Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

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kitty666cats
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Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by kitty666cats »

Here’s some copypasta of mine from two other threads earlier tonight which were referencing Retro-Access and their RGBS ‘Dsub’ cables:

“I wouldn’t count on Retro Access being up and running for a LONG time. If you check their Twitter they’ve gone completely gone off the rails and can’t seem to manage to be functional as a member of society right now, let alone a business owner.”

It would probably be responsible of RetroRGB Bob and all these other places to stop listing them as one of the top go-to cable sellers… it’s a one-person operation that was always very slow with a poor business model/poor service - and now it’s not looking much like they’ll be back into the swing of things anytime REMOTELY soon, if ever”

(Let it be understood, I’m not getting a kick out of this, I feel for them)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My condolences for their issues. Never bothered with their SCART cables, their BNC cables seem to look nice, but my Saturn DSUB cable from them was rubbish. Pin 3 (the green channel) snapped off almost immediately after only unplugging/Re plugging the cable about 3 times. Returning it was fine, getting a replacement sent was about a 6 month debacle of endless emails with almost nil response.

“VGA” style console cables are slowly raising more and more in demand (though there will inevitably always be morons thinking they can use one to connect a 15kHz console to a PC CRT), but to this date people are realizing they’re a great option to connect to switchers that are a far less cumbersome form factor than Crosspoints, et al (let alone those dummies getting SCART cables *and* female SCART to BNC cables for every frickin Crosspoint input, etc etc).

I know that guy on GitHub (forget his name) made some excellent designed open source VGA attachments for consoles AV ports, which nobody has yet to mass produce. Chipnetics made a few which are laughably overpriced and look to have VERY concerning strain relief. A certain user here made some great dongle style ones that they were selling privately via DMs (but don’t wanna blow up their spot in case they don’t make them often anymore).

Anyone had thoughts about stepping up to the plate and doing a production run of HD15 RGBS cables (with sync strippers as needed for consoles such as PS1/PS2), or are potential manufacturers of the opinion that this is still too niche of a market, even in 2023? I would make some if I could… but I’ve got hand tremors that render me essentially physically disabled, as much as I would love designing/soldering cables for gaming and old analog video gear (old broadcast VTRs et al).

Hope anyone reading this nonsense is having a good night! :)
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bobrocks95
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by bobrocks95 »

Chipnetics prices aren't really that bad, my custom DSub cables from Retro-Access were about $50 each- you can look at the custom cable builder that's still up. I agree the strain on the video ports does look concerning though.

Jeff Chen designed the dongles you're probably thinking of. Would love if someone produced them but they're all pretty tedious to assemble looking at the instructions. Definitely a hobbiest solution and not something you can mass produce from.

I'm amazed RGC hasn't tapped into the market. VGA blows every competing connector in the space out of the water imo. BNC is good and sturdy and has lots of pro gear available but crosspoints are huge.
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kitty666cats
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by kitty666cats »

bobrocks95 wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:29 am Chipnetics prices aren't really that bad, my custom DSub cables from Retro-Access were about $50 each- you can look at the custom cable builder that's still up. I agree the strain on the video ports does look concerning though.

Jeff Chen designed the dongles you're probably thinking of. Would love if someone produced them but they're all pretty tedious to assemble looking at the instructions. Definitely a hobbiest solution and not something you can mass produce from.

I'm amazed RGC hasn't tapped into the market. VGA blows every competing connector in the space out of the water imo. BNC is good and sturdy and has lots of pro gear available but crosspoints are huge.
The Retro Access custom cable builder may still be up, but I can assure you you're not going to be getting what you order. Retro Access has fallen upon VERY hard times.

The problem with RGC UK is that all their BNC cables are wired from sync on luma. Useless for Extron Crosspoints.

Also, I can assure you the Chipnetics dongles are pretty damn overpriced for what they really are. They do use nicer sync cleaners than many other VGA style console VGA ooutputs, but the prices are wild compared to what you'd get from... the person I named here who I can't mention since they may no longer be catering to folks here. The Chipnetics stuff also doesn't appear very well protected (no housing) and, again, strain relief looks like a BIG problem.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by fernan1234 »

I feel really lucky for having gotten in on Retro-Access HD15 cables back when they were still operating "normally" a few years ago. It's such a great option to be able to use Extron VGA Ars auto switchers or even the manual ones. They also offer the most elegant audio hookup approach (as long as you can use stereo plugs instead of those silly phoenix plugs).Fortunately none of those cables have failed on me since. Curiously, the only one that gave me a bit of trouble was the Saturn cable, but mainly because the coax is so heavy it is easy for it to bend and loosen the connection to the console. The Saturn 10-pin is just a shitty connector.

