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Main => Consoles => Topic started by: niggenz on August 15, 2005, 03:40:32 pm

Title: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: niggenz on August 15, 2005, 03:40:32 pm
According to GamesX.com, the Sega Saturn outputs SYNC natively:

http://www.gamesx.com/avpinouts/saturnav.htm

If this is right, then the only problem would be either fabricate a mini-DIN connector with the correct pinout to connect to RGB+GRND/SYNC of an arcade monitor (I haven't been able to find a 10 pin mini-DIN connector anywhere) or hack the system's internal PCB.

However, MAMEworld.net is saying that in order to get the Saturn to hook up to an arcade monitor, I am going to need to strip SYNC from the composite video signal with an LM1881N  circuit:

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/arc_sat2.html

The question is which site is correct?  I would love to be playing one of the many great shmups like Radiant Silvergun, Batsugun,  etc. on my cab sometime soon.  And if someone could direct me to a sight that sells a 10 pin mini-DIN male connector.........................

Title: Re: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: niggenz on August 17, 2005, 12:57:04 am
Since I am not electronics tech savvy enough to even make the simple LM1881N circuit, I figured that way to go was the GamesX.com method.  I was re-assured that this is the way to go when I ran across an unrelated thread started by Mr. Megalo stating that he has a Saturn hooked up to a 15 khz monitor and was able to do that since the Saturn outputs composite synch. 

So after breaking apart my 9 pin min-DIN connector, I hooked it up to a male VGA cable via breakout.  And I almost was sucessful.  In order to hold the pins in place, shot hot silicone into the mini-DIN barrel once the pins were positioned in place and the barrel placed over the pins.  It worked!  Only thing was after removal and re-insertion, the sync pin broke and I couldn't get a stable picture.  I'll try again after I am able to pick up another mini-DIN connector at the electronics shop. 
Title: Re: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: Mr-Megalo on August 17, 2005, 06:28:15 am
to my knowledge, the Saturn is the only console that I know of that can ge hooked up to an arcade monitor without needing to build the lm1881 circuit.
Title: Re: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: niggenz on August 17, 2005, 07:00:33 pm
Hey Mr-Megalo,

How were you able to go from the Saturn's AV connector to the arcade monitor?  Did you find a 10 pin min-DIN connector anywhere?

Title: Re: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: ChadTower on August 17, 2005, 08:06:07 pm

Is there a reason you can't just hack a Saturn cable?
Title: Re: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: niggenz on August 17, 2005, 11:59:19 pm
I have checked the pin configuration for a Saturn AV cable, S-video cabe, and RF cable.  The pin configuration of all 3 types of cables only contain the corresponding pins needed for each type of video plus R/L audio.  None have pins for RGB and RGB cables are hard to come by in the US.
Title: Re: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: Mr-Megalo on August 18, 2005, 09:25:22 am
niggenz - to answer your question, I used an RGB Scart cable that I had with my Saturn and I simply tapped the RGB and sync lines by using a female scart socket and soldering from the correct pins to a JAMMA fingerboard

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SEGA-SATURN-SCART-LEAD-CABLE-21-PIN-NEW_W0QQitemZ8212309593QQcategoryZ3654QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

ships worldwide :)
Title: Re: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: ChadTower on August 18, 2005, 09:54:11 am

Ah, there's your answer then:  a Saturn SCART cable.
Title: Re: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: niggenz on August 19, 2005, 02:18:31 am
Ok, so the remaining problem is to import the SCART cable.  But the question now is, which pin from the SCART connector is the synch pin?

(http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/images/scart.gif)

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/arc_sat4.html
Title: Re: Question: Sega Saturn to Arcade Monitor
Post by: Mr-Megalo on August 25, 2005, 04:04:55 am
Ok, so the remaining problem is to import the SCART cable. But the question now is, which pin from the SCART connector is the synch pin?

(http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/images/scart.gif)

http://www.mameworld.net/pc2jamma/arc_sat4.html

pin 20