S-video made easy on my Genesis

[Scooter]

Hi there people, I'm the guy who made the box. $85 may sound expensive at first, but it takes time and more than $20 worth of parts, unless you have the CXA1645M/P laying around and a sync splitter. It has a sync splitter so i can be used with any older system that outputs RGB or arcade boards as well. A new cable can be easily made to make it function with another system. Other converters like the AD72X do not work with the Genesis family nor do converters like Neobitz-S and others like some you see on ebay require a separate 12v power source like from a power brick. My converter is powered by the system it is plugged into with no separate power brick needed. Here is a pic of the encoder chip and the video quality composite first and S-Video second, as well as the converter itself. Also this is converting from RGB to S-Video not composite to S-Video.



Composite


S-Video


Composite


S-Video

Glad you piped in. I know you build these on the side for a little extra pocket cash, but I'd like to see you make a mint on these things. I really am impressed by how well it works and how dramatically simple it is to use. I think the price was more than reasonable, especially given the results. The screen shot photos you provided should be enough to convince anyone!

[CRTGAMER]

Hi there people, I'm the guy who made the box. $85 may sound expensive at first, but it takes time and more than $20 worth of parts, unless you have the CXA1645M/P laying around and a sync splitter. It has a sync splitter so i can be used with any older system that outputs RGB or arcade boards as well. A new cable can be easily made to make it function with another system. Other converters like the AD72X do not work with the Genesis family nor do converters like Neobitz-S and others like some you see on ebay require a separate 12v power source like from a power brick. My converter is powered by the system it is plugged into with no separate power brick needed. Here is a pic of the encoder chip and the video quality composite first and S-Video second, as well as the converter itself. Also this is converting from RGB to S-Video not composite to S-Video.

Now that makes better sense. I was also wondering how the video got better unless input had separate Chroma Luma Sync signals. Sweet looking RGB adaptor, looks like Retail.

Now if you can make a Dreamcast VGA to Componenent or even direct DC video out to component 640x480 full screen, I'll be your first customer.

[electrochip]

Now if you can make a Dreamcast VGA to Componenent or even direct DC video out to component 640x480 full screen, I'll be your first customer.

you could use a JROK component board or Neobitz component board and run the VGA to it with the H and V sync combined and that would give you 480p component from anything outputting 640x480. I used a JROK component board way back when to run my Dreamcast, Atomiswave and Naomi board in 480p on my TV. I don't have any of that stuff anymore.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Just get a damn cheap second hand RGB monitor. If this upsets you, you should really investigate why I say that.
RGB is the best quality you can get for low res consoles/arcade hardware. And the cables can be bought, simple as that. Why invest money into something that will result in a sub RGB quality signal? And converting composite into S-video is really just that.
Gold plating a turd. Don´t take offense, I want you guys to save money and get a kick ass video image out of your beloved systems.
Second hand RGB monitor. Video monitor. cheap! great!

Wrong, very wrong......

Its converting the RGB signal output by the Genesis into an S-Video signal which is vastly superior to a Composite signal

Also, you're in Western Europe where RGB monitors are plentiful and cheap, here in the US I'd have to pay an arm and a leg for any form of a USED RGB television.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Well, given I wouldn't have the first clue how to build one and that it comes ready to go with the correct adapter cable I think it's a bargain. If you can build your own, that sounds like the route to go but for the rest of us this is a great and easy and portable (from system to system) option that is readily available and reasonably priced especially when compared to the alternatives (the rare XMD boxes).

True, I'm just trying to justify my broke-ness and inability to afford one at the moment.

[Mod_Man_Extreme]

Hi there people, I'm the guy who made the box. $85 may sound expensive at first, but it takes time and more than $20 worth of parts, unless you have the CXA1645M/P laying around and a sync splitter. It has a sync splitter so i can be used with any older system that outputs RGB or arcade boards as well. A new cable can be easily made to make it function with another system. Other converters like the AD72X do not work with the Genesis family nor do converters like Neobitz-S and others like some you see on ebay require a separate 12v power source like from a power brick. My converter is powered by the system it is plugged into with no separate power brick needed. Here is a pic of the encoder chip and the video quality composite first and S-Video second, as well as the converter itself. Also this is converting from RGB to S-Video not composite to S-Video.

Ah thanks for the info, in that case I'm definitely game for one of these when I actually have some money in my pocket to use. Out of curiosity do you currently make any other cables for it?

[electrochip]

I have made one other cable, which works with the SMS/Gen1/Neo Geo, these mirror MONO sound since the connectors on these only ouput MONO sound. You would have to mod the SMS for stereo or use a power base converter, the Genesis and Neo Geo both have a headphone connector in front to get stereo out. I can't think of any other system that uses RGB that doesn't already have an S-Video cable. This would work with a Turbo Grafx or Turbo Duo but the system itself needs a small modification since its connector does not output RGB.

[CRTGAMER]

Now if you can make a Dreamcast VGA to Componenent or even direct DC video out to component 640x480 full screen, I'll be your first customer.

you could use a JROK component board or Neobitz component board and run the VGA to it with the H and V sync combined and that would give you 480p component from anything outputting 640x480. I used a JROK component board way back when to run my Dreamcast, Atomiswave and Naomi board in 480p on my TV. I don't have any of that stuff anymore.

Sorry to get a little off track guys, maybe this relates to other consoles.

Looks very promising, THANKS! I might just tackle this JROK route. I'm looking at my Dreamcast NTSC version, have to do some figuring out for that RGB signal. I'm assuming the potentiometers on the board will help to get 640x480 zoomed to full screen on my Component Sony CRT? My TV has no zoom functions.

This one? Here's the link I found:
http://www.jrok.com/hardware/RGB.html

[electrochip]

Looks very promising, THANKS! I might just tackle this JROK route. I'm looking at my Dreamcast NTSC version, have to do some figuring out for that RGB signal. I'm assuming the potentiometers on the board will help to get 640x480 zoomed to full screen on my Component Sony CRT? My TV has no zoom functions.

You will still need the VGA box for your Dreamcast to get 31khz RGB for 480p component, if you use 15khz RGB you will get regular 480i component, the potentiometers are to adjust the RGB intensity, not to adjust picture size.

[CRTGAMER]

Looks very promising, THANKS! I might just tackle this JROK route. I'm looking at my Dreamcast NTSC version, have to do some figuring out for that RGB signal. I'm assuming the potentiometers on the board will help to get 640x480 zoomed to full screen on my Component Sony CRT? My TV has no zoom functions.

You will still need the VGA box for your Dreamcast to get 31khz RGB for 480p component, if you use 15khz RGB you will get regular 480i component, the potentiometers are to adjust the RGB intensity, not to adjust picture size.

Okay thanks! End result since my Sony CRT has no Zoom, I'm thinking the 640x480 may not fill up the screen. On the other hand I do have that 480p mode, so maybe? How did your setup turn out image wise before? full screen estate utilized?