Problem with Dreamcast VGA to HDMI

[Jamisonia]

I bought a Dreamcast VGA box from here, and this VGA to HDMI converter from monoprice http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ ... ormat=2%22. Everybody seems to rave about this converter working well for Dreamcast, but for me it doesn't work. The output light on the converter never lights up when the DC is on.

If I connect my laptop to the box it works fine. I don't have a monitor to connect the VGA box directly to to check it, but its brand new from Racketboy, and the LED on the VGA box lights up, and the s-video out on VGA box works when in TV mode.

I'm testing with Sonic Adventure 2 if it matters. So what might be the problem? Is it the VGA box is a dud?

[CRTGAMER]

Either the HDMI converter of your HDTV does not like 640x480 resolution. Try hooking Dreamcast and VGA box directly to a regular computer monitor. That will confirm if the VGA box is good.

[Hobie-wan]

Is it not working in game, but does when just on the DC menu? I don't know offhand if SA2 is a game that supports VGA.

[Droid party]

I don't know offhand if SA2 is a game that supports VGA.

I have it and am almost 100% sure it does. Although I haven't touched it in years.

[Jamisonia]

I can't see anything, not the Dreamcast menu or game. I've tried on 2 DCs.

I don't have a monitor to test the vga box on, only my laptop, and I believe that laptops can't be used as external monitors.

[dsheinem]

I can't see anything, not the Dreamcast menu or game. I've tried on 2 DCs.

I don't have a monitor to test the vga box on, only my laptop, and I believe that laptops can't be used as external monitors.

They can? News to me. I thought the VGA port on a laptop was usually video out...

Sounds like you won't know unless you can test it properly. I'd guess the HDMI converter is bad, as I haven't heard of bad VGA boxes and it all looks like it is working.

[Jamisonia]

I tried testing on my laptop, it didn't work, but I'm pretty sure my laptop can't accept input signals.

I tried one other thing. I tested just the 3.5 mm audio out jack on the pc side of the VGA box using a 3.5 mm to RCA plug straight into my receiver. There was no sound either. Right now I'm leaning towards the VGA box being the dud, because like I said the VGA to HDMI converter works with my laptop.

[dsheinem]

I tried testing on my laptop, it didn't work, but I'm pretty sure my laptop can't accept input signals.

Oops. Thought you said "can" act as a monitor...

[CRTGAMER]

I tried testing on my laptop, it didn't work, but I'm pretty sure my laptop can't accept input signals.

I tried one other thing. I tested just the 3.5 mm audio out jack on the pc side of the VGA box using a 3.5 mm to RCA plug straight into my receiver. There was no sound either. Right now I'm leaning towards the VGA box being the dud, because like I said the VGA to HDMI converter works with my laptop.

Maybe try a friend's computer monitor. I'm suspecting that 640x480 signal not working on either the HDMI converter or the HDTV. Make and model of the TV?

[Hobie-wan]

Keep in mind if you test on a monitor elsewhere that some LCDs won't do anything less than 800x600, so the 640x480 DC VGA output wouldn't work either. You really need to find an old CRT monitor to be sure.