Can't get MiSTer to put out a good picture through VGA- Scart cable

Just got a MiSTer and need some help? Join the forum and post your questions here!
xyla
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:43 pm
Has thanked: 7 times

Can't get MiSTer to put out a good picture through VGA- Scart cable

Unread post by xyla »

So I have this nice old PAL Sony Trinitron 29X1D that I use for my GameCube normally. Worked always great with that and still does, 60Hz RGB signal, no problem.

When I'm trying to connect my MiSTer to that TV though, I get 70% snow - and not the intentional one from the menu screen. Everything is washed out and the menus are barely visible. Doesn't help to load up a core either, it doesn't really work in a way that is usable.

I know that I have to adjust the .ini in a way to make this happen. I've read a bit about the vga_scaler options but most stuff that I find is for Computer CRTs and nothing I have tried worked for me yet.

I have added my .ini - any help would be appreciated.

pxl_20230406_11592258qpisq.jpg
pxl_20230406_11592258qpisq.jpg (1.78 MiB) Viewed 1544 times

Code: Select all

[MiSTer]
key_menu_as_rgui=0 ; set to 1 to make the MENU key map to RGUI in Minimig (e.g. for Right Amiga)
forced_scandoubler=0 ; set to 1 to run scandoubler on VGA output always (depends on core).
ypbpr=0 ; set to 1 for YPbPr on VGA output.
composite_sync=1 ; set to 1 for composite sync on HSync signal of VGA output.
vga_scaler=0 ; set to 1 to connect VGA to scaler output.
hdmi_audio_96k=0 ; set to 1 for 96khz/16bit HDMI audio (48khz/16bit otherwise)
keyrah_mode=0x18d80002 ; VIDPID of keyrah for special code translation (0x23418037 for Arduino Micro)
vscale_mode=0 ; 0 - scale to fit the screen height.
; 1 - use integer scale only.
; 2 - use 0.5 steps of scale.
; 3 - use 0.25 steps of scale.
vscale_border=0 ; set vertical border for TVs cutting the upper/bottom parts of screen (1-99)
bootscreen=0 ; uncomment to disable boot screen of some cores like Minimig.
;mouse_throttle=10 ; 1-100 mouse speed divider. Useful for very sensitive mice
rbf_hide_datecode=0 ; 1 - hides datecodes from rbf file names. Press F2 for quick temporary toggle
menu_pal=0 ; 1 - PAL mode for menu core
hdmi_limited=0 ; 1 - use limited (16..235) color range over HDMI
fb_size=0 ; 0 - automatic, 1 - full size, 2 - 1/2 of resolution, 4 - 1/4 of resolution.
fb_terminal=1 ; 1 - enabled (default), 0 - disabled
osd_timeout=30 ; 5-3600 timeout (in seconds) for OSD to disappear in Menu core. 30 seconds if not set.
; Background picture will get darker after double timout

; lastcore - Autoboot the last loaded core (corename autosaved in CONFIG/lastcore.dat) first found on the SD/USB
; lastexactcore - Autoboot the last loaded exact core (corename_yyyymmdd.rbf autosaved in CONFIG/lastcore.dat) first found on the SD/USB
; corename - Autoboot first corename_*.rbf found on the SD/USB
; corename_yyyymmdd.rbf - Autoboot first corename_yyyymmdd.rbf found on the SD/USB
;bootcore=lastcore ; uncomment to autoboot a core, as the last loaded core.
bootcore=lastcore*.rbf ; boots c64 after system start
;bootcore_timeout=10 ; 10-30 timeout before autoboot, comment for autoboot without timeout.

; Option to load the custom font. Format is plain bitmap 8x8.
; Supported sizes of font:
; 768 bytes - chars 32-127 (only alpha + numeric)
; 1024 bytes - chars 0-127
; 1136 bytes - chars 0-141
; up to 2048 - only chars 0-141 will be used.
; if first 32 chars are empty (for sizes 1024 bytes and more) then they are skipped.
font=font/myfont.pf

; USER button emulation by keybaord. Usually it's reset button.
; 0 - lctrl+lalt+ralt (lctrl+lgui+rgui on keyrah)
; 1 - lctrl+lgui+rgui
; 2 - lctrl+lalt+del
; 3 - same as 0 (lctrl+lalt+ralt on keyrah)
reset_combo=0

dvi_mode=0 ; set to 1 for DVI mode. Audio won't be transmitted through HDMI in DVI mode.

