PAL 60hz mode has slight `flicker` in corners of the screen/Best Scart Switcher query

[Link83]

Hi everyone!
Recently, I have noticed that when playing games in 60Hz mode on both my Gamecube and Dreamcast consoles (The only consoles I currently have that are able to display in 60Hz mode), there is a slight flicker in the corners of my TV screen - it does not appear when playing in 50Hz mode. It is more noticeable in the bottom corners, and when there is a bright/light picture playing (eg. the title screen of Wario Ware or Zelda Wind Waker etc) I just wondered if anyone knew if this was normal? Or have a similar problem? and if this is not normal, how do I fix it? I am using official RGB cables on both consoles, and the TV is a Toshiba 29V24, and is less than a year old. You can see the model here:
http://www.home-entertainment.toshi...24?opendocument
I have turned all the settings down but it is still visable.
I emailed Toshiba the problem and there reply didnt seem to make much sense:-
"Thank you for your recent enquiry. Please find the information that you
requested as follows:
The best way to use your TV when playing your games console is in 50hz.
The reason you are getting a slight flicker is, your TV is compatible with NTSC which is an American format which uses 60hz. Although you TV will recognize NTSC and automatically switch to 60hz it cannot recognize a game format which will be written in pal (ie) 50hz."
Are there any service settings which may be causing this?
Thanks to everyone in advance

[Link83]

I forgot to add, I am also trying to find the best scart switcher/block/box - as I am currently using a passive JVC 5 into 1 scart block which seems to make the colours weaker, and sound quieter (Im guessing this is because theres no amplification of the signal) I dont know if this could be the cause of the 'flickering' mentioned above (although I dont think it is) I have no idea which one to get though, I have heard of so many different types including:-
B-Tech Quintro+
Holdan HSR-1000
Joytech AV Control Centre
Joytech AV Control Centre 2
Keene Syncblaster
Bluedelta Smart Scart Plus
etc!
Does anybody have any recommendation as to which one to get? What would you choose as being the 'best' Scart Switcher?
Thanks again

[dvdx2]

does this on my 28" JVC widescreen, depending on the source

nothing much to worry about

[JamesS]

You can sometimes get this if you have any power supplies or anything like that too near the TV. They don't interfere when the TV's at 50Hz (presumably because they're the same frequency or something) but cause flickering at 60Hz.

[Link83]

So is it to do with the power supply being too close? Seems abit weird

Also what would everyone choose as being the 'best' Scart Switcher?

[Link83]

Sorry to double post but please had anyone got anymore advice/info on the flickering and/or a good scart switcher?

[Pavey]

The Argos ones mate,of which im selling two.

Click

[Generic_Chaos]

I have the exact same problem with the Toshiba TV in my bedroom. At first I thought I hadn't plugged the scart block in properly but after close examination I realized this was not the case. I then thought I hadn't set the actual television up properly; again not the case.

I find it's only really noticeable in brightly coloured games like, as you said, LoZ: WW. It's still really annoying, however.

[andrewfee]

The Argos ones are very lossy, it is very noticeable on newer televisions.

I had a Joytech AV Control Centre v1 and it was perfect. It plugs into the mains and amplifies the signals so that there is no quality loss whatsoever. It also switches optical audio as well as composite/s-video, which is nice. The v2 seems to be worse, in my opinion - less optical inputs for the sake of two ethernet ones.

[Link83]

Thanks for your replies I guess its just my TV then, not much I can do I guess I might get a new TV though, so can anyone suggest a good CRT 4:3 TV? (Im not going Hi-Def just yet, and I find widescreen abit annoying for games as most dont support it)

Does the Joytech AV centre auto-switch between sources? and does it automatically turn itself on and off when there is no signal?

[andrewfee]

Thanks for your replies I guess its just my TV then, not much I can do I guess I might get a new TV though, so can anyone suggest a good CRT 4:3 TV? (Im not going Hi-Def just yet, and I find widescreen abit annoying for games as most dont support it)

Does the Joytech AV centre auto-switch between sources? and does it automatically turn itself on and off when there is no signal?

Neither, but it does have a tiny remote.

Make sure it's a new one though, as older ones (like mine) had a fault with the way the switching pins were wired up. (to change the TV to the AV channel)

It simply didn't work on my CRT, but caused all sorts of problems on my LCD. I sent it in for a replacement, but they gave me a refund, and I just kept the money instead of buying a new one, as my only SCART source is my Freeview box now.

[TerraEx]

I've had a similar problem myself recently with my 21" CRT - the top right and top left, or sometimes the entire top 1/4 of the creen seems to flick or shimmer. This has become most apparent when playing gamesx with light coloured backgrounds.

If for example we have a scene where the backgorund is white for more than 10 seconds, the right hand flicker becomes darker, and turns into a purple mark when against a coloured background. This can become very annoying. This happens regardless what mode the TV is in, 50hz, PAL60 or 60hz.

I messed around with the power leads recently - "sometimes" the flickering stops completely - but will return the next day.
I have a pretty powerful woofer on the ground - pretty close to the power supply and the TV itself.

Everything is plugged into a 6-way multi-plug adapter - also when specific lights are switched on/off in the house- the speakers can "pop" sometimes.

I'm assuming the purples,etc are caused my magnetic interference - probably from the woofer. Would giving the woofer its own wall socket across the room help anything?

I'm going to be getting a new Samsung LCD LE26R41B very shortly - so I'm not too fussed about the CRT. Am i correct in assuming that these issues wouldn't affect the LCD?
Any thoughts are appreciated.