It would be nice to have options for backups though. Everything else has so many drawbacks. SCART is SHART, BNC as you said is bulky and Crosspoints are massive eyesores. In some places like China RCA "RGBS" cables are as popular as SCART, if not the norm. Those are not bad options compared to the other two, and technically can be adapted to HD15 connectors, but basically all of them are built with composite video sync. Good quality shielded ones don't have problems with crosstalk, but they also became useless with Extron switchers which need clean sync.

This is all to say that you're 100% right. Maybe we need some campaigning.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by Steven »

Screw consoles, I want a cable of this sort for my MSX2+, although I highly doubt that mass producing MSX VGA cables is financially viable.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by bobrocks95 »

kitty666cats wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:57 am
bobrocks95 wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:29 am Chipnetics prices aren't really that bad, my custom DSub cables from Retro-Access were about $50 each- you can look at the custom cable builder that's still up. I agree the strain on the video ports does look concerning though.

Jeff Chen designed the dongles you're probably thinking of. Would love if someone produced them but they're all pretty tedious to assemble looking at the instructions. Definitely a hobbiest solution and not something you can mass produce from.

I'm amazed RGC hasn't tapped into the market. VGA blows every competing connector in the space out of the water imo. BNC is good and sturdy and has lots of pro gear available but crosspoints are huge.
The Retro Access custom cable builder may still be up, but I can assure you you're not going to be getting what you order. Retro Access has fallen upon VERY hard times.

The problem with RGC UK is that all their BNC cables are wired from sync on luma. Useless for Extron Crosspoints.

Also, I can assure you the Chipnetics dongles are pretty damn overpriced for what they really are. They do use nicer sync cleaners than many other VGA style console VGA ooutputs, but the prices are wild compared to what you'd get from... the person I named here who I can't mention since they may no longer be catering to folks here. The Chipnetics stuff also doesn't appear very well protected (no housing) and, again, strain relief looks like a BIG problem.
Only mentioned the custom cable builder as a price point comparison. $52 for the last cable I pieced together, so is $50 for a readily built and available one that bad? I have spare VGA cables coming out of my ears of course.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by kitty666cats »

bobrocks95 wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 3:39 pm
kitty666cats wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 7:57 am
bobrocks95 wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 6:29 am Chipnetics prices aren't really that bad, my custom DSub cables from Retro-Access were about $50 each- you can look at the custom cable builder that's still up. I agree the strain on the video ports does look concerning though.

Jeff Chen designed the dongles you're probably thinking of. Would love if someone produced them but they're all pretty tedious to assemble looking at the instructions. Definitely a hobbiest solution and not something you can mass produce from.

I'm amazed RGC hasn't tapped into the market. VGA blows every competing connector in the space out of the water imo. BNC is good and sturdy and has lots of pro gear available but crosspoints are huge.

I suppose
The Retro Access custom cable builder may still be up, but I can assure you you're not going to be getting what you order. Retro Access has fallen upon VERY hard times.

The problem with RGC UK is that all their BNC cables are wired from sync on luma. Useless for Extron Crosspoints.

Also, I can assure you the Chipnetics dongles are pretty damn overpriced for what they really are. They do use nicer sync cleaners than many other VGA style console VGA ooutputs, but the prices are wild compared to what you'd get from... the person I named here who I can't mention since they may no longer be catering to folks here. The Chipnetics stuff also doesn't appear very well protected (no housing) and, again, strain relief looks like a BIG problem.
Only mentioned the custom cable builder as a price point comparison. $52 for the last cable I pieced together, so is $50 for a readily built and available one that bad? I have spare VGA cables coming out of my ears of course.

I guess it depends on different factors, like cable length. I prefer shorter cables (I think my Retro Access was 3 feet) and their shipping was cheap. I guess I’m exaggerating the price of the Chipnetics things a bit, but again I’m slightly dubious of the form factor/potential for major strain. The PCB that the VGA connector is mounted on is also bare… though I guess that’s not the hugest deal. Lastly, shipping from Canada can get pricey.

