The ultimate VGA to SCART adapter

[gambaman]

I'm still a bit overwhelmed by MPLAB X IDE though, but i think all i need to do is import the .hex file, then build the project, using the programmer as the device. The target IC being a PIC16F18313 should already be set up, yes?

Sorry, I'm quite unskilled. Probably you can use MPLAB X IDE to write the PIC without having to build the project, but I don't know how. If you are going to rebuild the project then you don't need the .hex file. Just select the target IC, add the source .c code and, just in case, press "Clean and Build Project". Then, to write each PIC press "Make and Program Device".

Also, i was half planning to use this for the MiSTer. Do you know if the H-sync input for the PIC16F18313 will pass composite sync through? Does it depend on what the v-sync port is doing as well?

Sorry, I have no idea. Does the MiSTer have have a composite sync output? If so, why do you need the adapter?  Can't you connect it directly to the composite sync input of the SCART?

Also, great avatar! I have to steal that picture

I'm happy to see you liked it, althought it would probably loose a battle with Usagi 

[buttersoft]

Probably you can use MPLAB X IDE to write the PIC without having to build the project, but I don't know how. If you are going to rebuild the project then you don't need the .hex file. Just select the target IC, add the source .c code and, just in case, press "Clean and Build Project". Then, to write each PIC press "Make and Program Device".

Expect to hear from me in a month when the PICKIT 3.5 arrives and i can't figure it out, lol You updated the source.c file to switch resolutions in 740 lines?

Does the MiSTer have have a composite sync output? If so, why do you need the adapter?  Can't you connect it directly to the composite sync input of the SCART?

https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Main_MiSTer/wiki/Direct-Video
The MiSTer has a setting called direct_video which takes the native video output of the FPGA cores and pumps it out the VGA port on the I/O board, if you have one, and also out the inbuilt HDMI port. It also has an option to turn on composite sync, yes. And with almost any cheap HDMI-to-VGA converter you get 240p RGBS. But the MiSTer will pump composite sync at any res, i think. And not all cores output natively in 240p (some microcomputers, Apple, 486, etc are all higher.)

It would be nice if your adapter would work with composite sync under that environment, i guess. You could also just turn off composite sync and use normal 240p RGBHV however.

I'm happy to see you liked it, althought it would probably loose a battle with Usagi 

To Usagi as he used to be. Nowdays everyone whips his butt, lol

[gambaman]

Expect to hear from me in a month when the PICKIT 3.5 arrives and i can't figure it out, lol You updated the source.c file to switch resolutions in 740 lines?

You mean the countdown_duration parameter? Yes, it has been updated.

The MiSTer has a setting called direct_video which takes the native video output of the FPGA cores and pumps it out the VGA port on the I/O board, if you have one, and also out the inbuilt HDMI port. It also has an option to turn on composite sync, yes. And with almost any cheap HDMI-to-VGA converter you get 240p RGBS. But the MiSTer will pump composite sync at any res, i think. And not all cores output natively in 240p (some microcomputers, Apple, 486, etc are all higher.)

It would be nice if your adapter would work with composite sync under that environment, i guess. You could also just turn off composite sync and use normal 240p RGBHV however.

I'm a bit confused. The adapter generates the composite sync requiered by the TV from Hsync and Vsync. If the MiSTer can generate the composite sync, it does not need this adapter.

[buttersoft]

It would be for protection from signals over 15kHz, in this case. Not a massive gain, i was merely curious as to whether it could handle composite sync.

[gambaman]

It would be for protection from signals over 15kHz, in this case. Not a massive gain, i was merely curious as to whether it could handle composite sync.

I'm sorry it can not handle it. Anyway, maybe the overfrequency protection is useless in this case. I don't know anything about TV internals. Can it be damaged if the frequency is too high?

[buttersoft]

I don't think any TV or PVM from about 1990 onwards would be damaged, they way they capture sync means they'll just fail to sync to anything outside their range. But i'm sure it's best to be safe. Some old Arcade monitors and older computer monitors certainly will be damaged, as they're circuitry was only meant to see 15kHz, and they will still work to capture whatever signal is input and damage themselves. They may not fail instantly, but in some cases the damage can be cumulative.

Those wouldn't have SCART sockets of course, but i'm not using SCART and I'm building a couple of your adapters I was just trying to find out what they can handle and what uses they might be put to.

[gambaman]

I am happy to say I have found two stores selling implementations of this adapter.

One is https://www.arcadexpress.com/es/arcadevga/457-cable-arcade-vga-scart-usb-5v-12v-con-audio.html
This implementation looks almost identical to the original, except the position of the LEDs.

Another one is http://vga-scart-converter-f-15.mozello.es/catalog/params/category/0/item/1443803/
The appearance of the latter is quite different. The switches are more accessible so that the power supply or the aspect ratio of the screen can be changed without having to open the adapter. Another notable difference is that it has a female VGA input and two SCART outputs, one male and one female. The adapter can be connected directly to the TV with the male SCART connector. Alternatively, it can be connected via the female connector using a SCART cable.

[buttersoft]

Hi gambaman, just wanted to say I got the pickit 3 and a few pics have have been giving this vs a whirl! It all works very nicely.  I did modify your original design,  I have one version that has RGBS and the LEDs and it fits into a db15hd backshell - same as a regular db9 backshell. It uses an soic version of the pic chip.

I thought it might be nice to make some 15khz detector dongles, sort of thing. But it's not too hard to add a cable or cables in there as well.

I'll upload the modded design in a couple of days when I get back from holidays

[gambaman]

Hi gambaman, just wanted to say I got the pickit 3 and a few pics have have been giving this vs a whirl! It all works very nicely.  I did modify your original design,  I have one version that has RGBS and the LEDs and it fits into a db15hd backshell - same as a regular db9 backshell. It uses an soic version of the pic chip.

