GS Mode Selector: Development & Feedback

[dlanor]

What is this thing? If it is SCART-RGB to VGA adaptor

No. It is a 'Component to VGA adaptor', like it clearly says on the PCB.
While they may use the same output pins, the component signals are very different from RGB.

why it has so much parts?

What do you mean by 'much parts' ?
Looking at ICs I only see a voltage regulator and a hex inverter (probably needed to get some logic levels right) in addition to the LM1881. And as for several of the capacitors, such are mandatory both for the voltage regulator part and for some of the signal coupling.

I've made VGA cable for PS2 a long ago on LM1881N which work with Xploder (did not test with GSM).

Making a cable that delivers VGA signal while the PS2 is generating signals with VGA levels and timing is one thing, and I guess this is what your home-made adaptor does. But a true 'Component to VGA adaptor' should also do it when the PS2 is NOT generating signals with VGA levels and timing, but simply delivering normal component signals as suitable for a TV. And that is an entirely different adaption task.

That said, I'm not sure how that unit really works and to what extent it can deliver a useful VGA output for various types of signals on its inputs. But it does seem clear from some of the printing on the PCB that it is intended for use with GSM.

My own VGA adaptor cable for GSM has no extra components at all, but just wire, which works fine when you have a Sync-On-Green VGA monitor input which accepts the PS2 signal levels. But this will of course produce a good picture only when GSM (or similar program) is actively generating a VGA-type output signal.

PS2 has 5 Volts in AV Multi Out - Playstation A/V Pinout

So what ? Apparently the designers of the other adaptor felt that they wanted a supply voltage regulated independently of what the PS2 delivers.

Best regards:

[d3adliner]

Has anyone gotten the PAL release of Forbidden Siren 2 working with this on an NTSC PS2 and HDTV via component cables or otherwise? Freezes on videos for me.

[urbigbro]

Has anyone gotten the PAL release of Forbidden Siren 2 working with this on an NTSC PS2 and HDTV via component cables or otherwise? Freezes on videos for me.

Many HDTVs have a setting where you can change the SD display input signal to PAL, since the same TV is sold worldwide.
I'd check to see if you can do that before relying on GSM.
If that is not an option, you can see if the TV supports RGB on the component inputs, and use GSM with a VGA mode. If your TV doesn't support this, you can get the appropriate adapters to use it on the TV's VGA input.

[Genesis Knight]

Are you guys getting close to cutting a new build? Can't wait to see the new GUI.

[Jay-Jay]

dlanor, I was wondering if you had a chance to explore the app called Simple Media System (SMS) for the PS2. The reason why I ask, is that it has a feature that enables us to change the Display Settings to up to 1080i and it still fills up the screen of our HDTVs.

In order to get there, when you load the SMS, press Start, open Display Settings, toggle (keep pressing X) the TV settings until you reach DTV 1080i. You may have to adjust the image so it's centered, but this can later be saved so you don't have to do this again. You will also notice that no matter what aspect resolution you choose, it will always fill the screen quite good.

It has the following resolutions to choose from:
(keep in mind that if your screen goes black, that means it's a setting that your TV doesn't support, but keep pressing X to skip to the next resolution.)

Auto
NTSC
PAL
DTV 480p
DTV 576p
DTV 720p
DTV 1080i
VESA (60Hz)
VESA (75Hz)

I'm wondering if you could perhaps explore this, so when we choose that setting in GS Mode Selector, it will also fill in the screen for the games we play. Or at least it can inspire on the new GUI.

[No.47]

@Jay-Jay:

For the new GUI, what you described should definitely be possible, since dlanor and doctorxyz have full control over that (at least in theory).

For games it unfortunately is a whole different matter... basically the problem is, that GSM can only upscale the games internal resolution by integer factors. Please see page 147 of this thread for a detailed discussion of why we sometimes get these ugly black borders when enforcing 'HDTV' modes like 480p, 720p and 1080i

Best regards

[RUT Dark Ronin]

No. It is a 'Component to VGA adaptor', like it clearly says on the PCB.
While they may use the same output pins, the component signals are very different from RGB.

dlanor, mentioned schema is not actual component to VGA. It only contains sync-split route (1881 & 7404), which makes PS2 work on non-SoG monitors, but can carry only initial RGB-type signals. I've figured this clearly on my PS3, where YPrPb (YUV) signal in 720p through this circle makes screen green-opaqued, since most monitors correctly displays only native RGB signals. True conversion from component to VGA can be performed at LMH1251 from NSC, which designed exactly for such case. Since, I've already made myself one cable, I can share schematics with you just a little bit later, though it's pretty simple.(Oh, just look for a datasheet, shure you'll figure things out by yourself clearly) If you wish, of course. This way, my PS3 shows 720p Component signal on any RGB (SoG or not, no matter) monitor, and such resolution cannot be obtain through RGB mode (console simply hasn't anything except for 576p in RGB).

[No.47]

[offtopic]

@dlanor, doctorxyz:
there is a thread in the open ps2 loader forum you're maybe interested in...
click me (OPL 0.9 in "HIGH DEFINITION"with DTV & VGA video-output in "Display Settings". Sounds Cool and can come true....)
wouldn't it be great, if some opl developer(s) would join you?

[/offtopic]

[RUT Dark Ronin]

Heh, I think they both already at this one)

[ikk]

hello and thanx for this graet tool.
ive tried various games in 480p and most of them work but one game im interested doesnt work however, it crashes on intro movie when video mode is forced to 480p.

i was amazed once when somehow i managed to skip intro movie with gamepad buttons before it started to play and game started in 480p and worked without any issues.

since then ive never been able to repeat that.

is there any way i can patch ps2 game to not play any in-game movies?
game is Tekken Tag Tournament and i believe movies it plays are MPEG-2 format (managed to find some of them in main game file using hex editor).
im using GSM with OPL and start my game from HDD.