SCART for NTSC consoles?

[keepdreamin]

My solution is relatively simple; small, old TV with RF for my very old consoles, newer CRT with S Video and component input for the vast bulk of my collection, and modern consoles on the HDTV. I realize that not everyone has the room or inclination for this, but that's how my setup works. I've never measured the lag on my several years old Samsung (older is a bit of a bonus, as it has component, as well), but it seems to do okay, even with a Retron hooked up to it, or a PS2 or a Wii running Virtual Console or Gamecube stuff.

 

That's nice and all, but when someone asks how do I hook up consoles over HDMI to a modern set, saying "use a CRT" isn't an answer to that question.

[alex_79]

But this isn't a Q&A website. it's a discussion forum.
It's hard to imagine that CRT wouldn't be mentioned in a conversation about old consoles, video signals and displays.


Q: How to connect an old console to a modern TV?
A: Use a dedicated scaler specifically designed for retro consoles
Q: Is there a cheaper solution?
A: Use a cheap analog video to HDMI converter. Beware that results might be subpar (no support for progressive 240p signal, lag etc...)
Q: Isn't there a cheap solution that works well to play my old consoles?
A: Yes, a CRT!

Edited September 16, 2017 by alex_79

[keepdreamin]

But this isn't a Q&A website. it's a discussion forum.

It's hard to imagine that CRT wouldn't be mentioned in a conversation about old consoles, video signals and displays.

 

 

Q: How to connect an old console to a modern TV?

A: Use a dedicated scaler specifically designed for retro consoles

Q: Is there a cheaper solution?

A: Use a cheap analog video to HDMI converter. Beware that results might be subpar (no support for progressive 240p signal, lag etc...)

Q: Isn't there a cheap solution that works well to play my old consoles?

A: Yes, a CRT!

 

 

 

 

Yes, it is a discussion forum. Where the intent of said discussion thread was to discuss how to hook up old consoles to modern sets. basically, that whole "off topic", thing.

 

Saying "use a CRT" in this thread, would be like going into a thread where the OP was looking for suggestions on a new car, and you came back with "take the bus".

 

I can almost guarantee, that if someone waltzed into a thread discussing brands of CRT suggestions, and said "just get a Framemeister". and more people followed with "just get a Framemeister". They'd be read the riot act immediately.

Edited September 16, 2017 by keepdreamin

[keepdreamin]

The point is to get off component, composite and s-video and use a modern TV. I will never buy a CRT from a thrift store to play games on. Everything must go to HDMI ultimately. But I also don't want to buy a $400 board made by one guy in Poland after getting on his waiting list for years and prepaying for it.

 

 

Great news! It's 200, not 400 dollars. It ships from a guy in England, not Poland. And it's shipping immediately.

 

https://www.videogameperfection.com/products/open-source-converter/

[Jagosaurus]

Keep in mind the Framemeister & OSSC aren't the same technology. You're talking upscaler vs line doubler, both resulting in HDMI out (well HD, see question below) in different methods.

 

If you're dropping $200-350 on one of these devices do your research and see what method you think will work best for you. Watch comparison footage on youtube & in depth reviews on the tech itself.

 

 

I heard the OSSC was finally getting HDMI vs DVI + RCA audio. Did this happen?

Edited November 10, 2017 by Jagosaurus

[keepdreamin]

Yes (check the site for detals).

 

1.6 is now using a HDMI port instead of DVI. Audio conversion to digital is also now handled on board the unit, you can plug sound from component/vga sources into the 3.5 mm jacks and it will convert to digital over HDMI.

[Jagosaurus]

Yes (check the site for detals).

 

1.6 is now using a HDMI port instead of DVI. Audio conversion to digital is also now handled on board the unit, you can plug sound from component/vga sources into the 3.5 mm jacks and it will convert to digital over HDMI.

That's a much better option and welcome addition. I understand it was due to HDMI licensing but it was a lacking feature that kept me away.

[Jeffrey Worley]

On 9/12/2017 at 3:45 AM, keepdreamin said:

 

 

Alright! 6 replies later (not counting my own or the OPs). Austin...

 

 

 

SLG-in-a-box

 

 

floodgates open, AND THEY'RE OFF!

 

debatable and irrelevant to this conversation.

 

 

yes, yes it is. Deadest of dead.

 

You done yet.

 

 

Y'all miss the part where op was talking about HDMI?

When I was just a little boy, we had and Odyssey II?   Yellow thing, ran on batteries.  It had a game called 'haunted house' that had high-resolution color graphics in the form of a transparent plastic overlay you TAPED to the SCREEN of your TV....

 

Jeff

[carlsson]

That would be the first generation Odyssey, c:a 1972-74. And no, adding a SCART connector won't improve games that rely on a plastic film overlay on the screen.

[Jeffrey Worley]

Just now, carlsson said:

That would be the first generation Odyssey, c:a 1972-74. And no, adding a SCART connector won't improve games that rely on a plastic film overlay on the screen.

I was five or so.  That would make it 74' or 75.

 

Jeff

[c0op3r]

I have recently ended up in this same boat, I finally got some of my favorite consoles again, and wanted to connect them up in s simple way that looked good.  I thought the ease and best way would be simply an older LCD TV with component inputs, well that did not work at all.

 

So I started my research, YouTube watching and reading the forums.  I ended up going with SCART cables.

 

My setup so far:

 

Consoles:

Sega Genesis II

Sega Saturn

Sega Dreamcast

Neo Geo (Consolized)

PCEngine

 

I got the cable for each of those to SCART then that SCART will plug into a Hydra Mini SCART switcher, out of the Hydra I got a SCART to SCART (male) cable that goes to the OSSC.

 

I had a 4:3 computer monitor I wanted to use, but I was never able to get it to work with the OSSC HDMI out to the DVI connection on the monitor (it was a Dell FP-2001 that can handle 15khz).  So I ended up buying a new monitor that is 16:10 but does have a 4:3 mode and a game setting - Asus makes this one.

 

I am just waiting a a custom cabinet to be finished being built so I can do all the custom (hidden) wiring and put all the systems in place.  I test the setup and everything seems to work and look great.  I did end up getting the stereo audio out from the back of the monitor as the SCART -> to the HDMI carries the audio to the monitor, but it does not have speakers so I use the 1/8" audio out on the back of the monitor for small external speakers