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Connecting many classic consoles to modern TV - Revisited


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I will. I ordered mine on October 8, 2018. According to their website, it should ship in November 2018 or December 2018. Not one of those things one gets in a hurry, but it's so niche that it's worth the wait. Also not the most "friendly" website. It clearly states not to email about the status of your order because it will be ignored in lieu of working on the units instead. It says if you get PayPal confirmation, they have received your order and no communication will come from them until the unit ships. I've seen them out there on YouTube, so I know it's legit, and am willing to deal with the nuances to get something very useful.

 

I'll let you know when it comes in, I get it going, and what results come of it. I think it will be great.

 

Blaine

 

Awesome thanks !

 

Still working on the stuff before the I get the cab. My console list is pretty much together, about 8 of them need to be modded in some way (S-video is the minimum now, really want to avoid composite so I don't need a 2nd or 3rd RetroTink.). I looked deep into RGB and although it would look nicer over all, it would be too much to actually go that route.

 

I hope the RetroTink will remember what input was last used or my thoughts are out the window and might have to find a different device. I wish the source input on that device could be IR controlled so I could switch between composite, S-video or component, as I could macro it out for each system and save me a good amount of money.

 

Maybe there will be a 3x model with IR control :)

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I'm still battling with how everything is going to be hooked up. My original plan was to go with a few RetroTink 2K devices for each type of source but, with a discussion I started on Reddit, The RetoTink will not keep it's settings once powered off and can not be remote controlled

My thread on Redit...

https://www.reddit.com/r/retrogaming/comments/9wqbi4/retrotink_2x_can_it/

and my direct tweet from the DEV of the RetoTink…

https://twitter.com/retrotink2/status/1062567300384022528

So, now I am leaning towards the Framemeister due to full remote control (s-video, Composite and component switching) and this opens my door to RGB, with a lot of systems with cheap cables and no mods needed, I might go this route..

So, although I am not crazy about Scart as a cable format, it seems this might be the best route on SOME consoles, due to available cables and no mod needed on a lot of them. Others I can just S-video mod.

Now looking for Scart auto switchers that can do RGB...

Ah, that is what I wanted to see..

http://www.gretrostuff.com/store/gscartsw/

Oh, crap $220... this is going to get expensive !

Any other good options that is not going to break the bank for switchers ?

Edited by TheCoolDave
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  • 2 weeks later...

Anyone who is interested in progress here. I made a final decistion on the scaler. The RetoTink 2K was a nice option but, the limitations of not saving the last input if powered off, or not being to be remote controled killed it for me. It was down to the Framemeister and the OSSC.

 

I ended up going with a Framemeister. I found a deal I could not pass up for one with the English conversion done (Newest English firmware and the remote cover), EuroScart adapter and component cable from a US seller.

 

I'm looking into SCART options... As RGB, as suggested here and I have seen differences via "My life in gaming" on YouTube. Grabed a few cables to play with.. and looking for a solid SCART switcher…

 

I posted a thread in hardware but, it's got no love, as I figured that would be the best place.

 

http://atariage.com/forums/topic/285378-mega-scart-switchers8/

 

The plan is after the holidays to pick up the cab, and I will telling the whole story via my NOT setup youtube channel ( Look for "thecooldave" on youtube) and I'll update the thread here with progress...

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I'm sure you'll enjoy the Framemeister. I still haven't received my RetroTINK 2X yet, but shipping is supposed to be in late November or early December. So still more time to wait it out.

 

For the SCART stuff, Crossbow has a 3-in-1 auto-switcher in his gameroom. Go to about 6:40 on the video to see his explanation of his RGB and SCART setup:

 

 

I'm sure he can tell you what unit he is using. I think he has already chimed in on this thread, so I'd imagine he will see the response with his video. Just send him a PM if needed. He's a good guy and very helpful to fellow AA member.

 

Blaine

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I'm sure you'll enjoy the Framemeister. I still haven't received my RetroTINK 2X yet, but shipping is supposed to be in late November or early December. So still more time to wait it out.