; 0 - 1280x720@60
; 1 - 1024x768@60
; 2 - 720x480@60
; 3 - 720x576@50
; 4 - 1280x1024@60
; 5 - 800x600@60
; 6 - 640x480@60
; 7 - 1280x720@50
; 8 - 1920x1080@60
; 9 - 1920x1080@50
;10 - 1366x768@60
;11 - 1024x600@60
;
; custom mode: hact,hfp,hs,hbp,vact,vfp,vs,vbp,Fpix_in_KHz
; video_mode=1280,110,40,220,720,5,5,20,74250
video_mode=0

; set to 1-10 (seconds) to display video info on startup/change
video_info=10

; Set to 1 for automatic HDMI VSync rate adjust to match original VSync.
; Set to 2 for low latency mode (single buffer).
; This option makes video butter smooth like on original emulated system.
; Adjusting is done by changing pixel clock. Not every display supports variable pixel clock.
; For proper adjusting and to reduce possible out of range pixel clock, use 60Hz HDMI video
; modes as a base even for 50Hz systems.
vsync_adjust=0

; These parameters have the same format as video_mode.
; You need to supply both PAL and NTSC modes if you want vsync_adjust to switch between
; predefined modes as a base. This will reduce the range of pixel clock.
;video_mode_ntsc=0
;video_mode_pal=7

logo=0 ; 0 - disable MiSTer logo in Menu core 
chimaera
Posts: 92
Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2020 10:53 am
Has thanked: 13 times
Been thanked: 17 times

Re: Can't get MiSTer to put out a good picture through VGA- Scart cable

Unread post by chimaera »

have you set the jumper to 5V on the analogue out board?

https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_Mi ... i/IO-Board

Its the part close to vga out where it says VGA PWR, change the jumper so its on the 5V + middle.
If you don't have it, like in the picture, then it's time for some soldering.

xyla
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Mar 20, 2023 8:43 pm
Has thanked: 7 times

Re: Can't get MiSTer to put out a good picture through VGA- Scart cable

Unread post by xyla »

chimaera wrote: Thu Apr 06, 2023 1:37 pm

have you set the jumper to 5V on the analogue out board?

https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/Wiki_Mi ... i/IO-Board

Its the part close to vga out where it says VGA PWR, change the jumper so its on the 5V + middle.
If you don't have it, like in the picture, then it's time for some soldering.

Thanks for the feedback - the jumper is there and I set it to 5V + middle.
Still get exactly the same picture though, no improvements.

FoxbatStargazer
Top Contributor
Posts: 1018
Joined: Thu Dec 10, 2020 5:44 pm
Has thanked: 315 times
Been thanked: 238 times

Re: Can't get MiSTer to put out a good picture through VGA- Scart cable

Unread post by FoxbatStargazer »

I'd be more likely to blame your I/O board or cable than the ini at this point. Not that many settings you can (or should need to) change for analog out to 15khz.

Are you certain your SCART cable and the TV are rated for RGB input, and not one of them trying to do composite instead?

User avatar
bazza_12
Top Contributor
Posts: 443
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 7:49 pm
Location: Yorkshire, UK
Has thanked: 263 times
Been thanked: 121 times

Re: Can't get MiSTer to put out a good picture through VGA- Scart cable

Unread post by bazza_12 »

sounds like the scart cable.. https://coolnovelties.co.uk/coolnovelti ... 07088.html this works for mine.

The music is reversible but time is not. Turn back. Turn back
paulbnl
Core Developer
Posts: 216
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 8:48 pm
Has thanked: 49 times
Been thanked: 285 times

Re: Can't get MiSTer to put out a good picture through VGA- Scart cable

Unread post by paulbnl »

It looks like your TV is not in RGB mode. Connect the scart cable to scart input 1. Then press the input button until you see the icon with three dots.

Post Reply