Is it possible to make a sega saturn s-video cable

[treepop]

I have been looking for a sega saturn s-video for a couple months no to no avail. I am thinking of going scart, but the one retailer with decent prices is on vacation.

I was wanting to use my new soldering gun to possibly mod a composite cable into an s-video cable. Is this possible? are there any guides for this?

Thanks!

[Cronozilla]

Not sure about modding an existing cable (is there any need? it's a common port)
but here's the pinout for it http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/saturnav.htm
So, making any sort of cable you'd want that doesn't need video conversion should be possible with some soldering.

[treepop]

Not sure about modding an existing cable (is there any need? it's a common port)
but here's the pinout for it http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/saturnav.htm
So, making any sort of cable you'd want that doesn't need video conversion should be possible with some soldering.

Okay. I am new to wiring so bear with me please.

I am thinking I will do the following.
Grab a regular s-video cable and cut off one end to expose the wires.
Get a cheapo sega saturn cable and cut off the end that connects to the saturn.
Attach the s-video cable to the part that connects to the saturn.
Plug it in.

Questions.

Where can I get a diagram of what s-video wire does what?

Once I know what each wire does do I just match it to the pin out you linked?

To get sound do I just hook 1 rca cable (white) to the Stereo R and 1 rca cable (red) to the Stereo R? Does it need some sort of power or is it 1 wire to each pin out?

Thanks for the help!

*EDIT*
Okay. Looking at a diagram of the S-Video here: http://www.leadsdirect.co.uk/technical/ ... iring.html

I ASSUME that I would take the Chrominance from the top right and connect that to Pin #10 and take the Chrominance Ground and I dunno attach it to the outer ring of the saturn connecter? and I would take the Luminence and attach it to pin #9 and connect the Luminence ground to the outer ring of the saturn connector.

What about pin #1 (sync) and #4 5 VDC? Do I need them?

Thanks again

*EDIT #2*
Could I just make a component cable? Or would it need some sort of conversion?

[Hobie-wan]

Hacking up a composite cable won't be helpful because you need to get to the inside of the plug to connect wires to the pins. Some cables might not even have the pins, but plug ends like that aren't really made to be taken apart. For most of them they connect the wires to the pins inside, then stuff the end into a mold and inject the rubber or plastic to make the grip. This means that there's more or less a solid block of rubber or plastic there all around the back ends of the pins and wires. Sometimes there's a separate rubber sheath on the outside, but to get at the important bits, you'd have to do a lot of pain in the ass carving of plastic bits. It will be a mess and even if you to do manage it, then you need a cover so you don't have a nasty electrical tape disaster on the end.

If you can find a bare plug that's correct and fits the system, then yes you could just hack up a cable that has S-video and audio plugs and connect to the correct pins. I made a bunch of Jaguar s-video cables a few years ago by making the plug end for the console then attaching it to halves of some 12 foot s-video and audio cables I picked up.

[Cronozilla]

I think the Sync junk is for VGA/RGB output.

It might be simpler to do what that link says and solder to the interconnects on the board itself. The Genesis (2) uses a non-standard Mini-DIN 10 connector which is basically proprietary.

But, yeah if you find something that has the proper connection (or you make one) you can just wire up the signals. You don't cross any of them, though.

Keep in mind you don't actually need all the pins ... so, get creative?

[treepop]

If I solder to the main board. I guess I could just cut a hole in the case and have an s-video cable coming out directly to the TV

Was I correct about the Luminance and Chominance grounds? I basically just solder a wire to a screw or something?

[Hobie-wan]

The grounds would solder to the outside metal ring of the plug. You'd want to mount an s-video socket so you could just run a normal s-video cable, but unplug it for storage or transport. You could just use the sound plugs on the normal AV cable if you did that.

[treepop]

The grounds would solder to the outside metal ring of the plug. You'd want to mount an s-video socket so you could just run a normal s-video cable, but unplug it for storage or transport. You could just use the sound plugs on the normal AV cable if you did that.

Good thinking. If you come across a schematic showing which points on the mobo coincide to chrominance and luminance please let me know. I am assuming I can just trace it from the pins, but it would be nice to just be shown I haven't had any luck finding a schematic myself.

[AppleQueso]

I think the Sync junk is for VGA/RGB output.

Yeah, sync is for RGB. And it ain't junk! My monitor freaks out so much if you try to use composite video as sync.

[treepop]

Right now I took apart a keyboard cable for its wires. I am using 4 of the cables to hook them up to the sega saturn. For now I am just going to rest the wires inside the pin holes and along the outer rim then solder them to an svideo cable and see if I can get a picture.