I’ve seen those RCA RGBS cables made in China and they definitely look plenty fine to me. RetroRGB Bob made an article reviewing this one specific Saturn cable saying it was very nice and well-shielded, but he seemed to be under the impression it was only from this one specific seller. Not the case, there’s a zillion of these Chinese RCA RGBS cables for nearly every console and they’re all the same shit. It’s pretty idiotic of all the Chinese sellers to put “component” in the listing title though, haha.

I see a LOT of upset clueless people in CRT Facebook groups furious as to why those Chinese RCA RGB cables aren’t working on their component inputs due to that wording in the listing titles I mentioned. I also think the concept of a RCA RGB cable also baffles said noobs, as they assume if it doesn’t have BNC connectors there’s no way it could be a RGB cable. Anyway yeah, those Chinese RCA RGBS cables combined with an old GameStop/Pelican/etc mechanical switcher is a killer deal for an RGB setup if someone doesn’t care about being all flashy/is wise with their spending.

ALSO I feel bad for less-informed people who don’t think to explore this hobby more & just go buy a $1,000 gcompsw without a thought, when you can easily get a 8x2 (or other amount of I/O) component matrix on eBay for like $30. Brands like Key Digital, Atlona, Shinybow or zillions of other lesser known brands.


Image

Anyway, I personally use one of these as my console switcher, lol. Found one on eBay for $10 USD, free shipping. Works like a charm!

Here’s hoping some more people start making VGA console cables!


(Mystery man whose username I won’t blow up: if you see this, those VGA breakouts you made me for my systems are absolutely wonderful and I hope you can find a profitable & less time-consuming way to produce them en-masse)
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by bobrocks95 »

Yeah I don't like the bare PCBs or form factor either, even a 3D printed case would go a long way. At the end of the day though availability is kind of what it all boils down to. I couldn't find any other options so I just bought two cables from China recently that should arrive soon- one of those RCA RGBS cables you were talking about (+ a BNC to VGA dongle to get it in my setup) for Genesis 2, which I expect will work just fine, and a manufacturer offering a custom pinout for an 8-pin MiniDIN to DSub connector, which I fully expect to be wired backwards, poorly shielded since it was probably meant for data transfer instead of video, or both.

Just really nothing for NESRGB right now, unless you want to build Jeff Chen's boards yourself (and have to order multiple PCBs and get the BOM from another place too).
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by kitty666cats »

bobrocks95 wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:15 pm Yeah I don't like the bare PCBs or form factor either, even a 3D printed case would go a long way. At the end of the day though availability is kind of what it all boils down to. I couldn't find any other options so I just bought two cables from China recently that should arrive soon- one of those RCA RGBS cables you were talking about (+ a BNC to VGA dongle to get it in my setup) for Genesis 2, which I expect will work just fine, and a manufacturer offering a custom pinout for an 8-pin MiniDIN to DSub connector, which I fully expect to be wired backwards, poorly shielded since it was probably meant for data transfer instead of video, or both.

Just really nothing for NESRGB right now, unless you want to build Jeff Chen's boards yourself (and have to order multiple PCBs and get the BOM from another place too).
All Genesis RGB cables are inherently RGBS/‘csync’, right? Or not always…? If it were myself, I would just be nervous with the Genesis RCA RGBS cable, wouldn’t composite potentially be connected to the yellow jack? Or does Genesis have separate sync and composite pins no matter what…? I’m not super informed on Genny/MegaDrive RGB, heh
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by fernan1234 »

Steven wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:13 pm Screw consoles, I want a cable of this sort for my MSX2+, although I highly doubt that mass producing MSX VGA cables is financially viable.
Good point. You could actually use the custom cable builder to get an MSX cable done from RA, you can select the appropriate connector and add in the pinout notes that it's for MSX. By the time I got a real MSX it was too late to get anything from RA so I ended up getting a high quality RCA cable. The S-video output is really close to RGB though, at least on my machine.
kitty666cats wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 11:27 pm All Genesis RGB cables are inherently RGBS/‘csync’, right? Or not always…? If it were myself, I would just be nervous with the Genesis RCA RGBS cable, wouldn’t composite potentially be connected to the yellow jack? Or does Genesis have separate sync and composite pins no matter what…? I’m not super informed on Genny/MegaDrive RGB, heh
Good question. I'm also not sure. I do have one of those RGBS cables for Genesis, but don't have a real console to test at the moment. I got it to use with an ED-FX, and it wouldn't surprise me if it passes composite video through the yellow lead.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by Steven »

