Video Recorder (RF Modulator) to Scart via RetroTink to OSCC to console

[ChrisK]

I know this is NOT the correct wiring solution and does not give me the best performance, but this was working fine with signal output and now I have a minor issue.
Rather than modify or upgrade my consoles (Atari) etc to output in HDMI, I have plugged the Coaxial into a VHS recorder, then used SCART to Red/White/Yellow, which feeds into RetroTink then to OSCC which outputs to HDMI to a TV Projector (HDMI). I know this is is NOT going to give me the best signal, but this is what is happening and I don’t know why.

In the past it worked fine, and I got Colour and signal perfectly, however now it is outputting fine, but in mono/black and white?

My OSCC was on an older version of the firmware and I have just upgraded it fine to the current version (which I did today) however I have not updated RetroTink (is it possible or does it need to be done by sending away?).

Anyway, the thing is, I am scanning the VHS record to channel 35/36 and get a perfect picture in mono (no colour) and no amount of fine tuning are bringing the colour to the screen Even the Video Recorder menu is in mono (and normally has a blue background), I did change my projector a while back to one that supports 3D (I no longer have the old one) and the new one is fine on all consoles with HDMI connections (Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii, PS4, Xbox One, Switch), but try as I might I can only get a mono signal from VHS recorder->RetroTink->OSCC->HDMI.

Projector is setting to 50hz and the correct resolution fine as well, and there is no override option in the settings on this.

I would try and do a manual profile and see if I can tweak it that way, but not familiar with OSCC enough to do this, normally it just picks up the signal on AV3 – button 34 on the remote.

Any help would be great!! – All consoles are working fine on my digital TV that does support Coaxial / RF scanning, so its only the projector route that is causing the issue. I don’t want to mod or upgrade / change my consoles in any way from their original state.

Chris

[Zacabeb]

It sounds like the RetroTink input selection has been set to expect YPbPr component input rather than composite.

[ChrisK]

I’ll check, I didnt think it needed to be set, thought it auto-detected…

[ChrisK]

Thanks Zacabeb, that sorted it!!

Whilst again its not the best solution (apart from getting a mod done to it), is there a better way to get a cleaner signal, I know the problem is fact its using Composite, which is not nice, but as I already have RetroTink/OSCC, is there a better way to get RF to Scart or another cleaner signal that pushing it through a VCR?

[BuckoA51]

Honestly that’s probably the best way, you could try swapping RetroTINK for Koryuu to save another analogue digital analogue conversion. You’re never going to clean up the RF signal that much.

[ChrisK]

I realise this, its annoying as I was getting a better signal on my projector prior to me changing the projector, but its displaying all other HDMI signals very clearly in HD (and my old projector was too), but this signal seems worse than it was before, so not sure why its worse now. I even tried two different video recorders and loads of fine tuning. I know the best route would be to get the console(s) converted, I do have a TV with both RF and Digital scanning and I get a far better picture on there with the console, I expect the projector is making it look worse over a TV pic.
Is it worth getting the Koryuu and what sort of % improvement would I get based on the cost? 1%? 5%? 10%?

Chris

[ChrisK]

So I would need to put Koryuu for the yellow Composite and use the red/white through RetroTink as before?

[BuckoA51]

Sorry I don’t understand your question here. The Koryuu will replace the RetroTINK.

Was your projector a CRT one? They are much kinder to noisy signals than modern displays.

[ChrisK]

Sorry my error here.

My Scart is feeding Red/White and Yellow to RetroTink, Yellow being the video feed, then I have the adaptor there to feed the VGA and Audio and feed the video to OSCC that way and the audio via stereo jack.
i.e. Red/White Audio goes to RetroTink, this then feeds OSCC via VGA for video signal and phone stereo jack for the audio so it comes out as HDMI

I have applied the latest firmware to OSCC, I grabbed the firmware for OSCCfrom the download page:
latest_release_audio.bin 24-Jun-2020 21:06

and used BalenaEtcher to make the SD update, then used that to update OSCC.

Chris

[ChrisK]

Ok, I have mnanaged to sort the Atari and Mattel and got a 95-99% quality pic…
I cant seem to get the pic for the ColeCoVision (I have 3 of them and 2 I know for sure are fine as they wonk on my digital TV which has a RF modulator and also built in Analogue and Digital Tuner, I get a sort of slight image, but its not locking on to the “screen image” of the game when the console is booted up and with a cartridge in.
Both Atari and Mattel are 100% fine…

[BuckoA51]

We’ll have a new RGB mod for Coleco soon if you’re interested 🙂

[ChrisK]

Will definitely be interested, however my main query here now, is why can I get a 90-95% perfect image and audio via RetroTink/OSCC through my projector in HD, but it failes to tune in on the Coleco? Does the Coleco output some weird RF that the Retro/OSCC cant do?

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