SCART cables for Hydra

[exec]

I’m currently trying to decide whether to get a Hydra or a gscartsw, but since the latter isn’t readily available, and customs in Germany can be really bothersome and expensive, a Hydra would be far easier for me to get. However, in the very few posts I could find about the Hydra, I read that it’s a little picky with the cables it accepts, and Lotharek, its creator, told me that it will work great, as long as you don’t use “hokus pokus” SCART cables.

Specifically, I’m using the cheapest RGB cables from Retro Gaming Cables that I can get for each of my consoles that I want to route through the Hydra, but Lotharek mentioned that those are “hokus pokus in majority”. My questions, for anyone who has a Hydra are: Which cables are you using? Have you experienced any problems? And do you have experience with the compatibility between the Hydra and RGB SCART cables from Retro Gaming Cables?

[BuckoA51]

I wonder what he means by “hocus pocus” exactly? RGC’s cables are usually fine, especially his more recent designs as he takes on board feedback from the community when improving and re-designing the cables.

[exec]

His exact words were: “SIMPEL RGB CABLES ONLY – no hokus pokus ones” and “[RGC’s] are hokus pokus in majority – extra electronics like sync stripper inside..”

Edit: I guess his FAQ for the Hydra also addresses this.
“for 99% percent You have sync stripper installed. Please, remeber and keep in mind, that HYDRA has already fitted sync stipper and will not lock on scanning on input with clean sync.”
“problematic are Your cables. Please, keep in mind, that hydra has built in many features, like sync stripper, signal termination, low/high pass filters. Please, use regular and simple cables to connect Your systems. ”

I’d like to know how much of a problem this really is with the RGC cables. If I had to get new cables for all my consoles for 100$+ I might as well import a gscartsw, that would cost about the same, but it has a better reputation.

[BuckoA51]

If there are sync strippers inside the cables then it says so on the sales page.

Seems odd he’d include a sync stripper and low pass filters etc IN the switch, there is no need for such functionality and this should be up to the user if they need it or not for their equipment.

[exec]

Yea, I think so too. I guess he built it for his specific use-cases, and not for general use. Which is kinda ironic, seeing how the Hydra is actively sold in online shops, while the seemingly more general use applicable gscartsw is supposedly sold at almost no profit in very limited runs.

I’ll probably try to get my hands on a gscartsw if they become available again next month. It seems much more well established and better geared towards consoles. Even if I have to go through customs…

I’d still like to know how well the Hydra really works though.

[BuckoA51]

I have one here I tested briefly, it seemed to work OK with my “hocus pocus” cables 🙂

[Damn-Deal-Done]

Hello. Could I please get some info on this. Close to buying a Hydra but unfortunately I bought all CSYNC cables from RGC, just because I was relatively ignorant about the subject.

Bucko51 do you have CSYNC cables that you tried with Hydra and was there any issues?

Cheers

[BuckoA51]

I definitely had some CSYNC cables in the mix and Hydra worked ok with them.

[alexmc]

Hi,

Did any of you ended up buying the Hydra?
Which cables are you using?

Thanks

[megatron-uk]

Ditto. Mine is proving to be far more trouble than it is worth. Of 16 systems I can only get 5 to work – the rest refuse to to sync, even though they work perfectly when connected directly to an OSSC.

[Author]

Posts