How Many Cables?

[bamf226]

I’m still waiting for my OSSC to arrive, so while I am waiting I want to have the cables ready for hookup. I have a number of consoles that I want to use with the OSSC. Do I need cables for each system to plug into the OSCC or can I use one cable and swap consoles? Ideally I would like to have it so there is as little swapping as possible. Is there some type of switch set-up I can use that the consoles plug into and then one output to the OSSC?

[BuckoA51]

Something like a Hydra would probably be your best bet. https://www.lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=124

[bamf226]

So I would need individual cables for each system (composite to SCart?) and a cable for output to OSSC (SCart to SCart?). Is that right?

[nmalinoski]

You will need RGB SCART cables for each system you want to connect to the OSSC, and you need to make sure those consoles either natively support RGB output (or YPbPr/component, which I believe will be incompatible with the Hydra) or that they are modded to do so, because the OSSC only accepts RGB and YPbPr–it will not accept composite, S-Video (YC) or RF video; and a passive composite->SCART adapter will not decode composite to RGB.

[bamf226]

I believe the only console I have that doesn’t natively support RGB is my NES. All the other consoles (SNES, Gamecube, N64, Genesis, Wii, X360) would just need a component to SCART cables, correct? I’m looking into my options for the NES.

[nmalinoski]

Eh, not quite. Assuming you have all US-market consoles, I think the Genesis and SNES are going to be the only ones where you can simply buy a cable.

• SNES: The AV port differs between NTSC and PAL–make sure you get a cable that matches your console’s region
• GameCube: Only the PAL GameCube supports RGB, and then only 15kHz. If you intend to use 480p on your GameCube, it will need to either be an NTSC model or a region-modded PAL console (DOL-001, with the Digital AV port on the back), paired with the official component cables; or you will need to have your console modded with citrus3000psi’s GCDual board, which provides both RGB and HDMI output, and additionally region-modded if a PAL console. (I believe all of the PAL games had progressive scan modes disabled/removed.)
• Nintendo 64: No N64s natively support RGB; without modification, the best you’re going to get is S-Video on an NTSC console (I’m not aware of S-Video support on PAL consoles). If you have an early console with a serial starting with NS1, you might be able to install a simple ~$30 USD RGB bypass board to get RGB on the AV port. If you don’t have one of these early models, or you require deblur, you can get an N64RGB, or possibly borti’s N64 Advanced RGB board, should that ever be generally produced and released.
  • Of course, you could always skip RGB altogether and install an UltraHDMI, which can also be paired with a cheap active HDMI to VGA adapter to get lagless RGB output without a second mod installed. (You’d really only need both RGB and HDMI mods installed if you want simultaneous RGB and HDMI output.)
• Wii: RGB support is limited to 15kHz on PAL consoles. If you want to use 480p/576p, you will either need to use YPbPr component, or you will need to modify your console. I believe citrus3000psi is still working on his Wii variant of the GCDual, the WiiDual, which also supports RGB and HDMI output.
• Xbox 360: You can get a SCART cable and get RGB, but I believe it’s the same issue as with the GameCube, Wii, and original Xbox, where you’re only going to get SD. If you need higher resolutions, you can get an official VGA cable for the 360, but you won’t be able to use it with your SCART hardware without something like a VGA to SCART adapter that has an integrated sync combiner.

[Anonymous]

Also worth noting – the SNES Mini/jr. does not natively support RGB. All other SNES’s do. If you have a Mini/jr., it will need an RGB mod.

Strongly suggest to stick with HDMI out for the 360. There’s a video floating around on youtube comparing X360 SCART SD line multiplied, to X360 HDMI HD. HDMI HD looks much better.

If needed, to simplify things, get a 3-in/1-out HDMI splitter, or something that would suit your needs to support your HDMI native devices and OSSC (3-in/2-out, 4-in/2-out, etc etc).

Just my $.02. 🙂

[bamf226]

I didn’t realize things were so complicated when I began this endeavor. Ok, so here is a list of every console I want to hook up to an HDTV. I have an OSSC on its way and it looks like I will likely get a Hydra since it looks like the best option for multiple consoles connected to the OSSC. I’m curious if there is something similar to the HYDRA for component cables, since SCART connections are not common in the US.

Which of these can I connect through standard HDMI (with the proper cables) and which need to be connected to the Hydra/OSSC combo? Those that are connected through the Hydra/OSSC combo, what cables do I need to make that happen?

All of these are NTSC and are unmodded (I do not plan/want to mod)

• Atari 2600 – connect through RF antenna port
• NES – need way to convert from composite to RGB before connecting to OSSC
• SNES
• Genesis
• N64
• Xbox original
• PS2
• X360
• Wii
• Wii U – HDMI

[Harrumph]

You can try to get a Retrotink x2, but availability is limited at the moment. It can take in composite and S-video.

Else refer to nmalinoskis post.

[bamf226]

@Harrumph

@nmalinoski’s post is all for PAL, I have NTSC. Since they are all NTSC, would it be better for me to go composite cable into a composite switch box? Also, doesn’t answer the question on which ones support direct feed to HDMI. Hoping someone can help a newbie out here as I am completely new to this world.

[nmalinoski]

You may want to reread my post, since it refers to the differences between NTSC and PAL, not solely PAL consoles. The gist is that PAL consoles tend to support RGB, while NTSC consoles tend to not support RGB; and, in a lot of cases, where RGB is supported, it’s limited to 15kHz, so no nice 480p gaming without mods.

[bamf226]

Very confusing because your comments in the previous speak specifically of the PAL version being limited

Only the PAL GameCube supports RGB, and then only 15kHz

Wii: RGB support is limited to 15kHz on PAL consoles.

Look, I’m a complete idiot here with a lot of the things you are saying, regardless of PAL or NTSC. I just want to know what I need to do to get these hooked up so I can buy the right cables. I was hoping this community would show mercy and help me do that. If I can’t get help here, where can I go to get help? I’ve looked at pages upon pages of information on the internet and I’m not finding anything helpful.

[Harrumph]

I think you could benefit from reading up on retrorgb.com. He lists most consoles, what their output is and how to hook them up or mod if needed. Read up on composite, s-video, component and RGB and what is different between them.

To your question, tbh answers were already given but I will summarize:
Snes, genesis – can hook up to OSSC via RGB-scart cables.
Xbox, PS2, wii – can hook up to OSSC via component cables.
Nes, n64 – cannot hook up to OSSC
Xbox360, wiiU – use HDMI
Atari 2600 – cannot hook up to hardly anything except CRT, so I’d get that rgb modded anyway

[bamf226]

Will the HD Retrovision component cables for SNES and Genesis not work with OSSC?

[BuckoA51]

They work just fine, you need a 3.5mm too 2xRCA adapter to hook up the audio, but apart from that they are 100% compatible.

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