[James-F]

My two (different) adapters do that too, especially in bright Cyan color, can be clearly seen in SMPTE color bars.
Moreover these adapters clip the black shades, so it’s best to use the RT2x directly to an HDMI device.

[James-F]

Did you switch to Component input using the button on the RT2x board?

[James-F]

HD Retrovision cables are Component only,, what exactly do you do to connect this cable as composite?

[James-F]

This was an assumption, it needs to be tested before fixing anything.
There is a small fuse/diode (D6) to the left of the miniHDMI port which can be removed to disable 5v.

[James-F]

I now see rapid the input lights blink rapidly once I introduce the HDMI cable

I had seen the same behavior with the VGA adapter, that took too much current from the miniHDMI and lowered the 5v on the RT2x board to 4v, at least that’s what what I’ve measured.
Strangely as in your case, everything was fine for a few days.
First the led blinked for a fraction of a second at power on when the RT2x was new, then for a second, then forever…
My RT2x died with the same permanent blinking lights.

I can assume that the device connected to the miniHDMI port takes too much current and somehow affect the RT2x negatively.
Perhaps removing the 5v from the miniHDMI port will be a good solution for future revisions?

[James-F]

Thanks Matt, Done.

[James-F]

Oh no, it’s you again.. 🙂

Sampling Phase will move the sampling position from 0 to 360 degrees, 360 deg is a width of a single pixel.
Your goal is to sample only ONE pixel at a time without overlapping the next or previous pixel.
This option is only useful in Optimized Mode, since in Generic Mode the sampling frequency is much greater than actual horizontal resolution of the console.
Old LCD monitors with VGA only input would automatically adjust the phase clock.

Here is an example of wrong sampling phase:

Here is sampling phase correctly adjusted:

Supersampling X2 will double the sampling rate of H.Samplerate setting, effectively lowering apparent horizontal pixel misalignment thus shimmer.
So if H.Samplerate is 1630, the digitizer will sample 3260 times between horizontal sync pulses.
Very useful with lower H.Samplerate settings like Line2x.
Keep it on, I don’t see a reason to turn this off.

Reverse LPF is just a sharpening filter meant for consoles that for some reason have excessive blurry/smeared image like the non-1chip Snes.
0 = off, this will represent the true signal from your console.

—
PS1 is only RGB+Sync.
PS2 is RGsB ONLY in 480p progressive mode, otherwise like the PS1 RGB+Sync in 480i or 240p modes.
RGsB means the sync signal is not separate from the RGB lines, but is combined on the Green channel.
The cable is absolutely identical.

—
NTSC uses 525 lines for the entire frame between vsync signals, that includes back and front porch, blanking and sync, the active (content) resolution is only 480 lines out of these 525.
PAL uses total of 625 lines while only 576 are active.

Now move along, you’re asking too much questions.

[James-F]

Yep same here.
I have mod chipped PAL PS1 and PS2, both output PAL60/NTSC4.43 when playing NTSC games.
Apparently the RT2x can’t handle PAL color subcarrier with 60Hz signal.

The specification sheet of the ADV7280 device clearly states that it DOES support PAL60/NTSC4.43, so I don’t know why it doesn’t work with the RT2x.
I would assume PAL60/NTSC4.43 were disabled by Mike intentionally.
There is no easy way to update the firmware of the RT2x, so maybe he will fix that in the next revision along with other flaws mentioned in other threads.

[James-F]

Do not copy my work by appearance only!
You have to have experience with electronics and the right tools to measure continuity and resistance, and have a good soldering station with all the right soldering supplies and plenty soldering experience.
You will have to trace back each input (including s-video pins) to the ADV7280 chip and cut the correct traces with a scalpel knife to add the series resistor.

I repeat, DO NOT mod your RT2x unless you absolutely sure you want to void your warranty.
DO NOT, modify your RT2x if you do not have experience with electronics and all the right tools to do it proper job and test your work.

By fact that you asked for a photo of the other side, I can tell you have no experience in electronics or the right tools,, so please do not tinker with your retrotink.

[James-F]

The datasheet clearly specifies a 24+51 divider at each input so that’s what I did.
From ADV7280 (video) datasheet:

The audio chip accepts 3Vpp, but most retro consoles output way more than that.
Do the same with audio inputs but 10k+10k, the 10k to ground is already there.
This will accept even the loudest console without clipping like the N64 which outputs a huge 6Vpp, and will bring the overall volume to standard set-top/satellite box levels.

