Panasonic Q and general picture problems

[Papercut]

first off - the dvd section of the Q will not work through RGB no matter where you buy the lead - it only works through composite or s-video

It sounds like this is whats going wrong, Weinberg - have you double checked running a game with the RGB cable? If your Q is started in DVD mode then you will see nothing with the RGB cable attached, until you switch to GameCube mode by pressing the 'Game' button.

Changing leads over to get RGB games is indeed a pain, have any other Q owners got a better solution?

Well, I leave s-video and rgb connected all the time (through Argos switch boxes). There isn't really a need to switch cables, the Q has separate analog (composite/s-video) and digital (RGB) av ports on the back, and two sets of stereo audio jacks.

-Any scart cable will automatically take the picture from the TV channel and put it straight to the cubes picture. You shouldn't need to change the channel to get the cubes image.

Some older TVs do not know how to auto-switch to RGB scart, and its possible Weinberg's RGB scart cable doesn't have the RGB-switch signals wired up. Weinberg - you should double check manually switching to RGB scart on your TV.

big warning for you - do not switch scart sockets whilst the Q is turned on /plugged in - my Q broke cos i did this.

Seconded, be very very careful switching your cables around. In fact, while you're testing, you may as well not bother connecting up the audio cables until you've sorted out a color picture.

-At this time, the TV was on the AV channel. I then tried tuning it, and I found I had an option to have the channel as AV or S-Video or "CH". On all of them, I DID have a picture of the gamecube output through the RGB cable, however it was VERY faint and fuzzy.

Was the picture outlines only (ie no color, you could make out the edges of things)? If so, it sounds like your TV isn't switching to RGB mode as described above. Maybe even your TV doesn't support RGB.

I don't understand-how can I use the DVD function and Gamecube function of the Q if I need 2 seperate cables for them?

composite/s-video work for both dvd and GameCube playback. Remember that in Japan most people use s-video. The digital (RGB) video port is really only designed for progressive scan hook ups, the hacked RGB cable is just a clever way for us importers to get RGB scart out of the things.

What you really need is a TV that supports NTSC s-video and has an additional RGB scart socket. That lik-sang NTSC->PAL adaptor might be your best bet, in fact, but an RGB connection would look a lot better.

Ok the RGB cable might fix the GC problem, however If I attach the DVD player as I have always done that means I have to swap around the DVD and GC leads into the scart socket, every time. I don't want to! (Only have 1 scart socket)

Are you sure you don't have a separate s-video or composite socket on your tv?

BTW, do Saurians Q cables have seperate audio connectors so I can connect to my hifi?

You would need to tell him you have a Q so that he builds you the right cable. I'd ask Saur if he'd take a look at the cable you have first.

[Weinberg]

I did try the cable on Gamecube mode. Bit strange that EVERY tv didn't switch to AV mode..isn't it?
I mean one is practically brand new and cost a bundle, and always switches to AV.

I suppose I can send saurian my cable to test. Would be nice if he actually replied to my email though!

[Papercut]

I did try the cable on Gamecube mode. Bit strange that EVERY tv didn't switch to AV mode..isn't it?

Unless it doesn't have the auto switch signal wired up.

[Saurian]

Would be nice if he actually replied to my email though!

Give me a break man! - I DO get days off work you know!

[Weinberg]

LOL sorry-it's just with waiting WEEKS for the crap lan-kwei cable (not "3-5 days") I'm so impatient now!!

[Saurian]

LOL sorry-it's just with waiting WEEKS for the crap lan-kwei cable (not "3-5 days") I'm so impatient now!!

I feel your pain - I once dealt with Lan Kwei (ONCE!)

[yashiro]

( PS2's dont output RGB for DVD's either - equally ****).

They do, well at least mine does. DVD Region X sorts out the green screen problem (which the PS2 outputs normally when putting in a disc without Region X and using an RGB lead) and you can watch DVDs in pure RGB-o-vision in conjunction with the disc (Region X) aswell as watching DVDs from every region .

Mate you just proved my point. The only way to get RGB out for DVD's is by either using dvdregionx or perhaps a dms3 chip.(other hacks are probably available)

Your PS2, as standard, will not play DVD's in RGB mode unless 'hacked'.

[John Beaulieu]

doesn't using a 3rd party scart and 'wiggling' it about get an rgb picture?

camps

[Papercut]

doesn't using a 3rd party scart and 'wiggling' it about get an rgb picture?

camps

That just switches the video from RGB to composite video I imagine.

There is a simble pcb patch (1 wire) for older PS2s (pre v7 I think) that forces RGB during DVD playback, I did that to my V4 when I fitted a Messiah 2.

Use my shiny Q for DVDs now though, nice region free hack, mmmm.