PCE RGB problem

[gutsdozer]

I recently acquired an RGB-modded system from Ebay, and am running into a problem when I hook it up to my TV's S-video.  I bought a cheap Scart -> Composite / S-video converter that makes the picture look purplish and distorted when output to S-Video, but fine through composite.  I'm new to RGB, so any help is definitely appreciated.

[travisahhs]

you got it from Doujindance, didn't you? I got one of his Duo-R systems with SFII and Might and Magic. I think I saw that coregrafx/Super CD-Rom2 combo on his items.

[Tatsujin]

i guess, that certain parts in your RGB modification went broken. this could be cause by dried out electrolyt capacitors or defective transistor / broken soldering etc.

[Arkhan Asylum]

it might just be because of the fact that its a cheap converter.

Ive had my fair share of garbage converters.

Might want to try exchanging it.  also do you have any RGB capable monitors?  Its a longshot but like a 1084s or something.

That way you can go straight from Coregrafx ---> monitor and see if maybe the RGB mod is messed up.

[gutsdozer]

you got it from Doujindance, didn't you? I got one of his Duo-R systems with SFII and Might and Magic. I think I saw that coregrafx/Super CD-Rom2 combo on his items

Yeah, I got it a while ago, but it took me forever to acquire the hookups. 

it might just be because of the fact that its a cheap converter.

Ive had my fair share of garbage converters.

Might want to try exchanging it.  also do you have any RGB capable monitors?  Its a longshot but like a 1084s or something.

That way you can go straight from Coregrafx ---> monitor and see if maybe the RGB mod is messed up.

I was thinking it's the converter, since the RGB displays fine through the composite out on the converter.  It's the S-video that's bad.  Any suggestions on good ones?

[travisahhs]

you're probably gonna want a better converter.

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/19-014l-10.html

http://www.cables.com/Products/7M-(-23FT-)-ATLONA-HIGH-QUALITY-SCART-TO-S-VIDEO-AND-AUDIO-WITH-INOUT-SWITCH__19-014-7.aspx

I just used the A/V cable that he sent along with his custom SCART cable.

[Joe Redifer]

The problem with that thing is that it is passive.  It is expecting s-video to be supplied by the cable, which is it not.  Composite works fine because that signal is probably supplied in the cable.  You need something that will transcode RGB into component or s-video.  That will work.  It will also require its own power source.  Be prepared to spend around $50 for such a thing, maybe a bit more.  It's worth it, though.

[Heffa]

Just a curious half-offtopic question... how come you don't hook up the RGB signal straight to your regular TV? 

Here in Sweden all TV's from the last 10-20 years or so support RGB directly, is that not the case in the US?

[NecroPhile]

Here in Sweden all TV's from the last 10-20 years or so support RGB directly, is that not the case in the US?

Correct.  US televisions generally don't have scart (or any other rgb) connections.

[gutsdozer]

The problem with that thing is that it is passive.  It is expecting s-video to be supplied by the cable, which is it not.  Composite works fine because that signal is probably supplied in the cable.  You need something that will transcode RGB into component or s-video.  That will work.  It will also require its own power source.  Be prepared to spend around $50 for such a thing, maybe a bit more.  It's worth it, though.

So one of these cables (http://cgi.ebay.com/7M-23FT-ATLONA-HIGH-QUALITY-SCART-TO-S-VIDEO-PLUS-AUDIO_W0QQitemZ190367066290QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2c52c2e8b2) would not work, because it doesn't have a power supply?  I had no idea this was such a complicated endeavor!  Any suggestions on what do use? 

Just a curious half-offtopic question... how come you don't hook up the RGB signal straight to your regular TV? 
Here in Sweden all TV's from the last 10-20 years or so support RGB directly, is that not the case in the US?

You also have a competent healthcare system; what else do you want to rub in our faces?   

[SuperDeadite]

Most 21pin cables do carry a +5 volt line.  For example I my Jrok Encoder box is powered directly by the RGB cable itself.  I thing to remember guts, is that "SCART" is just the Euro term for the 21pin style connector.  Just because it's SCART doesn't mean it's actually an RGB cable.  That ebay auction just says SCART to S-Video.  Meaning it is probably an S-Video (or possibly Composite) SCART.  The auction doesn't say "RGB" at all.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Here in Sweden all TV's from the last 10-20 years or so support RGB directly, is that not the case in the US?

Correct.  US televisions generally don't have scart (or any other rgb) connections.

yes, and it is a nuisance to not have it.

I have tons of monitors with the cutout for SCART, but no port.   Stupid!

[Joe Redifer]

I use an RGB to YUV transcoder.  Search for that on eBay.  However you may have to mod it to output sound (which is pretty easy to do) if it does not have any sound output jacks.  Yes, it can be complicated to get it all working.  I wish they (the US electronics industry) just never denied us RGB in the first place, would have made everything much easier.

[gutsdozer]

Thanks, dudes, for all the help.  My next question is: do you think it's really worth another $50?  The composite quality does look really good already, and nicer than the composite vs. RGB pictures I see posted all over forums. 
Then again, I suppose it would be worth it, since I could theoretically use the converter box with a Genesis Scart cable to get better Sega video (the Genesis composite is horrible!)

[Joe Redifer]

I personally think it is worth it.  I bought RGB SCART cables for my Genesis, Neo-Geo. TurboGrafx-16, SNES and Saturn.  So that makes it worth it for me.  But yes, the PCE does have very good composite, but with it brings fuzzy scrolling.

[travisahhs]

my Duo-R is RGB modded, and like I mention, I use the composite a/v cable that was sent with the console.

Joe's right on the money. One thing I can attest to is the ground in some areas of Splatterhouse, mainly the chapel on Stage 4 where you fight the boss. The floor is fuzzy, and looks kind of....i'm gonna say "rainbow-ish", because it has several colors when it scrolls. It's odd. Doesn't detract from the play though.

[Duo_R]

totally worth it and i did a thread on more details of the box.