Problem with S-Video on DC VGA box

[pmc]

My Dreamcast VGA box works great for VGA. But I wanted to use the S-Video output to drive to a nearby TV too.

The picture I get has horizontal lines flipping on it and you can make out the DC picture in there, but it's all messed up. Assuming Soul Calibur is changing the frequency on me, I ejected the CD and re-started. No go. The boot screen and the cartoony menu that follows are both messed up on the TV.

I have not tried the composite connector yet.

Bad VGA-box? It's a Naki I bought on eBay.

[Dave_K.]

Are you trying to run both s-video and VGA at the same time?  Is the tv-pc switch set to TV?  Sorry if these are stupid questions.

[pmc]

Are you trying to run both s-video and VGA at the same time?  Is the tv-pc switch set to TV?  Sorry if these are stupid questions.

Hmmm..... not so stupid after all. Yes, I've been switching the button between TV and VGA, but yes I've also left the monitor turned on and connected during expected sessions with the TV. It's possible that the VGA is interferring with the TV. I'll try to play with that....

Thanks for the stupid questions.  

[pmc]

Nope. That's not it. I get the top 30% of the screen with gray/white and black horizontal interference when the S-video is connected from VGA-box to TV (regardless of the position of the ouput button). they go away if I disconnect the VGA-box but re-appear when reconnected (with DC either on or off).

I'm going to try the composite connector when I find a long enough cable. Otherwise, it looks like I'm going to have to attempt a difficult return to an eBay PowerSeller.  

[Dave_K.]

Yeah, sounds like a bum vga box...sorry.

[pmc]

I checked the composite connector and it works OK. But S-Video doesn't. I get multiple horizontal images that flip and are full of interference.

What could cause that. Should I crack the box and look for a cold solder joint? Or beg for a replacement?

This sucks. I hate to default to composite. Seems to defeat the purpose. Then again, I was happy with composite before I got the VGA box. Maybe I should live with it.

-p

[Dave_K.]

Can you try it out on a different TV with S-Video input?  Just trying to narrow down the possibilities.

[nullb0y]

so your svideo doesnt work if the vga does ill buy it from ya if you want to replace it

[pmc]

Can you try it out on a different TV with S-Video input?  Just trying to narrow down the possibilities.

Yeah. I have a satelite receiver feeding the TV via S-Video so I know it works. I tried a couple of combinations -- enough to lead me to to beleive that the S-vid port on the VGA-box is what's busted. Maybe I got a single pin that's busted or something? So composite works, but S-vid only somewhat works?

anyway.... I tried a couple of different cables and I guess I'll go the nine and drag the setup into another room to try another TV and verify it's the VGA box.

And maybe I'll crack the case and investigate....

[pmc]

so your svideo doesnt work if the vga does ill buy it from ya if you want to replace it

OK. I'll probably take you up on that if I can't fix it or have the seller replace it. VGA works great in my cabinet. Composite analog video works great too. It's just the S-vid that doesn't seem to work.