCART connector as in the manual it says AV3 video in RGB or YUV. Hopefully that means 240p on the component from my Wii.

Maybe this adapter?

http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcab ... SCART.html

Would it degrade the picture quality at all?

[Fudoh]

No audio on this connector. Degradation will be no problem.

[blizzz]

An adapter like this should work: http://www.ebay.de/itm/200686253433

[Jaz]

Many thanks!

Any idea if the scart socket could only accept predetermined resolutions? I just need it to take 240p. Would hate to lug this 57Kg monster up to the third floor of my building to find it didn't work. Wife will be pissed off...double-so if I have to throw it on the scrap heap.

[blizzz]

Depends on the TV, but any decent CRT should accept 240/288p and 480/576i.

[Jaz]

I think Loewe is probably decent so should be fine. Thanks for your help!

[Jaz]

So I did some extra research and discovered that "The Loewe can accept component input with the sync carried on Y (green)...or with a separate composite sync."

No idea what that means.

Will my Wii and Xbox1, both using official component cables, work?? Xbox1 will be 480i I guess.

/Who knew retrogaming was such a minefield!

[Fudoh]

Should be fine. "Seperate composite sync" would be RGBs though, not really component.

[holaplaneta]

Hi there guys, this is my first post and I want to thank everybody for all the great info that this place has.

However, before spending the money I would love if you guys can help me in getting Scanlines and 480p to 1080p upscaling for the nes, snes, gen emulators on my wii.

My setup for retro gaming is a wii console with the wii2hdmi adapter since when I tried the component cable it was too bright on my Mitsubishi HC4000 projector. From the Wii2HDMI goes to monoprice hdmi switcher and from there to the projector. For audio I use a the wii2hdmi 3.5mm output to rca stereo to my audio decoder.

The wii, even with the wii2hdmi is outputting a 480p signal that actually looks quite good. Very nice and clear, but still 480p.

I read that the Framemeister can do what I want but that right now at 1080p with scanlines is not that good... yet (maybe with a future firmware would get better) but since I practically for the moment don´t have or plan to get any real old hardware consoles, is there any other alternative (mostly cheaper) that you could recommend me?

And there´s a post in another forum from a user with the framemeister with pictures that shows that: "the XRGB-3 wasn't exactly brilliant in handling the Wii (nor the PS2, anyway) and the FM is only marginally better. Turning on scanlines improves image quality dramatically as jaggies are gone/hidden, but scanlines darken the screen a lot."

I read the forum rules and found nothing about posting links to other forums, if I did wrong I´ll take it down.
http://www.bordersdown.net/showthread.p ... Mini/page2

So is the Framemeister good enough just for a Wii? (and not dozens of other retro consoles) Is it worth it money wise?

I´m aware of the SGL3000 and Component to VGA decoders could work, but still with this way I would still have a 480p image. I do have the HDBox and I don´t like it, the image actually looks bad in my opinion and that´s why I ended up getting the Wii2HDMI adapter in the first place (after trying direct component and then component + HDBox on my setup)

And even when the projector comes with a VGA input I would love to keep my connections within HDMI, that way I can use it on other TV sets in the future too when I take my system to a friends house during a party or something.

In short, is it possible to get a 480p HDMI output upscaled to 1080p with beautiful scanlines and HDMI (or VGA if necessary) output? Is it possible at a price that´s not the Framemeister one? Are there any better options than the Framemeister just for the Wii on my setup?

Thanks and cheers to all.

[holaplaneta]

So Fudoh answered my questions thru email, I´ll post them here for everybody´s learning:

> By any chance do you know if the snes, nes, gba, genesis
> emulators on the wii output at 240p if the wii is set
> to 480p?

no, if you set the Wii to 480p, then theyll output 480p. If you
set the Wii to 480i though, then most will output 240p.

But there's no disadvantage in using 480p, since you save yourself
the initial upscaling step from 15 to 31khz.

> I´m kinda confused about the 480i and 480p output in the wii,
> with the wii2hdmi I have to use 480p

since HDMI does not support 240p (in general).

> I´m willing to get any of these, would you recommend me one
> in particular that would work better for my setup?

they are all very good. Just get whichever you can.

> And finally if I end up getting the transcoder, would I need to
> get rid of the Wii2Hdmi in all cases with this setup?

yes. If you want a pure digital signal to your projector you can
add a VGA to HDMI converter instead

Wii -> transcoder -> SLG3000 -> VGA to HDMI -> projector.

> Any recommendation on the VGA to HDMI converter? (I love monoprice, but
> I would preffer better quality of conversion)

not really. Quality itself isnt the problem. Technically the signal which
is coming from the Wii is 720x480 and not 640x480, and not all converters might
be able to handle this kind of signal without a minor loss in horizontal
quality/resolution.

You should make sure to get a converter which does not add any framerate
conversion or scaling. Should be the same in/out signal.

[holaplaneta]

Now I was wondering if this setup would work ok:

Wii > Wii2HDMI (in 480p) > HDFury1 > SLG3000 > Projector

The HDFury needs to be model 1 isn´t? HDFury2 would not work with the SLG3000 properly because of polarity issues, is that correct?

Thanks again guys, if you think this should work nice, I think I´ll go this way. (I can connect my PS3 and Xbox360 to this setup if necessary too)

[Fudoh]

should work, yes.

[holaplaneta]

Awesome. I´ll get them as soon as I get paid. Thanks!

If in the future I want the output to be hdmi I´m aware thanks to Fudoh that I should make sure to get a converter which does not add any framerate
conversion or scaling. Should be the same in/out signal.

Those converters that output at Native res are around $240 dollars... ouch. Is that the only option?

I saw the Rosewill RCAD-11001 vga to hdmi adapter, but even when the manual states that:
**Please note that this converter does not up/down convert the signal. Essentially, the resolution (supported by this device) that passes through the converter is the same resolution that goes out. Any aspect ratio control must be done directly from your HDTV or source. **
**This VGA to HDMI Bridge is not a scaler or scan converter. **
**In order to display a pixel by pixel image your video card has to be able to
support the output resolution. Some video cards can't output HD resolutions
so you may need to check your manual. **

Unfortunately the resolutions supported by this mere $40 dlrs converter are:
Input:
640X480(VGA), 720X400, 800X600(SVGA), 1360X768(Wide XGA), 1024X768(XGA), 1280X720(HDTV 720P), 1280X768(WXGA),1440X900(WXGA+), 1280X1024(SXGA), 1680X1050(WSXGA+), 1600X1200(UXGA), 1280X800(WXGA), 1280X960(Quad VGA), 1920X1080(Full HD), 1920X1200(WUXGA)
Output:
1280X720P, 1920X1080P

What really makes me wonder is why if it states that it´s only a bridge and not an upscaler, why does the output is just 720p and 1080p, and not the same as the input. Am I missing something?

Manual is here (page 1 has the supported res and page 3 has the notes):
http://www.rosewill.com/Mgnt/Uploads2/A ... -11001.pdf