fernan1234 wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 12:28 am
Steven wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 2:13 pm Screw consoles, I want a cable of this sort for my MSX2+, although I highly doubt that mass producing MSX VGA cables is financially viable.
Good point. You could actually use the custom cable builder to get an MSX cable done from RA, you can select the appropriate connector and add in the pinout notes that it's for MSX. By the time I got a real MSX it was too late to get anything from RA so I ended up getting a high quality RCA cable. The S-video output is really close to RGB though, at least on my machine.
Oh cool, I might try S-video in that case.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by BazookaBen »

I don't think "going off the rails" is a nice thing to say about somebody who got blindsided by life circumstance suddenly and is struggling. Hopefully she gets in a better situation soon with housing and all that.


Anyway, I think anybody (in North America) looking to have an all-VGA setup should basically do this:

Buy RGB cables from Insurrection Industries.

Remove the SCART lead.

Solder on a HD15 connector from a place Mouser, Digikey, Jameco, etc.

Will be a minor pain in butt, but you'll have some strong cables that will last you the rest of your life.

Might need a little compartment on the cable proceeding the HD15 connector to house components, depending on connector size. Especially if you have a sync separator inside.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by fernan1234 »

That'd be a decent alternative, though really no other cable out there is at the level of quality of what RA offers. I'd even go as far as to say that nothing else comes close, even though in about 95% cases most users would not tell a difference. As someone using high-end headphone gear, the biggest difference was in how relatively noise-free they can transmit analog audio.

It's kind of crazy to think about how the absolute best analogue cables for retro systems were coming out of this single-owner business in southern US. Went to check X and yeah, terribly unlucky circumstances. At least it's nice to see a lot of community people spreading the word and helping her out.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by thchardcore »

SCART is terrible in terms of the connection remaining stable. While I appreciate the room inside the head for adding components, this does not make up for how flimsy the connection is.

That said, all my console stuff is already wired up for it, but I use VGA anywhere I have a choice. Extron VGA cables with audio are flexible and very good quality. They were also $6 each when I bought them last.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

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BazookaBen wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 1:59 am I don't think "going off the rails" is a nice thing to say about somebody who got blindsided by life circumstance suddenly and is struggling. Hopefully she gets in a better situation soon with housing and all that.
It may not be nice, but it wouldn't be inaccurate. My first foray into SCART cables was from RA magically having stock and I ordered ~10 cables. Some worked, some didn't, some broke when I pluggged them in, some I resoldered to fix, some they had to take back because they were beyond what I felt comfortable fixing. Their whole operation was a mess from top to bottom. At some point I just decided to deal with the potential longer ship time and order from RGC instead. Never looked back.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by kitty666cats »

I mean, I wasn’t implying “going off a rails” RE: Retro Access in the manner that they’re having a mental breakdown and going crazy or something. I just meant that they are getting pummeled with bad circumstances. Are clearly so overwhelmed that they’re currently a far way off from a mental/physical/economical position to get back to singlehandedly running a video game accessory business. Particularly one with high-demand products that FLY off the ‘shelves’ due to RetroRGB and all these big influencers vouching for them.

I definitely think it would be responsible of RetroRGB and all these other main resources for people newer to the RGB/CRT hobby to take down their links to Retro Access for a while. RA has enough on their plate without a barrage of noobs screaming at them via email asking when they can get their next ‘csync’ SCART cables.

Also, @bazookaben - as I mentioned earlier, sometimes it’s sadly not an option to order those SCART cables and replace em with a VGA head + break out the audio. I think I mentioned it, but yeah I have really bad genetically-inherited hand tremors, and probably wouldn’t be able to pull it off at all. I DO still need to learn how to solder… *maybe* making a console VGA cable would be something I could handle after some rudimentary solder practice, but I doubt it. Maybe with one of those screw terminal blocks, but my dumb ass would still have to figure out which wire is which on the cut-up cable, and how exactly I’d manage to throw the broken out audio lines safely back together into 3.5mm / 2 RCA/ et al

ALSO @ldeveraux - yeah, like I said my first RA VGA cable the green pin snapped off immediately - and I don’t plug in/yank out VGA cables carelessly. This replacement that took me forever to get, I have to treat it with real care & it’s starting to look like the 10pin Saturn connector end is starting to get worn - despite VERY limited use over the past year and a half (I rarely find time to play games lately). Also, MAN are those 3D printed VGA hoods ever brittle!
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by kitty666cats »

Warranted a separate post:

Seriously. Someone needs to take the Jeff Chen designs and run with them. They look GREAT & all the (non-physical) resources are right there.

