Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite cable

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Ziggy
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Re: Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite cable

Post by Ziggy »

Yeah, I'm always out of the loop.
jeffro11 wrote:In regards as to why there is a 5v out... Think of the dreamcast VGA box, it takes a voltage line from the connector to power the VGA box. Sega probably stuck it there for good measure in case they needed it for god knows what... Maybe the 32x uses it (doubtful)? I have no idea!
Well I'm pretty sure it's for the RF box. The 5V pin is present on an RF plug, but I doubt that it is present on a (real) composite plug. This would confirm my theory.
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Hobie-wan
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Re: Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite cable

Post by Hobie-wan »

Ziggy587 wrote: Well I'm pretty sure it's for the RF box. The 5V pin is present on an RF plug, but I doubt that it is present on a (real) composite plug. This would confirm my theory.
All of my Gen 2 composite cables just have the comp/L/R pins.
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Ziggy
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Re: Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite cable

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emwearz wrote:Pretty well known benefit of the SegaCD, why a lot of people have a SegaCD just for better audio, much like many people have a 32X for its video encoder for a clear image on shitty models.
Yeah, I can notice a huge difference when using the Sega CD for audio. But wait, what now about the 32X? It will improve the image quality of Genesis games? All games? Some games?
Hobie-wan wrote:All of my Gen 2 composite cables just have the comp/L/R pins.
Thanks, this confirms my theory. I guess the RF circuitry needs the 5V, and that pin/wire can be disregarded when converting RF cables into composite cables.
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emwearz
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Re: Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite cable

Post by emwearz »

A lot of genny models have rainbow veritcal bars, mine does, it is more common in model 2's but there are some model 1's that have it. The 32X's encoder fixes this problem. If you all ready have a good model of the Genny I am not sure how much it effects the image quality.

PS: 1000th post, ftw.
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spiritplx
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Re: Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite c

Post by spiritplx »

Any chance the images for this mod could be re-uploaded? The original location appears to be unavailable. I have five of these that I'd like to convert, or possibly have a member convert for me. Not sure how much someone would charge, but hopefully less than the price of the Saturn composite cables themselves. :)

Anyhow, images would be nice either way, for anyone else interested in doing the mod.
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emwearz
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Re: Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite c

Post by emwearz »

I don't have the original photos but I will make some diagrams for you. You shouldn't need someone to do it for you, it is very simple.
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Ziggy
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Re: Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite c

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spiritplx wrote:Any chance the images for this mod could be re-uploaded? The original location appears to be unavailable. I have five of these that I'd like to convert, or possibly have a member convert for me. Not sure how much someone would charge, but hopefully less than the price of the Saturn composite cables themselves. :)

Anyhow, images would be nice either way, for anyone else interested in doing the mod.
Like emwearz said, you shouldn't have to pay some one to do it. It's pretty simple. If you have to pay some one to do it, then it wont be worth it. This mod will only give you composite video and mono audio. This mod is really only useful for some one who doesn't care or is too cheap or doesn't have enough spare cash to buy composite cables. Saturn composite AV cables are $5 shipped on eBay. You'd pay at least that in shipping (to and from) to whoever would do it for you, plus what they would want for the actual work. So yeah, wouldn't be worth it if you'd have to pay some one.

Saturn S-Video cables are expensive/rare these days, for some reason. Maybe that's what you're thinking of. But there's no way to get S-Video out of an RF mod, so that point doesn't matter anyway.
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Re: Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite c

Post by spiritplx »

Ziggy587 wrote: This mod is really only useful for some one who doesn't care or is too cheap...

Saturn S-Video cables are expensive/rare these days, for some reason. Maybe that's what you're thinking of.
Yeah, I just have the RF cables with no desire to use them, so figured I'd make some use out of them. And yes, I'm looking for composite, sadly nothing with S-Video connections at the moment.

Sounds like I'll be doing this myself, I just don't want to buy a soldering iron for this one job. I guess I'll just go with twisting together and electrical tape (if that's sufficient). If anyone can post pics (or diagrams, as emwearz mentioned), I'd greatly appreciate it.
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Re: Gen/Saturn|Guide:Converting a RF unit into a composite c

Post by spiritplx »

I finally got around to doing this. I did it on a couple of Performance brand Saturn RF adapters.

For anyone curious, here are the different colored cords:
Clear - 5v
Black - ground
Red - Video
Green - Audio
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