JAMMA -> VGA monitor (noob)

[sharpfork]

Please be kind, I'm a giant noob when it comes to video but am trying.

I want to build a bartop using an xBox1 hooked up to a 20" LCD monitor via VGA (maybe with a SLG in there).  I'm looking at the xBox -> JAMMA Timer boards because they might solve controller encoding, audio, and video in one shot if I power it via the 12V PSU on the xBox.  I'm talking about this kind of thing: http://goo.gl/TjIMD

I am wondering if I might be able to pull the RGB+sync off the Jamma board by doing something like soldering an old monitor VGA connector to a JAMMA finger board top pins 14, 12, 12 & bottom pins 13 and 12.  I can solder and am willing to get a newer sync on green monitor if it is necessary.  I'm hoping I don't have to throw a scan converter in the mix.  If I do, can anyone point me to one that might work?

Thanks in advance!

[sharpfork]

Why not just get an X2VGA??

PBJ- I appreciate that you challenge folks on stuff like this.
I know there are solutions like the X2VGA or a TSOP/chip + frosty's VGA bios.  I'm looking to see if this board might be an all in one solution if properly powered & tweaked.  This way I don't have padhacks + an audio amp + whatever for video.  I could wire up a jamma harness and call it a day.  I'm also looking into this for other folks in the coinops world.

[sharpfork]

PBJ-
I'm obviously a dumb ass when it comes to video.  In digging around some more, I'm guessing that I would likely need to add something like this to the equation:

[johnm]

What the hope is, is that a all in one product can be found that can replace joystick encoders/hackpads and vga boxes/frosty vga bios. We know there is one that handles joystick encoding via the jamma interface, the goal is to either find one that can do that but also output video through VGA, or something that can be easily converted without the need for external upscalers/encoders. What i have found are products that i think do that but as with many chinese sites the info is pretty sparse. TT or MXB -880t seems to be one that hopefully will work, another GLS_2001 . I have emailed one of them for more info and hopefully they reply back with good news

[johnm]

Well i got a reply from the email i sent, though not what i was hoping for. They sent prices for an xbox timer board and a cba/vga video encoder and didn't answer me questions about timer boards with vga outputs.. Prices were kinda high compared to the same products on ebay.
Further searching has brought other boards for other systems and i came across Teeso technology..



http://www.teeso.com.tw/modules/tad_book3/

mxb-800t keeps the jamma interface but also has vga output. htv-900t has various inputs, vga output and comes in different flavours for different consoles.

Anyone heard of this company before ? By the looks of it they make the boards and i hope they will give me a reseller list..

[sharpfork]

Well i got a reply from the email i sent..

Thanks for digging into this Johnm!
I haven't gotten any responses back from my emails yet.  It does seem like the mxb-800vt could be exactly what we are looking for.  If the timer can be turned off and it does stereo audio, it could be worth buying a couple to test.

[johnm]

Well i've just emailed one of the sellers of the xbox timers on ebay if they can supply a VGA version. Probably should have tried that 1st

[johnm]

Teeso have replied to my email, they sent me a pdf that i've uploaded in jpg format for you to see.

[sharpfork]

Great find johnm!

I say this has officially become a consoles topic instead of general video.

[rCadeGaming]

If you plan on using anything other than CoinOps you really need to go X-Arcade.

Umm... NO.

MC Cthulhu.  Works better and is compatible with many many more consoles.

X-Arcade puts more money into their marketing than anything else.  Have they even fixed their ghosting and lag problems?

[sharpfork]

The ghosting only affects PC users that don't have PS/2 ports.
Nothing besides X-Arcade can switch between d-pad and analog input on the joystick on the fly.
 

PBJ-
It seems that the timer board with VGA out John posted has the ability to change between a few digital and analog modes.  Care to help us figure out where to buy a few from to test how the controls and VGA work?  I've seen threads where you have found all sort of stuff from sellers in china.

[rCadeGaming]

The ghosting only affects PC users that don't have PS/2 ports.

Nothing besides X-Arcade can switch between d-pad and analog input on the joystick on the fly.

 

You sure the problem is with USB and not PS/2?  Anyhow newer motherboards are starting to drop PS/2 ports.

The X-Arcade doesn't support analog joysticks, so you shouldn't normally be trying to map analog controls to the digital joysticks.  Even if you do, the Cthulhu does have some provisions for this.

Anyhow, the X-Arcade is compatible with half as many systems as the MC Cthulhu.  This should be a huge deal breaker.

[johnm]

Looks like the Teeso board is a tad expensive, Sharpfork was quoted $70 + bank charges + shipping, total $123 not including any import charges.  After some more searching i found that the xbox timer boards on ebay also go by the cg1145 name, googling cg1146 brought up
http://www.china-capitals.com/?fproduct/l2/i119



Bar the VGA port and left circuitry this looks pretty much like the xbox timers selling on ebay, i've emailed the site and ebay seller so hopefully i'll get a responce from one of them.

[sharpfork]

Thanks for the update.  Something like this with a slg might be a nice setup for coinops.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

[johnm]

If i they get back to me and it is cheap enough i intend to set it up with a SLG soldered to the bottom of the vga output.

For people who would rather buy then build the cheapest (bar building your own) out there is Bootsectors retroVGA http://shop.brunofreitas.com/ (Brazillian Reais not US$), for people who build there are schematics on his site to do that too.

[johnm]

Result!!!!

Who said perserverance doesn't pay off. Been quoted $45 + shipping.

[Malenko]

Result!!!!

Who said perserverance doesn't pay off. Been quoted $45 + shipping.

looks like this thing (cept for the xbox plugs)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/180833084570

[johnm]

It looks like a PCB if thats what you mean, this not only converts the xbox video to vga, it takes the sound and amplifies it and most importantly, converts arcade joystick/button controls via the jamma interface into something the xbox understands. All for £30ish, makes building an xbox flavoured bartop even more appealable.

[johnm]

The xbox timer with Jamma interface and VGA out is now available on Ebay.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/180947491613?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

[sharpfork]

The xbox timer with Jamma interface and VGA out is now available on Ebay.  http://www.ebay.com/itm/180947491613?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

Thanks for the info! I'm going to order one of these and see what the quality is like.  One of these + one of Bruno's RetroVGA SLG's hooked up to a LCD might be a nice setup.
http://www.brunofreitas.com/?q=node/36