Someone could put a big stock on eBay and probably sell them like hotcakes. Look how good linuxbot3000 / wakabavideo does with his transcoders.

But, as said before… *always*, without fail, there’d the inevitable & unavoidable influx of dummies who don’t know how to read instructions/will be furious they can’t plug ‘n play their SD consoles on PC CRTs :P
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by hipsofjw »

Funny this thread pops up now. Two weeks ago I bought an Extron MVX 88 and an Extron MVX 84. I've been RGBS RCA based for a couple of years but I'm looking to declutter and better integrate my vintage PC stuff into my setup so I've gotten on the VGA train.

Jeff Chen's dongles are definitely the way to go. I'm a novice at soldering and these are my first projects doing any SMD work, but they've been fun to build. I definitely messed up a few, but so far I have working Dreamcast, N64RGB, Saturn and 3DORGB dongles that work great. Going to try the PS2VGA next but I have a feeling that is going to take me a while to complete.

If you output Csync or component already, there are very cheap high quality VGA-BNC breakout cables. I actually started out buying a couple official Extron breakout cables, but I prefer the new ones since they are shorter. I'm also using them to route S-Video and component through the MVX using the green and blue inputs.

Anyway, it's been a journey the last couple of weeks figuring this stuff out. Just waiting on some RCA ports that I can solder onto these phoenix adapters and I'm finished(ish).
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by BazookaBen »

I would definitely build and sell some of these adapters if I could reliably sell, I dunno, 100 of them a year? I just don't know where the demand is at for them.

The peer pressure to go all SCART is too strong in this world.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by bobrocks95 »

BazookaBen wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 11:32 pm I would definitely build and sell some of these adapters if I could reliably sell, I dunno, 100 of them a year? I just don't know where the demand is at for them.

The peer pressure to go all SCART is too strong in this world.
Well if you ever plan to do a batch or two sign me up for one.
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by fernan1234 »

Let's take it back to classical economics. Supply creates its own demand. Just build them, buyers will come!
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by ldeveraux »

I got so caught up in talking about RA's unfortunate circumstances I didn't even see the dongle adapters. What are you suggesting be made?
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by maxtherabbit »

kitty666cats wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:03 pm (Mystery man whose username I won’t blow up: if you see this, those VGA breakouts you made me for my systems are absolutely wonderful and I hope you can find a profitable & less time-consuming way to produce them en-masse)
I don't know the first thing about mass production, and I'm not too fond of learning new things frankly

Also intersil EOL'd the sync stripper I was using, so I can only do them for native clean sync consoles now
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by maxtherabbit »

kitty666cats wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 11:27 pm
bobrocks95 wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 10:15 pm Yeah I don't like the bare PCBs or form factor either, even a 3D printed case would go a long way. At the end of the day though availability is kind of what it all boils down to. I couldn't find any other options so I just bought two cables from China recently that should arrive soon- one of those RCA RGBS cables you were talking about (+ a BNC to VGA dongle to get it in my setup) for Genesis 2, which I expect will work just fine, and a manufacturer offering a custom pinout for an 8-pin MiniDIN to DSub connector, which I fully expect to be wired backwards, poorly shielded since it was probably meant for data transfer instead of video, or both.

