SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

NES, SNES, N64, Gamecube, Wii
Nintendo1977
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SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Nintendo1977 »

Hi everyone, it is a pleasure to be here. I have spent most of the day yesterday modding my SNES for component video. It has the first S-ENC chip, and was very straight forward as for a hooking it up for component.

Here is an image of my untouched SNES motherboard, focusing on the S-ENC chip:
Image

The setup is as follows (sorry I do not have an install pic):
Image

* I used only pin "1" and "24" from the E-ENC chip to provide the Pr and Pb out.
* I am using the standard composite cable set (three RCAs) to not only provide the audio, but the "Y" as well. This is obviously comined with the two new RCA cables that provide the Pr and Pb signal.
* I created an adapter (one female and one male) RCA adapter that has a Potentiometer (a resistor that can be turned up and down) that measures anywhere from 20ohm to 100ohms. This was added to control the brightness (and it does!).

I have a stable image on the TVs. One being an older Plasma, and the other being a new Toshiba LCD TV. The main issue is that there seems to be some sort of "retro filter" for lack of better term. There is some grading going on. Please see the attached photos:

Component video on plasma
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Image

Image

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^ Notice the yellow health bar. In person, it is even more apparant. When using composite, it is filled and not grated like is in this photo.

Composite (single yellow RCA video on plasma

Image

Image

Notice how composite looks much more blended. Especially in the health bar as well as the blue boxing ring. The component looks much sharper. What could it be? Is there anyone with experience that can recommend what I can trouble shoot, or do differently?

Thank you for your help!
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Sarge
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Re: SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Sarge »

I've seen this with the S-Video on one of my SNES consoles. It's a later revision, not sure if 1-Chip or not, but it's the one I region modded. Not entirely sure how to fix it, or if it can, it might be something to do with the encoder chip for that revision.

EDIT: Okay, at least for S-Video, I'm seeing recommendations of a 470 Ohm resistor on the chroma line. Not sure how this changes for a Component mod.

EDIT 2: Links from discussion here: http://shmups.system11.org/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=56012

http://www.theisozone.com/forum/viewtop ... 64&t=24156
http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread ... post559423
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=1592.400
http://forum.digitpress.com/forum/showt ... ost1828781
Last edited by Sarge on Wed Feb 17, 2016 2:06 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Nintendo1977
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Re: SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Nintendo1977 »

Sarge wrote:I've seen this with the S-Video on one of my SNES consoles. It's a later revision, not sure if 1-Chip or not, but it's the one I region modded. Not entirely sure how to fix it, or if it can, it might be something to do with the encoder chip for that revision.
Ah I typed in the issue into google focusing on S-Video, and I think this issue is called "jail bars". I am going to look into this more. I remember seeing a post that said to add a resistor or capacitor to one of the pins to fix this, I'll let you know what I find :)
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Sarge
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Re: SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Sarge »

Yeah, check my edit, I see something about 470 Ohm resistor on Chroma.
Nintendo1977
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Re: SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Nintendo1977 »

Sarge wrote:Yeah, check my edit, I see something about 470 Ohm resistor on Chroma.
Thanks for all the info/help. I am reading it now and I am getting mixed fixes. Many people are simply saying it is bad cable. I tried both a generic and genuine Nintendo cable, and both have of the diagonal lines.

Im looking into the resistor/capacitor route now. The few posts I have seen, it actually is a fix for the vertical ghosting lines, but I am not certain just yet. Its a work in progress :)

Edit 1- It seems this person (although wired a bit diffrent and has hdmi converter) is also having the exact same issue as me with the diagonal lines. This is becoming a head ache! http://nintendoage.com/forum/messagevie ... did=113106
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Sarge
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Re: SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Sarge »

It is a headache for sure. I fought with mine for a while, but never tried to implement any of the fixes. I should probably try at some point. It's not cabling in my case, since I can use it on my older model and it looks great, but I get the diagonal banding on the newer SNES. (Or it could be the cabling, and the older model is just doing something differently that compensates for a bad cable.)
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Ziggy
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Re: SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Ziggy »

Nintendo1977 wrote:* I used only pin "1" and "24" from the E-ENC chip to provide the Pr and Pb out.
* I am using the standard composite cable set (three RCAs) to not only provide the audio, but the "Y" as well. This is obviously comined with the two new RCA cables that provide the Pr and Pb signal.
You're using composite video for the Y signal? I didn't even know that would work! Why not just use the Y signal from S-Video? Most people just take it from pin 7 on the multi AV output. Or did you rewire the cable to use pin 7?
Nintendo1977
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Re: SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Nintendo1977 »

Ziggy587 wrote:
Nintendo1977 wrote:* I used only pin "1" and "24" from the E-ENC chip to provide the Pr and Pb out.
* I am using the standard composite cable set (three RCAs) to not only provide the audio, but the "Y" as well. This is obviously comined with the two new RCA cables that provide the Pr and Pb signal.
You're using composite video for the Y signal? I didn't even know that would work! Why not just use the Y signal from S-Video? Most people just take it from pin 7 on the multi AV output. Or did you rewire the cable to use pin 7?
It works! It could certainly be the cause or contribute to the problem though. To make the job easier, I gave it a shot. It is also possible that my generic s-video/composite cables are wired wrong too. I did however try the genuine SNES composite cables, and it did give me the same results (but it did not require the POT to adjust the brightnes strangley enough) I did not perform any re-wiring. Would you recommend I tap into the multi AV port (pin 7)? Here is a photo what I am picturing minus the Blue Pb resistance:

Image
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Ziggy
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Re: SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Ziggy »

Yes, I tapped pin 7 when I was messing around with the S-ENC component output. It's definitely the way to go.

Additionally, since you're already using composite cables for audio, if you cable has all of the pins, you could crack open the connector and move the composite video wire to pin 7 and use it for Y that way too.
Nintendo1977
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Re: SNES Component Mod - Working but need help

Post by Nintendo1977 »

Ziggy587 wrote:Yes, I tapped pin 7 when I was messing around with the S-ENC component output. It's definitely the way to go.

Additionally, since you're already using composite cables for audio, if you cable has all of the pins, you could crack open the connector and move the composite video wire to pin 7 and use it for Y that way too.
I gave it a shot and I believe it comes down to the revision of this chip. I cant get rid of the lines, and I hooked it up to a third TV (2012 samsung Plasma) and the colors were no where near defined as composite. I do have a near launch SNES in the attic, I may give that a shot in the near future :)
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