PAL Gamecube RGB signal spec

[Charlie Footstool]

Can't find any info on this anywhere, so thought I'd put it to the floor:

What is the signal strength of the gamecube RGB output? I need it to be in the region of 1 Vpp < 3 Vpp so I can use an RGB --> S-video conversion unit to run it through my projector without resorting to rubbish composite.

I tried the standard nintendo GC RGB cable but that produced a VERY dark image, so I tried a modded RGB cable that I made for a PAL SNES (made from a GC RGB cable with added resitors). The SNES RGB cable gave a MUCH better image, the right colours and visable at least - but still a shade on the dark side.

If I know what the output of the GC RGB is then I can tailor a cable accordingly. I'm guessing I need more resistance, but I'm unsure...

SO, any thoughts?

[Charlie Footstool]

I've had a play about, turned out i needed less resistance, now I have a much stronger image - removed 3 75ohm resistors I had in place (on red, green and blue).

I still have faint, fine diagonal lines across the screen - kind of like an interference pattern. Any ideas how I can deal with this?

I read somewhere that I need to join up pins 8 and 16 on the scart to manipulate the switching voltage?? I can't see how this would help though as neither of these pins recieves a signal from the GC

I'm nearly there, Viewtiful Joe looks MUCH better on the 70" projection now I'm not using composite junk. Anyone have any ideas, or care...?

[Saurian]

Pin 8 and Pin 16 on a SCART connector are for TV mode functions - on most console RGB cables you will have 5v to pin 8 (to enable AV mode) bridged to pin 16 via a 75ohm resistor (to enable RGB mode).

Without pin 16 supplied with the correct voltage you will not get an RGB image unless you can manually select it via your TV controls.

[Charlie Footstool]

I am running the signal into an RGB SCART ---> SVHS converter so I can display it through my projector.

The output image is definately not composite, it is much more detailed and vibrant than that, so the PAL GC must be sending an RGB signal which is being converted to SVHS.

[phresh]

I'd get a RGB to VGA converter if I were you mate, much better picture than a RGB to S-video conversion.

[gIzzE]

I'd get a RGB to VGA converter if I were you mate, much better picture than a RGB to S-video conversion.

Yeah I would have to agree with that.

Plus most projectors can handle RGBs through the vga port anyway so you could look into that and then just make a cable up.

[Charlie Footstool]

I've looked into this in the past. RGB to VGA converters don't come cheap! I tried to build a straight through RGB --> VGA cable before, but had problems syncing the video signal. I sort of got it working, ut the image would break down after a second or so (I've got a couple of threads on these boards from a while back asking how to make one, I think I need an LM1551 sync chip??).

Also, I think that the current consoles all output the video at a resolution lower than the lowest native resolution my projector can display, so I think I'd need an upscaler - again, not cheap.

As much as I'd like to get RGB --> VGA running properly, I just can't make it work within my budget. So this is the next best thing, sadly.

[gIzzE]

What projector is it??

You should be able to go into the menu, maybe the service menu, and tell the projector that you want RGBs rather than RGB/h/v to get it to sync.
If the projector can take s-video and composite then it will sync to RGBs.

[Charlie Footstool]

It's a Proxima Ultralite DX3 (an old DLP projector - I got it free!)

I don't know how to enter the service menu thou...