Modded Sega Saturn displays only in black and white

[Past Present Future]

Hello,

I bought a modded Sega Saturn from a local game store. It is a modded region free UK Sega Saturn with a 50/60 switch on the back. I am using it on a Sony Bravia HX729 HDTV. The store gave me a US power plug and composite A/V cable. It boots fine, and it plays US games. The only issue is that everything is in black and white.

Can anyone help? I have been trying to research this problem, but I can't seem to find a simple solution.

Any help would be appreciated

PS: I have tried the Saturn with the composite cable on a CRT 1080i HDTV and a 1980's CRT TV. Both display the Saturn in black and white.

[ice445]

Sounds like either a cable problem or a problem with the connector. Got another cable to try?

[emwearz]

Does it display in Black and White when in PAL?

[Past Present Future]

Sounds like either a cable problem or a problem with the connector. Got another cable to try?

I have tried two composite cables, and all I get is black and white.

Does it display in Black and White when in PAL?

Do you mean hitting the 50/60hz switch. It makes the picture look weird, but it is still in B&W.

[theclaw]

Try a PAL version RGB cable. Should get around composite color mode, whatever your console is doing.

There are various unlikely scenarios but let's avoid needless confusion first.

[Reprise]

Can your TV display a NTSC signal? If it can't it will display in B&W... So that is likely your problem, since it's modded I'm assuming it's outputting a NTSC signal. Try it on a different TV or with a good quality RGB scart, which will hopefully solve the problem (assuming it's not a problem with the console).

[Past Present Future]

When I plug in my composite cable for a brief moment it says "NTSC Unrated". I'm American, so I may not have any equipment that is compatible.

When people refer to a PAL RGB cable, are they referring to the SCART cable? I could not find a TV that has that input.

So. UK Sega Saturn with composite cable ---->American TV = Black and White. Is that how it normally goes because of PAL/NTSC incompatibility?

Does this mean I have to get a SCART converter if I want it to play this on a American TV?

Also, the back of the Saturn says that the unit is rated for 220V~240V. The game store gave me an American power cable. I plugged it into the wall and it boots fine. Should I worry or was the power supply changed out at some point? The power supply info was covered up by instructions on how to change the region setting.

[Reprise]

Ah I thought you were from the UK, apologies.

It sounds like it could be to do with the PAL-NTSC differences still. Yes, when people refer to a RGB cable, they mean Scart which is a popular input method here in the UK, but not in the US unfortunately.

"So. UK Sega Saturn with composite cable ---->American TV = Black and White. Is that how it normally goes because of PAL/NTSC incompatibility?"

I don't know, but I know on old televisions here in the UK, an NTSC console with composite cable would equal black and white. Most TV's here now though are NTSC compatible.

"Also, the back of the Saturn says that the unit is rated for 220V~240V. The game store gave me an American power cable. I plugged it into the wall and it boots fine. Should I worry or was the power supply changed out at some point? The power supply info was covered up by instructions on how to change the region setting."

I would have thought that if it was a UK system you would need to use a step up or step down converter. I always forget which.

[Past Present Future]

I apologize, I should have mentioned my country of origin sooner. I should have realized sooner that retro gaming is an international hobby.

I don't believe that American TV's are at all PAL compatible. I am going to try and exchange my composite cable with a RGB Scart cable. Then I'm going to do some research on a good converter that doesn't introduce much lag into the signal.

Thank you everyone for your help.

[Reprise]

That's ok.

I'd advise before spending any more money though that you wait to see if anyone else has anymore advise. I'm not sure how to get a PAL system working on an American TV, but perhaps someone else might know.