Dreamcast NTSC issues

[Marky_1979]

Im fron the UK and I have just bought an NTSC Dreamcast and cannot get it to work on my pal tv I thought that most modern tv's would support NTSC imput these days and as this tv is brand new it confused me. After looking into the menu options I cannot change region on the tv.

My question now is can I buy a adaptor or do something to convert the NTSC signal to pal so it will work on my tv and if there is such a product would it affect how the game plays, would it have slow down issues etc?

[Level42]

Oops.....hope this is solvable since I too ordered a US dreamcast, and I live in Holland....
However, what you forget to indicate: what connection did you use to hook it up to the TV ?

Also: How is the mains connected to the DC ? I think from pics I saw on the net the power supply is within the DC itself. Does this simply accept our 230 V mains ?

Thanks !

[Marky_1979]

Iv used every type of connection scart, the 3 pin one av  they all give the same results. I have no problem with the power cable as i have a step down converter that came with my import gamecube. 

[Level42]

Rats....so I need a converter like that, mmm I hoped it would use a power supply that could switch between all voltages (like laptops)....o well I will figure that out when it arrives....

So what is the result ? Do you get anything at all ?

Indeed, I thought it would work on a modern TV no problem as well....in the end it doesnt'really matter for me, cause I want to use it on my arcade monitor, but I guess I;ll play it on my TV for some time first....

[Level42]

Mmm, i can also replace the power supply with one that can use 230V....
There's also an interesting remark about stepdown converters here:

http://www.lik-sang.com/faq.php?browse=1&products_id=77&categories_id=32#answer1211
Scroll down, one of the last questions mentions step-down converters with a DV causing trouble.....do you have sound or other indications the DC itself is running properly ?

[Marky_1979]

your running it on a arcade monitor wow how do you do that? i have no problems at all running dreamcast i can get it running on my pc monitor just my tv has issues. think your power supply will be fine.

do i need a ntsc to pal signal convertor then?

do they even exist or did i make that up lol?

[Stingray]

do i need a ntsc to pal signal convertor then?

do they even exist or did i make that up lol?

I don't believe that such an item does in fact exist. I have been known to be incorrect on occasion, as Peale could verify.

-S

[Marky_1979]

im aware of a pal to ntsc signal convertor but i am struggling to find a ntsc to pal converter 

[Dave_K.]

Rats....so I need a converter like that, mmm I hoped it would use a power supply that could switch between all voltages (like laptops)....o well I will figure that out when it arrives....

You can buy a universal Dreamcast Power Supply replacement board for $16 at lik-sang. Supports 80v to 240v input.
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=32&products_id=77&

[Level42]

your running it on a arcade monitor wow how do you do that? i have no problems at all running dreamcast i can get it running on my pc monitor just my tv has issues. think your power supply will be fine.

do i need a ntsc to pal signal convertor then?

do they even exist or did i make that up lol?

Sure they exist, those things are (more -were- with current digital formats I guess) mostly used in broadcast situations. They also deteriate picture quality. A "true" NTSC-PAL convertor would even have to make 60Hz into 50, but most modern tv's can handle 60Hz no problem.  I cannot imagine the price of something like that, but believe me that you can easily buy several brand new european DC's for that amount.

Could you describe what picture you get when you try to select the right input. DId you try S-VHS cable as well ?

Not really sure about running it on an arcade monitor actualy. There should be two possible ways: if the DC properly outputs RGB signals (got a SCART cable already HOPE this uses RGB) then it's a breeze to connect that signal to the arcade monitor. Else it should be possible to use a VGA converter.

How do you connect the DC to your PC monitor ? The PC monitor also requires RGB signals(although with much higer refresh rates).

Think some people here have done it, not 100% sure...

Somebody now a good site with HARDWARE info about the DC ?

[Level42]

Uh.,.....duhhhhh:

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_dreamcast.shtml#Arcademonitor

[Level42]

And even more Duuuuhhhhhhhh:

Problem solved ?

http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=29&products_id=69&

[Level42]

Actualy you would need this:
http://www.lik-sang.com/info.php?category=29&products_id=502&

Since you're in the UK, but is indicates temporary not in stock......wonder how temporary ?

Anyway, this might be your best bet ?

[Marky_1979]

thanks alot my friend

[Level42]

Welcome May have saved my possible problem as well. Will let you know what my results will be...

Still: How do you hook-up your DC to your PC monitor. Do you need a converter or something, or just a cable ?