Here’s how my mod looks (there are more resistors on the back for s-video not shown in the photo), it fixed all audio+video problems.
I could have used SMD resistors but, I only had the correct values in through-hole 1/4w size.
Don’t mind the dangling oscillator in the photo, my RT2x is dead from a power surge and I’m trying to revive it.

NOTE this will void your warranty, since it involves cutting traces on the PCB.
To be frank, the RT2x does not worth 100$ with the current flaws.
I really hope Mike Chi fixes both audio and video inputs in the next revision.

PS.
I also did not have color in Composite/S-Video with my modded PAL PS1 which runs in PAL60/NTSC4.43 mode when booting NTSC games.
The ADV7280 chip supports both these formats according to spec sheet and should produce color with this signal.
Maybe Mike turned these modes off, when I asked him about it I got no reply.

[James-F]

The current RT2x revision will lose sync with any console if a white screen (like flashes) is more than 1v peak-to-peak (including sync).
This is because the ADV7280 video inputs requires 24+51ohm divider to accept higher input voltages, but Mike only implemented 75 Ohm load without complying with the specification data sheet, hence a larger than 1v signal (out of spec) which more than a few console produce enters the ADV7280 chip and activates the overvoltage reduction circuitry.
I did modify my RT2x with this divider at each input and the image became stable with flashes and white screens with all consoles.
You can test this with ‘240p test suite’ and go from black to white screen to see if the RT2x looses sync when switching quickly between full screen black to white test pattern.

I contacted Mike about this design flaw but got no reply, probably because a lot of units with this flaw already been shipped.
Hopefully he will fix the next revision, it’s a simple addition of resistors.

There is also a flaw with the audio chip that distorts the audio that I also fixed, and very low wattage 3.3v regulators that dies fast if its input voltage is not stable, but these are different issues that also need to be solved.

I love the RT2x and will re-buy it (my first one is dead) when these issues are fixed.

[James-F]

No can do Matt, I have tinkered with my RT2x by replacing the input resistors to comply with the datasheet thus voiding the warranty, though it was not the cause of death.
The cause of death was probably a surge as both small 3.3v regulators on board are blown and the crystal oscillator is also non responsive.
Very unfortunate.

I have ordered some 28.636MHz crystal oscillators and 3.3v power regulators to try to revive it, hope it goes well.

EDIT:
There is no voltage on the oscillator pins so I assume the ADV7280 is dead.
When the 3.3v regulator popped it was outputting 5v to the ADV7280 which in turn killed it too.

[James-F]

Got the RetroTink 2x today, it works great.

Now about using RT2x with the VGA adapter and OSSC;
The RT2x outputs exactly 828 total pixels, so you have to sample the right amount of pixels in generic 4:3 modes for shimmer free image.
That means that when the OSSC multiplies the resolution you have to set H.Samplerate in multiplies of 858.

For correct H.Samplerate in the OSSC, multiply 858 by 1.5 for x3, by 2 for 4x, etc..
2x 858
3x 1287
4x 1716
5x 2145

The VGA adapter will only map correctly with Limited range HDMI signal which the RT2x outputs.
Also, the adapter has severe chroma clipping/distortion with very bright colors (especially cyan), test with SMPTE Color Bars 100% and high output console like 1Chip SNES.
This chroma distortion does not happen when connecting the RT2x directly to a display.

[James-F]

Yes, that’s the input to the HDMI chip, the output from the HDMI chip may be something different than the input from the ADV7280.
The OSSC for example is RGB Full Range 0-255, the RT2x might be something else.

I assume it is the same as the 7280 output, 4:2:2 limited range.

[James-F]

I have have much to tell you, but I will post a lengthy explanation about my findings in my thread once my RT2x arrives next week.
I have to confirm a few things first before I post.

HDMI-to-VGA adapter

Meanwhile I can tell you that the HDMI->VGA adapter is transparent and outputs exactly the same analog VGA timing as the incoming digital HDMI timings.
I’ve done plenty of timing testing going from my PC GPU (HDMI) into this VGA adapter then into the OSSC, I could achieve pristine quality HDMI output from the OSSC with the right timing settings.

[Author]

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