Help with Popeye PCB

[flash_shift]

I’ve tried all kinds of combinations, and cannot seem to get Popeye to give me video. Popeye PCB going through Mike’s Arcade Jamma adapter, going through Supergun, 9DIN to SCART into OSSC. With some settings, I’m able to at least get a green led, but still no output. I know the game works. Have all the correct adapters. The OSSC tells me 15.74kHz, 61.39Hz, 513-i. Any help would be appreciated.

• This topic was modified 2 months ago by flash_shift.
• This topic was modified 2 months ago by flash_shift.

[BuckoA51]

That’s quite an unusual signal, remember the OSSC is only a line multiplier, it can’t change e.g 61.39Hz to 59.94 Hz which is the PAL standard.

513-i gives me pause though, I don’t think this board is interlace, is it? That does seem to be detected wrong. What type of OSSC do you have, is it Firmware 0.x branch or 1.x, and can you try connecting Popeye into the AV3 input somehow?

[flash_shift]

Thanks for the reply. It is indeed interlaced. The 513 is also interesting, as the resolution is 512×448. I’m running 1.12 on the latest 1.8 hardware. I’ll have to order a cable to get it into AV3. Right now I’m going 8DIN or 9DIN to SCART (have tried two different superguns). I may be able to go to AV2 with stuff I have lying around, if there’s any advantage to trying that.

[flash_shift]

It looks like even the best upscalers struggle with Popeye https://nicole.express/2023/yes-popeye-the-sailor-man.html

[marqs]

If you have green LED lit while in Line2x mode, it indicates OSSC is able to sync. Are you sure your monitor is capable of displaying 513-line 61.39Hz 480p signal? The output clock may be still jittery if the PCB doesn’t have periodic sync, but you might be able to mitigate it by reducing ADC PLL BW from sync opt.

[flash_shift]

The monitor may not support it. Is there a way to re-sample to a different format?

• This reply was modified 2 months ago by flash_shift.

[flash_shift]

FWIW I don’t get a green light by default. I have to adjust the H sample rate to around 420-434. It also seems to auto detect at 720×240.

• This reply was modified 2 months ago by flash_shift.

[BuckoA51]

The monitor may not support it. Is there a way to re-sample to a different format?

No, not with an OSSC classic. The Pro probably could but, this is such a problematic board I wouldn’t go buy a Pro just to find that it struggles with this particular game too.

[marqs]

Do you refer to H/V active of selected preset with “720z240”? That is indeed the default area for 480i field, but now that you mention it, you should reduce V.backporch from 15 to e.g. 5 to ensure active are doesn’t get cut due to lower than normal line count (256.5 vs 262.5).

If the green LED is not on by default, then there is some irregularity with the incoming sync. You can try increasing H-PLL pre/post coast if the irregularity is only temporal during blanking.  Without clock regeneration HW there is very little OSSC can do if it’s not temporal, unfortunately. It then gets reflected as jitter in output clock which largely reduces compatibility with modern displays.

[flash_shift]

so with everything else default, PLL Pre-Coast to 2 gives me sync. Still no video 🙁 I’ve played all over the board with sampling.

• This reply was modified 1 month, 4 weeks ago by flash_shift.

[flash_shift]

Bought an OSSC Pro (for other reasons), but apparently even this cannot seem to get video out for Popeye. Not even a frame. I can get the red light to go out by adjusting PLL coast and or amplification. But no output options I select work. It flashes modes quickly as if it’s going to display something but never does. Board is working.

[marqs]

Flashing modes in the front character OLED even if red LED is off? Do you not get any picture with framelock disabled via the following settings?

* Operating mode = Scaler
* Framelock = Off (60Hz)
* Aspect ratio = 4:3

[flash_shift]

Thank you! That got me there. I hadn’t turned on the output scaler. After that i am able to fine tune the picture.

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