 

For the SCART stuff, Crossbow has a 3-in-1 auto-switcher in his gameroom. Go to about 6:40 on the video to see his explanation of his RGB and SCART setup:

 

 

I'm sure he can tell you what unit he is using. I think he has already chimed in on this thread, so I'd imagine he will see the response with his video. Just send him a PM if needed. He's a good guy and very helpful to fellow AA member.

 

Blaine

 

Thanks ! If the RetroTink even had memory (to save the last input used), I would of stuck with it but, the only way to change it would be to go up to the device and physically hit a button. I wanted to automate all the back end, so there is no way I could use it.

 

Yea, I saw and I've talked to him about it his SCART Switch (he is S-video modding one of my consoles). Problem is, I figure about a 11 of my 20 consoles CAN do SCART/RGB or modded to do SCART (not all will be hooked up SCART). A 3 or 5 port one is just too small for this project. I am looking at a 8+. And there is one...kind of expensive but, it will do 16 and it does IR. I don't think I would use all 16 but, it lets me expand later if I wanted to.

 

The W-Hydra2 (it comes in at $263.25 US) is a 16:2 SCART switch box... crazy, huh ? Being fully IR controlled is something I really want, that seems kind of rare on SCART switches.

 

https://lotharek.pl/productdetail.php?id=207

 

There will be 20 consoles setup in this cab, I want to be able to rotate consoles if needed. Some I might setup but, never play as another that is not setup, I want to play it more. I also don't want to connect consoles and be completely out of ports. It happened years ago on me, setup a bunch of consoles and when I wanted to expand, I was left with removing a console to add another, all consoles I played...

 

*IF* I could get RGB (the best possible picture) out of 11 or more consoles, I want to be able to do it and DONT want to be limited because of my switch.

Edited by TheCoolDave
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  • 2 weeks later...

Man, was I saddened when I found out RGB wasn't a thing over here.

I dunno, it seems like RGB was at least a little more widespread in Japan than it was here in the US considering that Nintendo, Sega and Sony put out official RGB cables for their systems, whereas there was nothing like that here in the US.
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I dunno, it seems like RGB was at least a little more widespread in Japan than it was here in the US considering that Nintendo, Sega and Sony put out official RGB cables for their systems, whereas there was nothing like that here in the US.

that is true but it was nothing like the UK were every half decent TV had a scart / RGB port on it. In the mid 80s to mid 90s Japanese TVs did have RGB but only the real highend TVs or specialist monitors had them. From a British person's point of view this is kind of pathetic but I'm guessing in the US RGB wasn't even a thing outside of VGA computer monitors. Edited by Yakumo1975
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  • 3 months later...

If anyone was following this, I still plan in doing this project. The family had some large expenses in the first few months of the year but, still planning to start on this and start my youtube channel when i start building it... and trying to get some final consoles I want to use in this.

 

I will use this thread for people's thoughts of the 20 consoles i will setup...

 

Sub if you want to see it when I get started it will show up on you feed.. I don't have 100 subs yet so i need them before i can start doing it...

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_gndYQHVBW9i_WxlCUb2Pw

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For modern screens you simply must go RGB for all consoles that support it, no exception. S-video just won't cut it on an upscaler.

 

I still don't really understand the appeal of having all the systems sitting out collecting dust. I guess it looks impressive, but from a practical standpoint it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

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For modern screens you simply must go RGB for all consoles that support it, no exception. S-video just won't cut it on an upscaler.

 

I still don't really understand the appeal of having all the systems sitting out collecting dust. I guess it looks impressive, but from a practical standpoint it doesn't make a lot of sense to me.

 

 

Room can be a practical consideration, but only for those without it. Having the systems set up and ready to play seems very practical to me, as opposed to hauling them out every time. Since the whole point is to play them.

 

My 64 for instance exists for 2 games, that get played maybe a twice a month with friends. I don't want to haul it out, hook it up, and put it back, over and over.

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