Important questions about the OSSC

[Scar]

Hi everybody!

I am about to purchase an OSSC to connect my PC Engine Turbo Duo-R and Neo Geo AES to my LG 40UB800V-ZA 4K TV. I have a few questions and hope the community can help me answer them (or at least a few of them):

The Turbo Duo is a modded machine, imported from Japan and was modified by doujindance. It came with a modded RGB cable with an integrated sync splitter/stripper (doujindance used both terms in the description) and an LPF-switch on the back. For further reference, I’ve added the link for the full description on eBay:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/PC-Engine-DUO-RX-RGB-Component-Ypbpr-Region-Free-Sync-cleaner-Jailbar-fix-Recap/192545597326?hash=item2cd49ca78e:g:B7QAAOSw3bxa-o5w.

This part of the description leads to my first question:

To Scart switcher user:
Included Scart RGB cable has installed sync separator IC called LM1881 as described in eBay item page. If you use Scart switcher that has installed sync stripper so RGB picture may tremble on screen. In this case, sync signal line has to bypassed to avoid an IC. If do it in Scart RGB cable side, move the sync wire to 20th pin in refer the following video. This work requre solderling. Or if your Scart switcher can switching to sync stripper ON/OFF, set it to OFF.
Video: https://youtu.be/VGSwoz0zgC8

Q1: Will I have to move the sync wire to properly run my PC Engine with the OSSC, as described above? Or are there other options OSSC-wise so I don’t have to solder the wire? Will I face any other complications with this modded RGB-cable and the OSSC?

Q2: Will my Neo Geo AES US-Version (low serial number, around 5000, Unibios 3.3, NO RGB mods etc.), connected with an RGB cable work with the OSSC and my TV set LG 40UB800V-ZA 4K TV? Right now, without the OSSC, it seems like there is a part of the upper side on the screen missing.

Q3: If I purchase a OSSC the next few days, which version of the firmware will be preinstalled on the unit?

Q4: If my consoles, TV and OSSC aren’t compatible with each other, will I be able to send the unit back an get a refund?

I hope you guys can help me answering these questions. Thanks in advance!

[paulb_nl]

Q1: In that video he shows 4 designs he made. Only 1 is correct with 75 Ohm to ground on the sync input and 470 Ohm on the output. If you are using one without the 470Ohm resistor it might damage your OSSC because the output voltage is too high.

Can you post pictures of the PCB inside the SCART cable?

Using a sync stripper is generally a bad idea unless your equipment needs it.

[Harrumph]

Q4: yes, I believe Bucko keeps a no-questions-asked refund policy as long as the return request is within reasonable time. You will have to pay return shipping yourself, however.

[Scar]

@ paul_nl
thank you very much for answering. I’ve added two pics of the RGB cable’s PCB (both sides – see links at bottom). Can you figure out from the pics if it contains the 470Ohm resistor you were talking about?

So you think having a sync stripper inside my RGB cable is a bad idea in general? Do I have to solder the wire from sync to the 20th pin in order to run my PCEngine with the OSSC properly? Or should I get a new RGB cable without a build in sync stripper?

https://ibb.co/mCq8Y8
https://ibb.co/mP25D8

Thanks in advance!

[Scar]

@ paul_nl
thank you very much for answering. I’ve added two pics of the RGB cable’s PCB (both sides – see links at bottom). Can you figure out from the pics if it contains the 470Ohm resistor you were talking about?

So you think having a sync stripper inside my RGB cable is a bad idea in general? Do I have to solder the wire from sync to the 20th pin in order to run my PCEngine with the OSSC properly? Or should I get a new RGB cable without a build in sync stripper?

https://ibb.co/mCq8Y8
https://ibb.co/mP25D8

Thanks in advance!

[paulb_nl]

The output of the sync stripper in that cable is directly connected to pin 20 so the voltage will be much too high for the OSSC and other SCART equipment.

You can move the sync wire to pin 20 but the output of the sync stripper will still be connected also. I don’t know if that will cause any issues even though it wouldn’t have any input anymore. The safest way is to move the wire and also either lift the sync stripper output pin or cut the trace going to pin 20.

For the best quality video its recommended to buy a new fully shielded cable without sync stripper. If you got the component cable thats in the eBay listing you can also use that with the OSSC.

[Scar]

@ Harrumph

thanks for answering, that’s good to know!

[Scar]

@paulb_nl
Thank you for taking the time to help me answer my questions. I found this RGB cable on ebay:

https://www.ebay.at/itm/PC-Engine-NEC-8-pin-DIN-SCART-cable-RGB-TOP-QUALITY-double-shielded/173315939576?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649

Do you think it will fulfill my needs?

What does the sync stripper in general do (enhancing the video signal?)? I think I have a basic idea, but couldn’t find specific info regarding this cable and the included sync stripper. Do I understand it right that the OSSC has an integrated sync stripper already?

Thanks and o/

[paulb_nl]

Composite video has Luma, Chroma and Sync going through the same wire. The sync stripper will remove everything but Sync. This is only needed for devices that need the separate sync signal. The digitizer in the OSSC can extract sync by itself so there is no need for a sync stripper in the cable.

The chroma signal in composite video will interfere with the RGB signals and cause diagonal lines in the video. You need a cable with individually shielded wires to prevent this. I don’t think the cable in that eBay listing has shielding on the individual wires.

The Packapunch cables from Retrogamingcables are known to be properly shielded: https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/pc-engine/PC-ENGINE-PCE-DUE-turbografx-16-nec-core-grafx-PACKAPUNCH-PRO-rgb-scart-video-av-cable

If you are using a SCART switch then you also need to use a shielded cable from the switch to the OSSC. https://www.retrogamingcables.co.uk/audio-video-accessories/scart-leads/euroscart-male-to-euroscart-male-rgb-scart-cable-pro

[Scar]

@paulb_nl

Cool thanks. Just to make sure, I need the RGB-cable WITHOUT the CSYNC, right? What I need is the sync over composite version, is that correct?

[paulb_nl]

That is correct. The cable with csync has a sync stripper in it so you don’t want that one.

[Author]

Posts