PCE - no picture

[Ghegs]

I got myself a PC Engine, the first white model with an RGB SCART -cable modded in. It was with a UK plug, so I bought a Travel Adapter so I can use it here (Finland, that is, the voltage is pretty much the same). I connect the RGB cable but can't get the picture to show. Music and sounds work just fine, but the picture just isn't there.

Also, from the SCART cable there extend two more plugs, yellow and white, that I can plug into my TV's front. When I connect only the RGB cable, I can't even see the volume change meter, but when I connect the plugs (with or without the RGB connected), I can see it, and the music and sounds work fine in every combination.

I can play NTSC-60hz games on my TV, though they are through a modded PAL PS2 and a not a "real" NTSC machine. I don't know if that makes a difference. I tried the PCE on a different TV (a non-NTSC-60hz-capable one) and the picture did show, but with three overlapping pictures. And I noticed while the PCE was turned on, all the other channels were garbled, like the system was interferring with the normal antenna signal somehow. I haven't had a chance to test it with another TV supporting 60hz yet.

I've posted this question to few other boards and was told that this one is the most likely to get a solution from.

[Pij]

With the TV that rolls ..thats normal of old TV's its only 50hz, And theres quite a few TV's out there when when receiving a signal from Scart it cannot display the RF signal correctly (Nokia Tv's are well known for this)

As for it not displaying on your TV, have you tried it in the other scart socket. If the PCE is only wired for RGB and is plugged into the composite/s-video port you wont get a pic.

But you will get a pic off a PS2 and other consoles as they might have composite wired in the cable, aswell as RGB

[Ghegs]

As for it not displaying on your TV, have you tried it in the other scart socket. If the PCE is only wired for RGB and is plugged into the composite/s-video port you wont get a pic.

But you will get a pic off a PS2 and other consoles as they might have composite wired in the cable, aswell as RGB

Okay, that makes sense. Unfortunately my TV only has one scart socket so I use the same one for all my consoles. Is it possible to wire the PCE's RGB-cable for composite as well, or is there any other way around it (short of buying a new TV with two scart sockets)?

[Saurian]

It may be that the RGB cable is not wired to make your TV switch over to RGB mode. I do the RGB mod using composite video but it's also possible to do the same using composite sync - your TV may not be switching to RGB mode due to an incorrect voltage supplied, no image suggests that sync is being used and not video.

Is it possible to have a look inside the SCART connector? Check to see if there is a connection to pin16.

[Ghegs]

Is it possible to have a look inside the SCART connector? Check to see if there is a connection to pin16.

I'll have to check and get back to you tomorrow (I'm at work). The person I bought it from (someone over at shmups.com) says the system worked just fine for him, but he did mention having a friend on whose TV the picture wouldn't show for no apparent reason.

EDIT: OR, is it possible to force a TV into RGB-mode, through service menu or whatnot?

[Pij]

Okay, that makes sense. Unfortunately my TV only has one scart socket so I use the same one for all my consoles. Is it possible to wire the PCE's RGB-cable for composite as well, or is there any other way around it (short of buying a new TV with two scart sockets)?

If it only got 1 scart socket that blows my theory out the water

Saur i had the same problem with one of your GC Scart cables last year. Got sound but no picture, but it wasnt the cable as it worked everytime on other TV's. Never worked out what it was. as it was only an old portable that i used for a week.

Is it possible that theres been some change to the Scart standard over the years as this portable was dating back to early 90's.

[Ghegs]

Is it possible to convert RGB to composite or s-video, hopefully through a simple scart cable? That might cure the symptom, if not the cause...but I'd rather play the games in an uglier form than not at all.

EDIT: Or how about this: I buy two of these and an S-Video to S-Video cable. I plug the PCE's scart plug into the converter and connect it to the other converter via the cable, which I then plug into my TV. Would that make any difference, or am I just grasping at straws here?

[Ghegs]

Well I did get a picture using the set-up I described in my previous post, it was all in various shades of gray, but you could just make out what was happening. Maybe if I used AV cables instead of S-Video ones?

Is it possible to have a look inside the SCART connector? Check to see if there is a connection to pin16.

I opened it up, but I really don't know what I'm looking for, it's very much a garbled mess in there. Do you have a diagram so I'd have an idea what to look at?

[Pij]

using those AV cables wont make it colour unfortunatly, a your TV doesnt support the NTSC standard 3.38.

Only thing i can think to do is check pin 16 or try a new TV

If you open the scart, so you can see all the cables. then look at the pins that plug into the TV, theres numbers next to them, find pin 16 and see if theres any cable soldered to it on the other side.

[Ghegs]

using those AV cables wont make it colour unfortunatly, a your TV doesnt support the NTSC standard 3.38.

Dang. So how can I see NTSC movies and games if my TV doesn't support the standard? Nevermind, it's probably overly technical and I wouldn't understand it anyway.

If you open the scart, so you can see all the cables. then look at the pins that plug into the TV, theres numbers next to them, find pin 16 and see if theres any cable soldered to it on the other side.

Alright, I'll check. And what do I have to do if there is/isn't a cable soldered there?

[Saurian]

2 options

Reassemble the unit and make sure nothing is crushed or out of place, get yourself a SCART splitter with RGB enable/disable switch. Plug this cable into the unit alongside another machine through RGB and enable RGB on the splitter, this way you are using the voltage fromt he other machine to trigger RGB on the Engine's slot.

Another one is to send the cable over me with some cashish for parts/postage and I'll re-do it.

[Pij]

Dang. So how can I see NTSC movies and games if my TV doesn't support the standard? Nevermind, it's probably overly technical and I wouldn't understand it anyway

Because when your watching your DVD's or other games consoles there running through RGB(Scart) which your TV does support. You are trying to run your PCE through phono's/S-video.

[Ghegs]

Reassemble the unit and make sure nothing is crushed or out of place, get yourself a SCART splitter with RGB enable/disable switch. Plug this cable into the unit alongside another machine through RGB and enable RGB on the splitter, this way you are using the voltage fromt he other machine to trigger RGB on the Engine's slot.

Another one is to send the cable over me with some cashish for parts/postage and I'll re-do it.

The former sounds like a great plan. I did some research, people seem to recommend the Argos box. Unfortunately the catalogue number (534/0370) doesn't work, so that means it's no longer available. Hopefully I can find a similar box locally...

As for the latter plan, I'd have to send the whole PCE over since the cable isn't removable.

Because when your watching your DVD's or other games consoles there running through RGB(Scart) which your TV does support. You are trying to run your PCE through phono's/S-video.

Right. I knew that, when I thought about it for two second. Dumbass = me.

[Saurian]

Dammit - that's why I've always been against these trigger-happy mod methods! >_<

It's so cheap and easy to replace the existing video port - why people choose to have a permanent cable instead is beyond me.

hope the switcher box method works for you, Argos definetly still stock that switcher box that's recommended:

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&catalogId=2501&productId=108277

[Pij]

If you go with the Argos Switch box remember to buy a scart to scart cable to wire it to the TV as it doesnt come supplied with one.