I thought it might be nice to make some 15khz detector dongles, sort of thing. But it's not too hard to add a cable or cables in there as well.

I'll upload the modded design in a couple of days when I get back from holidays

I'm happy to hear that. Please, upload photos.

[buttersoft]

Please let me know if the project doesn't share properly, i haven't had to do this before!
https://easyeda.com/account/project/detail?project=b3a7e09672ef4b80a204782462e99254

can be ordered cheapest from OshPark, but you can also download the gerbers from there and upload to another fab:
https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/tDs1Slud

I built the only SOIC PIC i have right now into one adapter, but the 3d models of the boards look like this:


It solders directly to the back of a DB15HD male solder plug, and should fit inside any backshell, with room to connect a cable too.

[haynor666]

I am happy to say I have found two stores selling implementations of this adapter.

One is https://www.arcadexpress.com/es/arcadevga/457-cable-arcade-vga-scart-usb-5v-12v-con-audio.html
This implementation looks almost identical to the original, except the position of the LEDs.

Another one is http://vga-scart-converter-f-15.mozello.es/catalog/params/category/0/item/1443803/
The appearance of the latter is quite different. The switches are more accessible so that the power supply or the aspect ratio of the screen can be changed without having to open the adapter. Another notable difference is that it has a female VGA input and two SCART outputs, one male and one female. The adapter can be connected directly to the TV with the male SCART connector. Alternatively, it can be connected via the female connector using a SCART cable.

I bought two VGA F-15 some time ago (thanks for help with this gambaman) and so far works very nice. Price is also very good.
One thing I noticed - sometimes device fails to switch back TV signal after resolution change. I have to quit game and start again just to force resolution change. It does happen rarely so not a problem for me. Putting device directly in TV scart is also quite handy - no need for scart cable. This is very comfortable for me because I have TV very close to PC.

[gambaman]

One thing I noticed - sometimes device fails to switch back TV signal after resolution change. I have to quit game and start again just to force resolution change. It does happen rarely so not a problem for me.

Hi. Do you mean that sometimes resolution dosen't change when switching games? Does it happen with any emulator?

[gambaman]

MonochromeVGA is a project from Aitor Gómez to enjoy the charm of those monochrome monitors of the time in VGA displays. It makes it possible to select green, amber or B&W as monochromatic color, among others, as well as to change color to monochrome or vice versa easily. You may ask why I'm posting about it here. The reason is that Aitor has combined the MonochromeVGA with my project to get the MonochromeRGB:



MonochromeRGB allows several possible configurations of use:

-VGA to [optionally monochrome] VGA, without the need for any power supplyA
-SCART to [optionally monochrome] SCART, also without the need for any power supply
-VGA at 15.7Khz horizontal frequency to [optionally monochrome] SCART with selectable 4:3 <-> 16:9 aspect change for compatible TVs, being necessary 5V power supply via microUSB or from the VGA connector itself

I would like to collaborate with Aitor to develop a dual output version for TATE games. Stay tuned.

[haynor666]

One thing I noticed - sometimes device fails to switch back TV signal after resolution change. I have to quit game and start again just to force resolution change. It does happen rarely so not a problem for me.

Hi. Do you mean that sometimes resolution dosen't change when switching games? Does it happen with any emulator?

Sometimes after starting game I get black screen - TV displays OSD info and looks like TV is not getting any signal. Today I've tested many games but it didn't happen even single time.

[gambaman]

One thing I noticed - sometimes device fails to switch back TV signal after resolution change. I have to quit game and start again just to force resolution change. It does happen rarely so not a problem for me.

Hi. Do you mean that sometimes resolution dosen't change when switching games? Does it happen with any emulator?

Sometimes after starting game I get black screen - TV displays OSD info and looks like TV is not getting any signal. Today I've tested many games but it didn't happen even single time.

Strange. I don't know the reason. I'm sorry I can't help you. 

[buttersoft]

So that mod for passthrough dongle i was working on is done. This one is a double-ended version, male HD15 to female HD15. It has the LED's, taking in H-sync and V-sync and allowing C-sync through only when it detects 15kHz, blocking everything else. It allows you to plug in any VGA or VGA-toBNC or -SCART cable to the out end as required.

Points to note:
-You will need to wire the RGB lines from input to output yourself.
-You will need to wire up all the input/output pins on the PCB including all ground lines (just in case)
-You will need to fab the board at 0.8mm thick.
-You will need to either use a PCB HD15 male plug or trim a solder HD15 male plug. (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001418455591.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.1f164c4dN9vaBg)
-You will need to 3D-print the housing for yourself
-Make sure you have the means to program the PIC before doing anything else like ordering parts!

More general info is in this thread

PCB - https://oshpark.com/shared_projects/mMqybOjf
housing - https://anonfiles.com/vbg3f5J7p0/DB9_double_mine_-_complete_tiny_v5_stl

[Gunstar]

@buttersoft - Does your redesign use Zener and Schottky diodes?

[buttersoft]

No it does not. My version is cut down from the original, and uses no diodes. Were you thinking i should add some to this reduced design?

[gambaman]

UPDATE: They do not sell the box version anymore, buy all the design files are available here.

[oomek]

It's really sad they are not making it anymore. I would really sink my teeth in 2 of them F15s
http://vga-scart-converter-f-15.mozello.es/catalog/params/category/0/item/1443803/

[gambaman]

It's really sad they are not making it anymore. I would really sink my teeth in 2 of them F15s
http://vga-scart-converter-f-15.mozello.es/catalog/params/category/0/item/1443803/

The MonochromeRGB converter is more expensive, but you can buy it here: https://hackaday.io/project/176201-monochromergb