SNES RGB cable problems

[MrPopo]

So I recently got an NTSC-J RGB cable for my SNES, to hook into my XRGB-3. However, when I hooked everything up the picture was incredibly dark. Even when I cranked the brightness or the gamma the picture still wasn't as vibrant as when I use the S-video through my XRGB. Has anyone had any experience with this? I've already checked and the 21 pin port is set on the 75 ohm resistor, not the 220 ohm one.

[Inazuma]

I would love to help you but I haven't come across that problem myself, nor do I have any idea how to fix it.

What kind of SNES do you have? Region and model?
What about the RGB cable? Is it the official Nintendo brand Japanese one? That's the one I use with my Japanese Super Famicom and it works perfectly with the XRGB-3.

You already mentioned the brightness setting, so that's out. I'm currently dealing with an RGB modded PC Engine Duo-R that isn't putting out a straight RGB image. It's all wavy at the top of the screen but I've been talking with the modder on ways to fix it. Depending on how that goes, I might be able to help you better. The XRGB-3 might have some settings to help strengthen the RGB signal that I'm not aware of yet.

[MrPopo]

Sure, let me give you all the details I have.

My SNES is a US model 1. My cable appears to be an official Nintendo RGB, though I can't read enough Japanese to tell definitively. I don't see any obvious logos aside from the SFC logo on the box it came in. When I get home I can take some pictures of the box.

The only thing I noticed on the cable was that several pins were missing. It was a straight line from one edge, and off the top of my head it was probably 6-7 pins. I assumed that these were left off because the SNES doesn't use all of the pins.

As for your wavy lines problem, I actually used to have that problem with my XRGB on the S-video signal from a few of my systems (PS2 most notably). When I get home I'll try and see if I can dig up the option I used to correct it. I unfortunately still get it on my Neo Geo AES when I use either the RGB cable or the modded component output through the D-sub terminal.

[Inazuma]

When I get home, I can take a look at the pins in my Super Fami RGB cable and compare with yours. I can take a picture of the box that in came in too.

I appreciate the help with my wavy top of the screen problem. Hopefully both of us can solve our problems soon. Dealing with all this RGB/XRGB-3 stuff can be really complicated but when it works right, it's so awesome.

[SnowKitty]

Sure, let me give you all the details I have.

My SNES is a US model 1. My cable appears to be an official Nintendo RGB, though I can't read enough Japanese to tell definitively. I don't see any obvious logos aside from the SFC logo on the box it came in. When I get home I can take some pictures of the box.

The only thing I noticed on the cable was that several pins were missing. It was a straight line from one edge, and off the top of my head it was probably 6-7 pins. I assumed that these were left off because the SNES doesn't use all of the pins.

As for your wavy lines problem, I actually used to have that problem with my XRGB on the S-video signal from a few of my systems (PS2 most notably). When I get home I'll try and see if I can dig up the option I used to correct it. I unfortunately still get it on my Neo Geo AES when I use either the RGB cable or the modded component output through the D-sub terminal.

pop open the connector on that SNES rgb cable. if it doesnt have three 220uf caps in it that would be the problem. it's gotta have the 3 filter caps or the image will be dark.

[Inazuma]

Picture time! The first one is the box for the Nintendo brand Super Famicom RGB cable.


Next is a picture of the RGB cable itself. I couldn't get a good shot showing the pins but I can just tell you. The entire bottom row has pins, and for the top row, there are 4 pins on the right side. The other 6 pin holes on the left side of the top row are empty.


And I may as well post a shot of my PC Engine RGB problem while I'm at it. Notice how it's wavy at the very top of the screen.

[MrPopo]

So that's the same box and pin layout that I have. I might try looking for the aforementioned caps. Do you know which lines the caps are supposed to be on?

And Inazuma, that is the exact problem I used to have. It's late tonight, but tomorrow I'll track down that menu option I used to fix it.

[MrPopo]

Bump. I found the menu option.

In the 5th menu there are two options, NTSC AFC and AFC. The first is a manual/automatic toggle. Set it to whichever option lets you control the slider in AFC. If you increase AFC it will straighten out the top of your picture. One caveat; on my TV if I set AFC to 7 it causes the picture to freak out, and leaving it on that setting for more than a reactionary "whoa, too far, move back" thought seems to cause the XRGB to freak out and lose the signal all together.

[Inazuma]

So you have the same RGB cable as me. Wonder why it doesn't work then.

Thanks for fixing my PC Engine problem, MrPopo. I put the setting to 4 and the screen is straight now.

[SnowKitty]

So that's the same box and pin layout that I have. I might try looking for the aforementioned caps. Do you know which lines the caps are supposed to be on?

And Inazuma, that is the exact problem I used to have. It's late tonight, but tomorrow I'll track down that menu option I used to fix it.

there should be a cap on red, green, and blue.