Thx

[Marky_1979]

many years ago i bought a vga adapter it looks amazing through a monitor. Try ebay im sure you will get hold of one shenmue and soul calibur wow out this world.

I tried running an s vhs through a special scart adapter i have (last throw of the dice) and it works

Colour with perfect picture

[dennis808]

I heard you could do a really simple/small modification to the DC VGA box to make it compatible with arcade monitors, I believe you just had to remove 1 wire/pin from the output...

maybe these links will help:

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

...found it!

There is a simpler alternative for hacking a Dreamcast to an arcade monitor (other than the RGB/SCART method above). Its possible to hack a Dreamcast VGA Box to output at 15khz. If you studied the Dreamcast AV pinout you will notice a similar "jumper" method (to that of the Xbox) is used for setting the sync rate. If pin 6 (or both 6 and 7) are grounded the VGA box outputs a 31.5Khz VGA/RGB signal. But if ONLY pin 7 is grounded, the box will output a 15khz signal. So all you have to do is disconnect pin 6 (so it never touches ground). To do this, open up the VGA box, and cut the pin 6 wire where it connects to the VGA box pcb. [You can optionally install a toggle switch if you still want it to function as normal VGA box. You should also use a Multimeter on the Continuity Test setting to trace pin 6 from the DC connector end to where is meets the VGA Box pcb. Also make sure when you cut the wire at the PCB, to leave enough room to re-splice the wire back together if you cut the wrong one -- which is a common mistake by looking at the pinout of the cable backwards.] All that's left is cutting a 9-pin VGA monitor cable (VGA pin out here) to splice the r/g/b/h/v/gnd to your arcade monitor. If you are using a Jamma connector (which only has a connection for composite sync), then twist the Hor and Vert sync lines together and connect it to the composite sync on the Jamma connector.

good luck hacking the box!

[Dave_K.]

That quote is from the BYOAC Game Consoles FAQ (I know because I wrote it).

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_consoles.shtml#dc2arcade

[Marky_1979]

What output is the vga box currently at? isnt the pic better as it is or does it look even better on an arcade monitor?

[Level42]

I tried running an s vhs through a special scart adapter i have (last throw of the dice) and it works

Colour with perfect picture

So this now works on your regular TV ? great ! What kind of special Scart adapter is that ?

[Marky_1979]

its one i use to plug my pc into the tv its like a normal scart with 3 hole for the yellow red and white leads to go into but there is also a s vhs imput as well

[Level42]

UHmmm, actualy, when you use a SCART cable for a DC, the DC SHOULD BETTER be outputting 15 Khz, or you end up with one fried TV-set.

So I thought cutting the scart cable and connecting the RGB signals to a JAMMA connector would do the trick. The only problem is the syncing signals. My lucky guess is that my arcade monitor will be ok with it, if not, I'll do the LM trick...very easy !

[JB]

What output is the vga box currently at? isnt the pic better as it is or does it look even better on an arcade monitor?

VGA box outputs at standard VGA, which is 640*480@60Hz.

Progressive scan, of course.

[Marky_1979]

so thats why i get a border on my pc monitor. is there a way to get it at the same quality but bigger say 1024 x 768 ?

[JB]

so thats why i get a border on my pc monitor. is there a way to get it at the same quality but bigger say 1024 x 768 ?

Upsampler?
The DC only outputs 640*480, and there's no way to change it.

I'd just adjust the monitor to minimize the border.

[Marky_1979]

got ya so what happens when people use arcade monitors what output do they get im assuming its not the same as there would be no point get 28" = monitors if size can only be 640x480

[JB]

got ya so what happens when people use arcade monitors what output do they get im assuming its not the same as there would be no point get 28" = monitors if size can only be 640x480

If I recall, the sub-VGA resolution used for TVs and most arcade games are the preferred res for arcade monitors, even if you have one that can do VGA and up.

[kujina]

Seems like your TV is a bit of a disappointment, I live in the UK and have owned a Japanese Dreamcast since 2000. I use it on an oldish Panasonic TV with an RGB scart cable it looks great and I certainly would mess around with adaptors etc, you should change your TV, CRT's are pretty cheap now!

[Level42]

Just received my NTSC DC from the US and it works fine with my 3 year old Philips TV. However I had to connect it to my EXT1 SCART connector, which is only logical since this is the one that supports RGB....maybe that's part of the confusion ?
Not all SCART connecors on a TV support all signals (like RGB mostly)