Sega Genesis video problem - screen continually scrolls up

[galaxy_ranger]

Hi,

Last week I bought my first Sega system, a model 1 Genesis. It worked fine on my sister's cheap 20" +/- tv with the rf attachment, and looked awesome. However, I hooked it up to my 6 year old (but still great) 50" Toshiba tv, and when I start up a game the screen continually scrolls vertically. I've had an N64 hooked up, as well as a Retro Duo without any problems. I've tried using the RF attachment, as well as model 1-specific Genesis A-V cables. The only games I have so far to test on it are Warsong and Might & Magic.

Has anyone had this problem before? I was really excited to finally own a Sega system, but it's really not playable like this.

Thanks a lot for any information you could provide.

[samsonlonghair]

What country do you live in? Is the TV pal or ntsc? Is the Genesis pal or ntsc? If you can't tell give us serial numbers and model numbers to look up. What's the refresh rate of your TV?

[galaxy_ranger]

Thanks so much for responding.

I live in Canada, the tv and sega are for the North American region. I tried finding the refresh rate in the tv's manual but couldn't find a listing anywhere.

Sega Genesis
Serial Number: G20155041

Toshiba tv
Serial Number: 22385324
Model Number: 51H84C
Manufactured: September 2004

[samsonlonghair]

Your TV and Genesis both use ntsc signals, so that's one problem we can rule out.

I found your manual online, and you're right; there's no mention of refresh rate. I suspect this may be the problem. If the TV is refreshing faster than the Genesis that can cause a vertical scroll.

Can you try setting your TV to the lowest resolution? It's probably 480p or 540p (I get conflicting reports).

[CRTGAMER]

Welcome galaxy_ranger, always great to have new members with their experiences and ideals. You could modify your signature link if you want to, and show what systems you own. Also if you have not tried that blue links bar above in particular "Topics" and "Guides", Racketboy has provided a wealth of information on various systems.

Your manual, click to download.
http://tacpservice.toshiba.com/Consumer ... 4_om_e.pdf

I don't think its the color convergence because your N64 works fine on the Projection TV. Really seems like a PAL/NTSC signal disparity as samsonlonghair pointed out. Maybe confirm if N64 works on the other TV. That will definitely eliminate PAL-NTSC question if one console works on both TVs and your Genesis only working on smaller TV. Double check the genesis on the other TV in case a cable connection got kinked. The only other thing I can think of possibly some of the Menu Screen Settings including the Color Convergence settings.

[galaxy_ranger]

Thanks very much for the welcoming, and for all the attention you've all given to this problem.

Unfortunately the "Display Format" option in the Menu Screen settings is set to 1080i and it doesn't give me the option to change it (it is greyed out and is not selectable). I'm trying to find a way to unlock that so I can change it, but this manual really is not as helpful as it could be (and thanks for finding the online copy). I'll try to figure out something in the colour convergence screen as well.

Thanks again everyone for offering help.

[CRTGAMER]

Thanks very much for the welcoming, and for all the attention you've all given to this problem.

Unfortunately the "Display Format" option in the Menu Screen settings is set to 1080i and it doesn't give me the option to change it (it is greyed out and is not selectable). I'm trying to find a way to unlock that so I can change it, but this manual really is not as helpful as it could be (and thanks for finding the online copy). I'll try to figure out something in the colour convergence screen as well.

Thanks again everyone for offering help.

I doubt a change in resolution would cause the screen to roll the way you describe. Usually screen would not show at all if resolution is unsupported. Have you verified both the N64 and Genesis on both TVs? That way you have absolute proof if PAL-NTSC is a problem or not.

[galaxy_ranger]

Hi again,

I've been able to verify that the Sega still works on the crappy 20" tv, but of course still does not work on my 51" Toshiba. The N64, it was a former room-mate's and we used it years ago. He still lives in town, so I'll try to make a visit out to his place this weekend and borrow it from him. I could try out the Sega on his newer tv and see how that goes.

I don't see how it could be a PAL/NTSC issue, the Genesis (to me) seems to be solidly North American. Even has the sticker advertising the 1-800-usa-sega phone number underneath. The tv, is it possible to get non-North American tvs here? I bought it at a Future Slop years ago.

I'll keep trying it on a few different tvs this weekend.

Looks like another guy had this issue a few months back, haven't heard of a resolution though.
http://www.fixya.com/support/t3479288-s ... d_problems

Thanks again everyone for the help, I'll let you know if I'm able to get this working so we all know how to resolve this in the future if someone asks.

Have a great Easter weekend.

[galaxy_ranger]

Just got off the phone with Toshiba's help line. The guy on the line was a big Sega gamer and was really trying to help. He suggested a few setting adjustments, but it wasn't possible to do them because the option in my tv's menu settings are greyed out and unselectable (he believed a menu choice labelled "Scroll" would be the answer, but it is unselectable).

So it looks like the only solution is to get a different tv!

Thanks again for the help everyone.

[CRTGAMER]

Painful. Seems like all your components are NTSC. Just to be sure, get another game console or even a non-multi country DVD player and verify on both TVs. Its the only way to absolute mark off NTSC-PAL question. That link you provided only showed a similar problem on another Sega, but with no answer as to why.

As far as grey out areas of your setting menu, do the settings become available or change when trying RF vs Composite?

Another option is if you have a VHS player, connect the Genesis into that, then VHS to TV. First play a tape to ensure VHS is working. Use VHS to pick up signal from Genesis RF and also try Composite. Make sure signal to TV is VHS signal capture not pass through of Genesis signal. If it works at least though not perfect, but working solution. A reason to keep that old VHS player around.

Perhaps some other Racketboy genesis owner members might other possible solutions.