Dreamcast, Scart, LCD = Picture to the left

[Jei]

Hi people,

Sorry if this has been covered before but I can't seem to find it.

I've got a dreamcast that when hooked up to my LCD tv the image is positioned to the left.....ie the swirl isn't central on boot, games have a border on the right.

Any ideas? Tried 2x DC's, 50 and 60hz and also a different RGB Scart lead with the same issue

[Link83]

This poster had the same problem:-

http://ntsc-uk.domino.org/showthread.php?t=100786

I made a long post further down the page which has a possible explanation for the problem, but theres not really a simple solution

I have managed to find the 'Scart shifter' device/mod I briefly mentioned in that post:-

http://playoffline.wordpress.com/cable/rgbshifter/

Its in German but heres a link to a google translated version:-

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://playoffline.wordpress.com/cable/rgbshifter/&ei=N2UCTJCMDpz60wTOipn3Ag&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CB4Q7gEwAA&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://playoffline.wordpress.com/cable/rgbshifter/%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Not a simple project im afraid!

Your best option is probably to try and adjust the screen position in the TV's service menu (If you feel comfortable doing that - there are some risks involved) Although this might alter the screen position for all the other inputs as well.

[charlesr]

If you don't solve it, then grab a vga box - better pic too.

[speedlolita]

Or mod it for VGA.

[Link83]

Doh! Should have suggested VGA as well, but just assumed it wasnt an option

[Jei]

I've got the ability for VGA but I just remember "back in the day" I had issues with certain games refusing to boot via VGA. I might look into getting one of those vga/svideo boxes where you can switch between the two for the games that don't like vga.

Strangely enough, my tv is Panasonic too......yet both a pal and jap saturn work perfectly with a centered image via RGB Scart.

[speedlolita]

Strangely enough, my tv is Panasonic too......yet both a pal and jap saturn work perfectly with a centered image via RGB Scart.

I'm sure everything else will be centered too.

[Lyris]

You could fall back to S-Video as a compromise for select games also... although the Dreamcast's S-Video output was way below the standard of RGB (moreso than would be necessary).

[MisterBubbles]

This VGA box works wity both your TV and PCand has a few connections.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dreamcast-Multi-VGA%2fAV%2fS-VIDEO-HD-HDTV-Box%2fadaptor-NEW!_W0QQitemZ150442653143QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=eaa2eb521280a0aad5b53ea5ffd6bd72

[charlesr]

Can't remember the details, but there are ways of forcing VGA, either by timed switching or via DC-X I think.

[Sane]

Yeah I remember using my DC solely through VGA for years (with the help of DC-X where needed) and only seldomly I ran into something I couldn't play. Plus the picture is going to be miles better than RGB.

In fact, here's a compatibility list:

http://www.epforums.org/showthread.php?t=42182

[fallenangle]

"Miles better than RGB" - a bit of an exaggeration in any circumstance but it is very dependent on the TV. Finding a TV which produces decent PQ with SD sources nowadays is the real problem though. At its best 480i/60Hz RGB via SCART or Component can be surprisingly close to 480p/VGA.

[Sane]

I was thinking mainly because he's using an LCD TV, on most of those VGA will look a lot better, atleast in my experience.

[dvdx2]

"Miles better than RGB" - a bit of an exaggeration in any circumstance but it is very dependent on the TV. Finding a TV which produces decent PQ with SD sources nowadays is the real problem though. At its best 480i/60Hz RGB via SCART or Component can be surprisingly close to 480p/VGA.

480i will flicker/shimmer a fair bit and lack pin sharp clarity - It will also be overscaned, losing part of the picture - all this even on a high quality CRT. The DCs VGA output is superb and should be used over RGB scart if you want a vastly improved image.

[fallenangle]

You should see 480i/60Hz RGB SCART Tekken 5 on my Sony 100Hz 32" WS CRT. I have it set up next to my 32" WS JVC 'HD' CRT.

Whilst I will admit that it produces inferior PQ than I can get with prog scan enabled Tekken 4 480p/60Hz via a (Official Sony) Component lead on the JVC that inferiority is really only marginal whatever criteria you're judging it by.

The 100Hz Sony SD TV does has some other issues but feed it the right game (on the right console) and the PQ can be remarkably close to 480p. That's why it's still there and being used in preference to the JVC when playing PAL 576i/50Hz only and most 480i/60Hz game too.

The problem is now that few, if any, people are going to have a set up like this - most will have 40"+ HD LCDs or Plasmas. So whilst I will defend the PQ I get on my 'ideal' screen size 32" CRTs to the death I have to concede that for others now such observations are far less relevant.