[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.

[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.

[exec]

I recently updated all my cables to new ones from Retro Gaming Cables, which I believe(/hope) should be good enough. The issue also doesn’t appear when connecting directly to the TV, which makes it more likely that the switch is playing a role in it.

[exec]

Mystery solved, it’s my cheap SCART switch^^” The color is normal on both the GC and the MD if connected directly to the OSSC. I didn’t suspect the switch because the SNES worked just fine through it, and I didn’t have this issue when the switch was connected to the TV. Thanks, paulb_nl!

And here I thought I was lucky finding a cheap switch that didn’t have any problems, guess I’ll have to get one of those 150$+ switches after all^^”

[exec]

I’ll take another look at my TV settings tomorrow, though like I said, MD, GC, and SNES display correctly via SCART input on my TV, and the SNES displays correctly via HDMI from the OSSC. Only the MD and GC have darkened images via OSSC, with no changes in the configuration.

[exec]

Got my luma cable from Retro Gaming Cables today. The result: the Yoshi’s Island intro now works with the default (sync Vth 123), and for Donkey Kong Country I only need 191, instead of 225 like before, so I can confirm that the cable seems to make a difference, and can potentially fix the issue. A little weird was that on the first try I got static right away from Yoshi’s Island, with no sync at all, but who knows what that was, it worked after testing DKC.

I’ll leave sync Vth at 191 for now, and I’ll report if that causes any issues. I’ll hold off on buying a PACKAPUNCH unless I notice any problems, since I’m pleased with the image I get through the new cable. Thank you guys, I had already ordered the cable, but I didn’t think that the problem might originate there^^

In case it’s of interest to anyone, I’m usually using a cheap, like 10€, SCART switcher for convenience (no noticeable quality difference from 1-2m away), and connecting directly to the OSSC didn’t make a difference in the required sync Vth values.

[exec]

Got the same issue with Donkey Kong Country, had to increase sync Vth to 225. Though it doesn’t happen the first time I watch the intro, only on subsequent runs. I think it’s not the explosion, but that roll-up effect of the title screen that follows it, which is not used the first time. But at least DKC resyncs after 2-3 seconds, unlike Yoshi’s Island, probably because the intro scene there is minutes long, causing more problems at some point.

My SNES is an unmodified PAL model.

Now I’m curious how much of a difference the shielded luma cable I ordered will make once it arrives, if any. If only a PACKAPUNCH cable fixes this I might have to upgrade once more^^”

[exec]

Thanks, paulb_nl, increasing sync Vth (to at least 146 in my case) does indeed solve the issue, sync LPF was at 2.5 already. Could leaving sync Vth at this cause other issues? (Since it’s listed as a last resort option on the wiki.)

I’m using the standard cable that came with the SNES right now, though I ordered a luma sync cable recently. Could that solve the problem as well?

[exec]

I can’t open it, for lack of tools, but based on the “open expansion slot and look for dots” method (http://www.retrorgb.com/1chipsnes.html) it appears to be a 1-chip, as I don’t have those dots. The model is SNSP-001A(FRG), serial UP18275805.

Edit: From The Lion King debug menu:
– CPU: 2
– PPU1: 1
– PPU2: 3

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