Just really nothing for NESRGB right now, unless you want to build Jeff Chen's boards yourself (and have to order multiple PCBs and get the BOM from another place too).
All Genesis RGB cables are inherently RGBS/‘csync’, right? Or not always…? If it were myself, I would just be nervous with the Genesis RCA RGBS cable, wouldn’t composite potentially be connected to the yellow jack? Or does Genesis have separate sync and composite pins no matter what…? I’m not super informed on Genny/MegaDrive RGB, heh
yes every genesis has a clean sync pin
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by maxtherabbit »

hipsofjw wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 9:43 pm
Jeff Chen's dongles are definitely the way to go. I'm a novice at soldering and these are my first projects doing any SMD work, but they've been fun to build. I definitely messed up a few, but so far I have working Dreamcast, N64RGB, Saturn and 3DORGB dongles that work great. Going to try the PS2VGA next but I have a feeling that is going to take me a while to complete.
If people really want to build their own I might just release the gerbers for mine, they're better than his
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by kitty666cats »

maxtherabbit wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2023 1:51 pm
kitty666cats wrote: Fri Nov 10, 2023 9:03 pm (Mystery man whose username I won’t blow up: if you see this, those VGA breakouts you made me for my systems are absolutely wonderful and I hope you can find a profitable & less time-consuming way to produce them en-masse)
I don't know the first thing about mass production, and I'm not too fond of learning new things frankly

Also intersil EOL'd the sync stripper I was using, so I can only do them for native clean sync consoles now

The ISL59885 is going the way of the dodo?! Man, that fucking sucks. Do you know of a well-made ‘runner-up’, or I suppose something that isn’t that god damn LM1881 & can provide both H+V as well as actual horizontal sync?
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Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by hipsofjw »

maxtherabbit wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2023 1:54 pm
hipsofjw wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 9:43 pm
Jeff Chen's dongles are definitely the way to go. I'm a novice at soldering and these are my first projects doing any SMD work, but they've been fun to build. I definitely messed up a few, but so far I have working Dreamcast, N64RGB, Saturn and 3DORGB dongles that work great. Going to try the PS2VGA next but I have a feeling that is going to take me a while to complete.
If people really want to build their own I might just release the gerbers for mine, they're better than his
I'd be very interested in these.
AaronSR
Posts: 96
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2017 1:01 am

Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by AaronSR »

Yeah its unfortunate, I went to retroaccess back in September planning to order a Genesis 2 cable which is pretty much the last one I needed, but the buy button was greyed out.

I really wish retrogamingcables offered Dsub, it would have saved me so much money getting them delivered being in the UK. Have they ever replied to anyone asking for these or are they just so niche that they won't make them alongside scart?
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NewSchoolBoxer
Posts: 369
Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 2:53 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA

Re: Anyone considering getting into mass producing VGA-style RGBS console cables?

Post by NewSchoolBoxer »

I'm into this thead.
maxtherabbit wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2023 1:54 pm
hipsofjw wrote: Sat Nov 11, 2023 9:43 pm
Jeff Chen's dongles are definitely the way to go. I'm a novice at soldering and these are my first projects doing any SMD work, but they've been fun to build. I definitely messed up a few, but so far I have working Dreamcast, N64RGB, Saturn and 3DORGB dongles that work great. Going to try the PS2VGA next but I have a feeling that is going to take me a while to complete.
If people really want to build their own I might just release the gerbers for mine, they're better than his
I haven't heard of the Jeff Chen adapters until now. I bought maxtherabbit's NTSC SNES and PS2 VGA/Dsub female dongles with 3.5mm audio and they are legit. I requested both to output TTL level for my computer equipment. PS2 uses best ISL59885 sync stripper versus cheapest LM1881 so I was pleased. maxtherabbit also said he could do a PS1 (with caps) or PAL SNES dongle. Maybe prices have gone up but were considerably cheaper than $50 Chipnetics. I get to live the dream of cheap and plentiful and professional quality VGA-VGA, VGA-DVI and VGA-BNC cables and VGA switchers if I need them.

I think the push of SCART into North America where it had no business existing was due to entrepreneurs with referral links who could never compete with $10-15 pro VGA and BNC cables. 6 wires of audio + video crosstalking in a constrained cable was a bad idea then, it's bad now, especially for mono audio CRT or no audio BVM, and no locking mechanism either.

Yeah, I'd like to see someone new get into multiout to VGA or BNC cables or even a BNC switcher since the ones made today are for composite CCTV. I bought plastic SNES and PS1/2/3 multiout shells off AliExpress and OSHParked SNES multiout pin connectors to play around with but I haven't taken the leap of faith to start a business. The upside of forming an LLC (in US) is the free chip samples and being able to buy tax-free electronics when you have the end customer pay the sales tax. Atlanta, GA scam sales tax rate is 8.9%. I read on Reddit that you can defeat the eBay jacked up seller fees with the power of business taxation so it must be true.
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