QMTech MiSTer Not Working on VGA Monitor

[SocomUnplugged]

Hi all,

I have a Jean JD144C VGA Monitor which I use for my retro gaming setup. It is not working with the QMTech MiSTER kit I just recently purchased. The unit displays just fine on a regular modern flat-screen TV so I don't think it's defective. I have experimented with the .ini settings file a number of different ways, referencing other threads on this forum with similar inquiries, to no avail. It should have no problem outputting the 480x640 @60 resolution on this CRT monitor but it isn't. I use a 6 way HDMI splitter in combination with a Tendak Active 1080P Female HDMI to VGA Male Converter. I seriously doubt the monitor is at fault, because I currently use it with an XBOX 360, a PS3, an N64 w/ a RetroTINK 2x, and a Wii w/ an Electron Shepard HDMI adapter. These systems have no problem outputting on the monitor. What am I doing wrong? Thanks.

[Missus]

have you tried direct video instead?

https://mister-devel.github.io/MkDocs_M ... rectvideo/

[Higgy]

Hi,
I have also got a QMTech MiSTer. I've just connected it to the VGA input of my monitor that I normally use and I get a picture.
Have you created a MiSTer.ini ? My QMTech memory card did not have one , it has a MiSTer_Example.ini so I added '1' to the Scandoubler option and saved it as MiSTer.ini

Hi all,

I have a Jean JD144C VGA Monitor which I use for my retro gaming setup. It is not working with the QMTech MiSTER kit I just recently purchased. The unit displays just fine on a regular modern flat-screen TV so I don't think it's defective.

[SocomUnplugged]

Hi,
I have also got a QMTech MiSTer. I've just connected it to the VGA input of my monitor that I normally use and I get a picture.
Have you created a MiSTer.ini ? My QMTech memory card did not have one , it has a MiSTer_Example.ini so I added '1' to the Scandoubler option and saved it as MiSTer.ini

Hi all,

I have a Jean JD144C VGA Monitor which I use for my retro gaming setup. It is not working with the QMTech MiSTER kit I just recently purchased. The unit displays just fine on a regular modern flat-screen TV so I don't think it's defective.

Okay, using your settings I was able to boot into the main menu so thanks. But I lose the signal as soon as I start a game (in this case DKC2 on the SNES core).

[akeley]

Make sure you also have direct_video=1
With that, using scandoubler should be optional (I prefer to avoid it).

[SocomUnplugged]

Make sure you also have direct_video=1
With that, using scandoubler should be optional (I prefer to avoid it).

Did not fix the issue. In my case I believe scandoubler is not optional, since this monitor cannot interlace.

It's either rejecting the frequency or the resolution of the SNES signal. Does the MiSTER upscale the resolution from 240p to the video settings selected in the .ini file? If not how can I make it do that?

[akeley]

Check this thread if you haven't already: https://www.misterfpga.org/viewtopic.php?t=7516

Overall, it should work with scandoubler and without (just use VGA scaler then).

If it's only Donkey Kong 2 that is causing problems, it's possible it's using some weird resolution (though it's unlikely for SNES). I'm not near my VGA atm so can't test this, maybe somebody else can confirm.

I'd also try to connect directly to monitor without the splitter, and with fresh mister.ini (with only necessary changes), just to make sure. Though you say you're using a "Tendak Active 1080P Female HDMI to VGA Male Converter", what exactly do you connect to? Direct Video dongles normally are Male HDMI to Female VGA.

[SocomUnplugged]

Okay, thanks for your help guys. Setting vga_scaler to 1, video_mode to 6 and leaving everything else default did the trick for the VGA port output. I had two minor follow up questions:

1.) Are the video filters displaying properly at 480x640 or is a higher resolution recommended? The crt filters on SNES look fine to my eyes but I'm just wondering.

2.) Should I be concerned if the demo gameplay on the start screen (for DKC2) is not working properly? It looks like the timing of the movement is off and the characters aren't navigating the levels as was preprogrammed. Actual gameplay seems fine but again, just wondering if this is indicative of a larger issue.

[SocomUnplugged]

Check this thread if you haven't already: https://www.misterfpga.org/viewtopic.php?t=7516

Though you say you're using a "Tendak Active 1080P Female HDMI to VGA Male Converter", what exactly do you connect to? Direct Video dongles normally are Male HDMI to Female VGA.

Other than the MiSTER, I run each console through an HDMI splitter, which goes into the Tendak converter. My monitor doesn't have a VGA port, instead a non-removable male VGA cable on back of the unit. So I put a mini gender changer on this cable and that goes into the other side of the Tendak. Then I use aux cables for sound into a mini soundbar underneath the monitor.

[FoxbatStargazer]

1.) Are the video filters displaying properly at 480x640 or is a higher resolution recommended? The crt filters on SNES look fine to my eyes but I'm just wondering.

Scanline filters tend to not do anything until at least 3x scale (720p). Shadow masks also going to be ugly at so low res. If you don't care about either of those it might not be much trouble. But I'd probably try to use the scandoubler instead for such low resolution on most cores.